Efficient Plant May 2022 - 16

feature | digital transformation
Transform
From the
Edge Up
Start your enterprise-level digitization
project by empowering end users to
develop valuable IIoT insights at the edge.
Derek Thomas
MANUFACTURERS IN ALL industry segments desire quicker
access to the wealth of data available in their facilities so they can
make better-informed production and business decisions. Accomplishing
this is frequently a signifi cant challenge.
Most of these sites have a wide range of production equipment,
utilities, and facility systems, installed over many years from various
suppliers. Th e only consistency is inconsistency. Th ese systems produce
a lot of information as they operate-status indicators, inputs
and outputs, and alarm indications-that, with the right know how,
could be transformed into key performance indicators (KPIs). Combined
with other analyses, the operational data can also generate
insight into how operations can be improved, but only if the information
can be extracted, collected, and presented in a useable way.
LEGACY INFRASTRUCTURES STRAND DATA
Most companies don't have available teams of data scientists or extra
IT experts, but they do have experienced OT personnel who know
the systems and where improvements are needed. However, they
must be able to easily deploy solutions, access data, and analyze the
relevant information. Th ey also need actionable information they
can use immediately, not time-delayed feedback from a complex
system and network architecture.
Source data may be stranded for a variety of reasons, such as:
16 | EFFICIENTPLANTMAG.COM
isolated, with no network connection
ignored, since no system accesses it
under sampled, providing an insuffi cient data rate
inaccessible, in a format unusable by traditional systems
non-digitized, such as information captured on paper.
Th ere are solutions to obtain stranded data, but no end user wants
to implement dozens of proprietary connectivity methods, soſt -
ware products, and cloud packages to access their numerous assets,
controllers, sensors, and protocols. In fact, most end users likely
don't have the budget, time, or personnel to tackle massive enterprise-wide
IIoT projects.
Some companies try to start with a pilot project using a " home
grown " solution, but end up disappointed when they fi nd it won't
scale up because it introduces signifi cant support and development
issues. Needs and requirements change over time, and it can be
costly or diffi cult to adapt custom and enterprise-grade solutions.
Today's users need fl exible solutions that can start as simple OT data
projects that meet unique needs, without morphing into a massive
IT project, breaking down at scale, or limiting future needs.
BUILDING FROM THE EDGE UP
For years, manufacturing IIoT initiatives started as massive,
top-down, enterprise or cloud-centric projects that required
MAY 2022
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Efficient Plant May 2022

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