by Gary Mintchell | May 30, 2013 | M2M
Glen Almendinger of Harbor Research has been following the Internet of Things / M2M / Pervasive Internet space for years. Much of the original intent was to use cellular technology as the broadband. That probably held things back a little, since in the early days cellular service was seen as unreliable. That service is improving, though, and here are some of his thoughts on CDMA technology and the IoT.
The overwhelming potential for the Internet of Things (IoT) requires that elements like basic enablement, network connectivity, middleware services, value-added services, and other device management functions are properly functioning and well-aligned. It’s not until these elements are in place that new modes of asset intelligence, collaboration, and decision-making will be enabled.
As we head down this path, devices will shift from being ‘simple’ to becoming connected and ‘smart’ – and thereby enabling a new host of machine-to-machine (M2M) services. With its high security levels, network longevity, ubiquitous coverage, high bandwidth, spectral efficiency, low latency, energy efficiency, and “always-on” connectivity, one cellular technology is particularly well-suited to make this transition: CDMA2000.
Since its initial development in 1985, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology has continually evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of the CDMA ecosystem. Today, CDMA technology is available in 121 countries and territories and with its global reach and reliable reputation, it is no surprise that CDMA2000 technologies and networks have become the go-to choice for companies offering M2M products and services. From consumer telematics and e-health, to connected homes and remote monitoring opportunities, OEMs and service providers are able to provide a host of new services – and recognize a host of benefits – enabled by CDMA2000 technology.
“As the market opportunity for connected devices and services continues to grow, CDMA technologies offer significant benefits for delivering M2M services and applications. Technical advancements such as CDMA2000 1X Rev. F enable operators to provide their M2M partners more optimized service delivery through increased data rates, decreased connection times and lower power consumption. Even as much attention is focused on 4G deployments, operators will maintain their CDMA networks for many years to come in support of their M2M customers,” said Perry LaForge, founder and executive director of the CDG.
This new paper from Harbor Research explores the application opportunities, technology requirements and business benefits arising from M2M communication and provides a range of case studies from companies that have leveraged CDMA2000 technologies to increase sales, reduce costs and improve the customer experience.
by Gary Mintchell | May 29, 2013 | Automation, Operations Management, Software
For today, I’ve accumulated a bunch of relevant news from around the automation and operations management areas.
SCADA in the Cloud
[picture]ABB, the power and automation technology group, announced a partnership with GlobaLogix to provide a new SCADA Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that is based on ABB’s SCADAvantage product. The partnership is aimed at providing a robust and open SCADA service to reduce operation risks and maintenance burden, while also lowering upfront costs.
GlobaLogix has built a highly secure and redundant cloud-based infrastructure to host ABB’s SCADA platform. The infrastructure provides access to 53 Data Centers in North America with 2048 bit encryption that exceeds the current Department of Defense standards. The infrastructure also complies with the most stringent Tier 4 data center standards from the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for mission critical computer systems. The standard requires fully redundant subsystems and compartmentalized security zones.
“This cloud-based SCADA infrastructure can save companies money and time by eliminating the need to build and maintain their own dedicated server rooms, while reducing SCADA administration costs and overall risks,” said Sandy Taylor, Head of ABB’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical business unit. “The overall return on investment time can be reduced by 25-30% or more.”
Future Manufacturing Software Platforms
Mark Davidson of LNS Research writes on Future of Manufacturing Operations Software.
He notes, “Today, many companies are faced with a complex application landscape that has resulted in a variety of hurdles. These include:
Multiple databases and configuration tools that don’t communicate with one another
Difficulty expanding functionality given existing and disparate implementations
Inconsistent user interfaces and visualization tools
Difficulty for vendors to rapidly develop and evolve functionality
Traditional approaches are not comprehensive and agile enough to support today’s and tomorrow’s manufacturing strategy challenges
He predicts platform-based architectures that have incorporated open standards-based integration and collaboration capabilities at their core. “These platform-based offerings provide underlying software services that enable a highly modular solution approach that reduces the traditional challenge with duplicative functionality across a broad set of available MOM software ‘apps.’ By having a common services approach for all MOM applications to integrate to Enterprise and Industrial Automation applications, this greatly eases data/information and workflow integration across all software domains in the manufacturing enterprise.”
Mitsubishi Goes Process
Think of Mitsubishi as only supplying automation for factory automation? Think again. Mitsubishi Electric Automation has launched a web site to provide solutions specifically for the oil and gas, water and wastewater, and power generation industries. The new site is a dedicated resource that identifies common process industry challenges and how Mitsubishi Electric’s reliable, flexible and cost-efficient solutions are designed to overcome them.
Fieldbus Foundation Makes Fieldbus Easier
The Fieldbus Foundation announced a new technology development initiative—Project Gemstone—intended to make the digital fieldbus automation experience easier than conventional analog control systems in every conceivable way, from device setup to device replacement and daily maintenance practices. This includes FOUNDATION for Remote Operations Management (ROM), Field Device Integration (FDI) Cooperation, and ISA108 intelligent device management. The foundation’s new usability team is also focusing on how to make fieldbus devices easier to specify, set up, configure and maintain.
Project Gemstone will drive an innovation strategy enabling plant owners to focus more on what technology can do for them and their business, versus how they manage the technology itself. The project’s focus on standards-based solutions will also make it easier for automation suppliers to develop new fieldbus-based products and applications. In addition, the Fieldbus Foundation’s testing and registration process is designed to ensure FOUNDATION fieldbus devices, systems and components all work together as they should.
Global MOM Best Practices
MESA International has released its Global Best Practice white paper. This paper explores the four main perceptions and obstacles that “best in class” progressive companies had to overcome to gain enterprise-wide acceptance of their MOM systems architecture as a corporate strategy.
These are:
Why MOM and Not MES?
Why Service-oriented Architecture (SOA) in Manufacturing?
Why MDM for Manufacturing?
Is EMI Best Positioned Against or With Business Intelligence (BI)?
For each of these concepts, what they mean and where they fit are explored individually to expose manufacturing technologists to the concepts and the benefits of accepting and working toward this vision. The paper concludes by evaluating the different integration approaches used over the years and comparing them to the current proposed “best practice” and Mfg 2.0 vision.
This paper was produced as part of the MESA/ISA-95 Best Practices Working Group through an international peer review process involving 5 or more subject matter reviewers. This MESA White Paper is also be published in the methodology best practices collection, The MOM Chronicles: ISA-95 Best Practices Book 3.0 (Published by ISA, February 2013)
This white paper is available to premium MESA members here as one of the benefits of membership.
Ethernet Switch Translates IP from OEM Machine to Factory System
Network Address Translation (NAT) feature in Rockwell Automation switch helps simplify assigning IP addresses when integrating machines into a plant network.
The integration of machines onto a plant’s network architecture can prove difficult as OEM IP-address assignments rarely match those of the end-user network IP-address requirements. The Allen-Bradley Stratix 5700 managed industrial Ethernet switch now includes an optional integrated Network Address Translation (NAT) feature. The hardware-based NAT feature allows for high performance and simplified integration of IP-address mapping from a set of local, machine-level IP addresses to the end user’s broader plant-process network.
Invensys Adds Service Capability
Invensys has created an alliance with Callisto Integration, a global leader in manufacturing consulting and systems integration. Callisto was formed in 2012 through a merger of Aseco Integrated Systems and Progressive Software Solutions, both award-winning Invensys endorsed system integrators since the program’s inception in 2009.
Through the alliance, Invensys and Callisto will operate as a seamless services organization optimized for project design and delivery, providing customers in the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industries with a scalable team and extended solutions capability, leveraging sustainable, standardized solution sets while maintaining a low total cost of ownership for customers.
by Gary Mintchell | May 29, 2013 | Operations Management, Software
Dassault Systèmes, France-based PLM supplier, has announced its intent to acquire Apriso, a supplier of manufacturing software solutions, for approximately $205 million.
At least three times in the press release and the conference call company management referred to “closing the loop” in manufacturing management.
There are at least two trends at play here. First is the continuing consolidation of the ERP market. I’m only surprised by the acquiring company in this case. But it fits another trend of increasing IT/manufacturing/simulation blending.
Siemens acquired UGS a few years ago forming Siemens PLM. Integration with the rest of Siemens for virtualization of manufacturing has been proceeding. But integration with Siemens IT seems to be lagging. It will be interesting to see if Dassault is able to bring the integration of design, simulation and operations management into fruition. If it does, this would be a powerful for manufacturing leaders.
Dassault labels itself “the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, world leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions.” The press release notes that the acquisition of the Long Beach, California-based Apriso enriches the global manufacturing operations management capabilities of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
Apriso will be integrated with and expand Dassault Systèmes’ DELMIA application portfolio and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform’s virtual+reality capabilities. “Apriso’s solutions synchronize global manufacturing networks, offering real-time visibility and control over the business processes performed by plants and suppliers. These solutions establish a common set of operational standards that can be managed holistically, on a global basis, while continuously improving and meeting local market and customer needs. By integrating these solutions with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, customers will have a comprehensive view of their business, from idea to design, to production and global product availability for consumers worldwide.”
by Gary Mintchell | May 23, 2013 | Operations Management
Jim Pinto discusses the decline of corporate IT departments (among other things) in his latest eNewsletter.
I thought I’d respond with a few thoughts. His premise is that the cloud and the “bring your on device” movements will cause a big decline in corporate IT departments. He conjures images of Dilbert’s nemesis, Mordach, the Preventer of IT, in his discussion.
It’s easy to forget that IT leaders brought in great productivity enhancing tools, but, also from the old mainframe ideas, they brought in enterprise planning applications that forced companies to fit their business practices to fit the application.
The Cloud will change that–even the prototype of the monolithic ERP system, SAP, is moving rapidly to the Cloud.
The Cloud enables information anywhere in a manner not possible before. Mobile devices along with analytics, business intelligence and visualization improvements are enabling faster, better decision making at the appropriate level of the organization.
IT organizations still must lead and enable the proliferation of new technologies. Their crucial roles are probably in the realm of cyber security. Martin Ford foresaw in his book, “Lights in the Tunnel,” that automation will cause the elimination of many IT jobs. The shift to the cloud moves some of these jobs from client companies to service provider companies. But other jobs will also be eliminated in the shift.
Interesting about Manufacturing IT. They brought in MES-level applications, and then upper management figured they had done their job and laid them all off. Just like advanced process control, these systems don’t run themselves in perpetuity. Many are now realizing that a certain staffing level is required to fully exploit the benefits of the technology.
Departments come and go, but essential functions survive.
by Gary Mintchell | May 22, 2013 | Software
The “cloud” is still much discussed, and misunderstood, in manufacturing circles. My first conversation with a software supplier who used the cloud as a service delivery vehicle was probably ten years ago. The concept has been growing slowly, as software and networking concepts usually do in manufacturing and production applications.
I’m beginning to see more creativity in cloud applications. This is an encouraging sign. There are many benefits that go along with the drawbacks. One of the first benefits is cost. You are not maintaining your own servers. And you may see creative pricing models. Ideas about how to use the “community” of users are appearing.
Plex Systems is an ERP supplier (along with business intelligence, MES and other applications) that has tied its business to the cloud. I just checked out a white paper it offered on a community-driven approach to ERP. This idea
exploits another benefit accruing from the cloud–creativity in service delivery.
Quoting from the white paper:
Today’s winning manufacturers have discovered a new approach. They implement systems from developers who do not guess what a user needs related to enterprise software features and functions.
In this new approach, the developer seeks out and puts emphasis on partnering with users who want to move the product and the services forward. This “pull” delivery translates into less waiting time for features that are truly needed by the users and that are well grounded and have robust functionality.
Plex Online ERP, delivered as a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution, incorporates this new “community-driven” product enhancement model, and signals the end to the static development and version upgrade process.
When a user requests a new feature that cannot be met with existing settings or configuration, Plex Systems delivers it in a fraction of the time due to its Rapid Application Development capability. Plex Systems does not wait months to deliver product enhancements and performance improvements in a service pack, a feature pack, or a small release or major release. Features are developed using an iterative process and deployed when they are ready.
New CMO
Plex has just appointed a new Chief Marketing Officer. This appointment is no doubt a direct result of additional venture capital funding and a new CEO. Heidi Melin agreed to talk with me on Day 6 on the job. Melin previously served as CMO at Eloqua, Taleo, Polycom and the Hyperion Corp.
Although she asked far more questions of me than I got in with her, she did discuss why she came to Plex. She’s a Bay Area native and familiar with other types of ERP. Plex is in the Detroit area and focuses on manufacturing customers–especially in discrete manufacturing.
“Plex is interesting,” she told me. “It is at the right place with products being built as native cloud. It’s also the right timeframe where the manufacturing industry is poised to grow and change. Adoption of cloud-based
ERP is the right application to help this process.”
I, of course, agree with the timing about the manufacturing industry. That’s why I’m starting The Manufacturing Connection soon. Sign up to be notified when we switch it over.
