The Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) is key to Industry 4.0 as it connects the physical with smart technologies, machine learning and big data. This is used to manage, improve and connect staff to the industry or environment where it is deployed as it brings about real-time insights, transform data collected into meaningful and actionable information.
At LINX Singapore, we have partnered with zenon, where Industrial automation is designed and deployed with the help of good industrial automation software. We are here to explain the concepts & benefits of Industrial Automation and introduce to you, what we believe is the state of art Industrial Automation Software that would meet the needs and budget of every one.
Industrial automation is the use of technologies and control systems, such as computer software, robotics and information technologies to handle various and different processes, machinery and equipment in order to replace or reduce human intervention.
Lower operating cost: Industrial automation eliminates all the usual cost associated with a human operator like leave, insurance, medical expenses, employee benefits etc.
Even though the start-up cost is high, the savings in the monthly wages for the workers would lead to greater savings in the longer term.
The cost of maintaining equipment used for industrial automation is far less as it does not fail often and when it does, it just takes the maintenance engineer to repair it.
In times where there is a significant labour shortage, industrial automation allows facilities to operate in a truly 365 days 24/7 operations
Automation reduces errors that humans are prone to make. Also, robots do not get tired and can produce uniform and can produce consistent quality throughout
Training of new staff in any industry takes time. But for robots, they can be programmed to do any tasks and once done, it can be easily replicated, thus making the manufacturing process more flexible
One added benefit of industrial automation is the ability to collect key production information when operating. This improved data accuracy will reduce data collection costs and with the right data, better decisions can be made
Work in hazardous conditions can be replaced by using robots. This makes it safer for all employees
Simply put, industrial automation software connects to all your equipment, tools, production resources through sensors and integrates them for better visibility and data access.
This enables your company to achieve high availability, visibility, and traceability of your resources in a cost optimized environment, leading to improved quality and increased flexibility.
Industrial automation software harnesses the power of Industrial IoT, or IIOT, by utilizing smart sensors and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to connect to equipment in real-
time. This provides increased visibility on the performance of systems – allowing management to quickly reconfigure settings for changing production or process requirements, if needed.
Increasingly, for example in building management, smart sensors are used for maintenance management. By collecting data continually, the maintenance team can plan for optimization and continuous improvement. Predictive maintenance can also be done where machine learning algorithms can help identify ‘health’ issues and potential points of failure – so that the right action can be taken early to avoid failures down the road.
As IIOT devices proliferate, any business can start to take advantage of industrial automation and software.
Just add sensors to any industrial equipment and data can be sent over via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and even to the cloud – where management can analyse the data, set up rules-based alerts or triggers – for better automation and decision making.
Collect data from connected scales, cameras, thermometers, and sensors
Record defects via images and videos with camera integrations
Create digital workflows that combine work instructions and backend processes using logic
Aggregate data from apps to create, update, and display records from apps, machines, and sensors
Configure connectors to send data between APIs, databases, and more. Build functions and logic to control how apps push and pull data from integrations
Industrial automation leverages technologies to create a more complex system to increase outputs and efficiency while decreasing costs. This type of automation can also reduce risks that human operators may deal with.
The use of industrial automation software means manufacturers can improve planning and control by ensuring the right raw materials in the right quantities are available for planned production operations. It also ensures enough personnel are scheduled to work and the equipment required is available. This combination of advanced planning and scheduling efforts ensures your manufacturing operations will go on as planned.
The zenon software platform supports innovative companies worldwide in simple, secure, and independent industrial automation. As an industrial automation software, it contributes to the digital transformation and convergence of OT and IT.
zenon is an integrated solution with open interfaces. This software platform connects machines, plants, and buildings. While connecting from the sensor to all higher-level systems, zenon also includes native drivers and communication protocols. This creates ergonomics for the acting people and enables the scalable implementation of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) in heterogeneous production landscapes.
Originally developed as HMI/SCADA software, the entire zenon software platform covers significantly more application areas.
Utilizing hardware-independent data acquisition and cross-site management of process data, the industrial automation software, zenon, can be used to increase efficiency – even in complex production landscapes.
zenon reduces complexity for users and enables well-founded decisions thanks to ergonomic visualization and control. Due to the integrated analytics and reporting services, zenon can evaluate and analyse collected data and automatically distribute reports across devices.
The zenon software platform also supports application engineering and maintenance throughout their entire life cycle. If required, projects can be created independently of the location, redundantly, across teams, without programming knowledge, or automated.