Managing Automation - October 2007 - (Page 25)

services and event-driven workflows, it is increasingly important to always be connected. So the killer application in the next phase of mobility may be something we already have. “It’s real-time communications,” says Kyle Klassen, Nortel’s director of enterprise wireless marketing. In today’s electronic world, most people are accustomed to leaving a voice-mail message or sending an e-mail and then waiting perhaps days for a response. In the vision of the mobile enterprise, communication will happen imme“The plan should include things like the diately, but only when fact that when people are untethered, technological unification less time is wasted walking back and occurs, advocates of this approach say. forth.” — Cliff Whitehead, Rockwell Communications have The “killer app” may be the one that will grown up in the enterprise much like control transform the company from a high mix of technologies have in the factory — often as ispoint solutions to an enterprise that experilands of isolated automation. Similarly, “think ences true “connectedness.” of different silos of communication in the inIf done correctly, the benefit should be obfrastructure,” says Shola Aluko, senior product vious. “The plan should include things like manager for Microsoft’s Unified Communicathe fact that when people are untethered, less tions effort. “Wireless, Internet, phone infratime is wasted walking back and forth,” says structure — putting all of this Cliff Whitehead, manager of strategic applitogether is really the magic cations at Rockwell Automation, referring of unified communications.” specifically to a day in the life of a worker on Microsoft’s “magic” comes the factory floor. in the form of Office CommuCRAFTING A MOBILITY PLAN But that same productivity theory can be nication Server, which uses applied in the enterprise and to people workExchange Server 2007 as the If you’re ready to make wireless part of the corporate infrastructure, you will need a big-picture plan. ing remotely. “Peel back the layers to get a central repository for e-mail, Here’s how to get started: feel for how much more productive mobility instant messaging, Web conwill make an individual, and what you’ll do ferencing, and voice. “Peo1. Do a site survey to figure out what wireless networks and technologies already exist within the with the incremental gain you get from that ple can communicate in organization. productivity,” Whitehead says. “Think about whatever mode they want,” how you’ll redeploy people and feed the Aluko says. And they can do 2. Create a cross-functional IT group comprising peobenefit back to the shareholders. It’s a lofty ple who understand each wireless technology it in real time because of an(RFID, WLAN, WiFi, WiMAX, 802.11n, etc.). goal, but that’s where it’s going.” other Microsoft application called Presence, which is 3. Bring all parties to the planning table, including IN SEARCH OF THE KILLER APP the cellular carrier, wireless equipment manufaclinked to the Outlook calenturer, enterprise application vendor, mobile Some people say wireless, in and of itself, dar to identify whether a perdevice manufacturers, and software developers. is the killer application. But others say such son is available and at his or Many vendors already have partnerships or multia characterization may confuse infrastrucher desk, in the office but functional products and services that could ease ture with the capabilities provided by that on a phone call, or out of the integration issues. infrastructure. Clues to what may be possible office and reachable via cell 4. Create a corporate standard around the kinds of can be found in such concepts as “hyperphone, for example. mobile devices allowed on the network. connectivity,” a mega-trend that wireless “It’s the ability to know 5. Consider creating a “demilitarized zone” between provider Nortel refers to as the explosion where someone is and speed the shop floor and the enterprise to keep producof devices and users connecting to the netbusiness communication,” tion secure during widespread wireless rollouts. work. The other concept kicked around of says Adam Glick, Microsoft’s Source: Managing Automation reporting late is “unified communications,” which MiExchange technical product crosoft, in a partnership with Nortel, demanager. “Through Exscribes as making it easy and manageable for change, they can choose the best way to people to access information in the way they make a connection, rather than playing ewant it. mail ping-pong.” As back-end systems such as ERP and supGlick says the strategic advantage behind ply chain management move toward Web this approach is that it lets manufacturers answer: Yes, but there’s more work to be done. Obviously, you’ll want to tap into the wireless technology that already exists within the organization, but this time start with a plan (see table, this page). First, conduct a survey or audit to understand the topology currently in the facility, and use this as an opportunity to bring IT and automation groups together. More important, as with any strategic initiative, figure out the real business need behind mobility. step-by-step Photo courtesy: Rockwell Automation 25 October 2007

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Managing Automation - October 2007

Contents Take 1 Mailbox New Selling and Fulfillment Product Leads Plan to Transform Sterling Commerce Comtrol Closes Bizarre Chapter Involving Founder New Omron COO Outlines Four-Part Growth Agenda New Mfg. ‘Czar’ Will Have a Full Plate of Issues Lawson Embraces The Trend of Fewer Upgrades Notes Wanted: A Unified Infrastructure Needed: Greater Reliability Special Report: Innovation: Why Are So Many Coming Up Short? Transforamation: Beating the Odds in Global Supply Industries: Metals: Tracking Carbon Footprints Product Scan Advertiser Index Next

Managing Automation - October 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.