FEATURE COMMUNICATIONS & NETWORKS
THE CONVERGENCE OF IT AND OT – THE NEW SUPER DUO?
IT and OT may not have made it onto the list of the world’s favourite duos, alongside Tom and Jerry, Batman and Robin, and Mario and Luigi, but the convergence of the two is revolutionising the modern factory. Adrian Swindells, director, Distec, looks at how plant managers can implement IT and OT together, without any drawbacks
M
ost people in industry have heard of the convergence of Information
Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT). IT, which includes computers, storage and networking devices, is used to monitor electronic data. OT, which is traditionally used in industrial environments, covers industrial control systems such as SCADA systems. Plant managers are increasingly blurring the line between the two technologies, with equipment traditionally found in offices being used to monitor data in factories. This increased data allows both plant operatives and plant managers to more closely monitor production lines, both in terms of throughput and maintenance. For example, industrial PCs can be programmed to pop up a message if a
piece of equipment, such as a pump, has been constantly running for a set period of time. This gives engineers chance to check the machine for signs of wear or imminent breakdown. This preventative maintenance approach is more cost effective than reactive maintenance, when materials or labour may either not be available or may come at a premium. For plant managers, IT systems allow
them to export factory data to their office and use it to make strategic decisions. For example, they can view data that allows them to predict if they are on track to meet production targets or to meet shipping deadlines for an order. If they’re not, plant managers can then view more detailed data to determine why. Despite all the advantages of the convergence of IT and OT, plant
‘Personnel can be an issue in the convergence of IT and OT... and it’s important to have a strong consultative process with both parties...’
BRINGING THE DIGITAL PLANT TO A DEVICE NEAR YOU
Emerson is launching DeltaV Mobile, a new platform using Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to give the manufacturing engineer access to real-time data, trends and insight to make better-informed, critical operations decisions, securely from anywhere in the world. Part of Emerson’s Plantweb digital ecosystem, DeltaV Mobile fuses smartphone technology with process control data to make operational intelligence available 24/7 for its customers. Digital workers can monitor operations and see critical operational data when, how and where they want, without waiting for regular business hours, manual reports, or being tied to a computer. By integrating seamlessly and securely with the DeltaV distributed control system, DeltaV Mobile is said to deliver critical contextual data that is often left behind by other solutions. With added context, DeltaV Mobile users can make better decisions around operational events. Incorporating Emerson’s Plantweb Secure First Mile technology, DeltaV Mobile provides safe, remote access to important plant data without impacting critical production systems.
Jamie Froedge, president, Process Systems and Solutions, Emerson
Automation Solutions, said: “Mobile intelligence will transform operational workflows and practices and drive collaboration across the enterprise...”. DeltaV Mobile enables on-site teams to connect with off-site
experts, extending organisation-wide expertise and collaboration beyond the plant. Customisable filtering means users see clear and relevant data, while alarms, trends and data are available on iOS and Android mobile devices, with alarm alerts via push, SMS, or email notification.
www.emerson.com/deltavmobile
Plant managers are increasingly blurring the line between IT and OT technologies, with equipment traditionally found in the office being used to monitor data in factories
managers need to take into account that much of the equipment used in IT applications was not originally designed for use in the industrial environment. PCs, for example, must be industrial grade to protect them against dirt, grease and washdown. This means that plant managers will need to specify a device with sufficient ingress protection, such as the IP65 rated Nexcom industrial PCs offered by Distec, to ensure reliable performance. The IP65 rating of these PCs means the front panel protects the PC against dust and low pressure water jets. While enterprise PCs often use the latest operating systems, most industrial PCs are still using the Windows 7 operating system. To maintain regularity across a plant, companies need to work with Microsoft-partnered industrial PC suppliers who can continue to sell the legacy systems that may no longer be available on commercial PCs. Personnel can also be an issue in the convergence of IT and OT. Often, IT buyers may not be sensitive to the requirements of plant operatives and may not consider the practicalities of use, but plant operatives may similarly fail to engage with new IT systems in plants. It is important to have a strong consultative process with both parties when bringing in new equipment. Companies should purchase from computing specialists with industrial experience, such as Distec, who can help when choosing equipment. While plant managers and operatives can reap the benefits of the convergence of IT and OT, they may not be aware of some issues that are presented by using systems in factories that were previously not intended for such use. By consulting with an industrial PC specialist, companies can make IT and OT their new favourite duo.
Distec
www.distec.co.uk
28 JULY/AUGUST 2017 | PROCESS & CONTROL / PROCESS&CONTROL
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