by Gary Mintchell | Feb 19, 2013 | Uncategorized
I met Josh and Adam at a PLM conference last year. Interesting guys. One is an engineer and the other a designer–and they bicker about the difference in the disciplines on their podcast. You can subscribe to EvD on iTunes.
I’ve enclosed the latest one here. Carl Bass, CEO of AutoDesk, is the guest. I’m not a follower of “CAD” but the whole design to manufacture system intrigues me. In this episode, Bass says something I consider significant by noting that heterogeneous tools are here to stay. Any supplier who thinks it can lock in customers to only its tools is dreaming. I think this applies in automation as well.
by Gary Mintchell | Feb 19, 2013 | Automation, Commentary
I’ve unleashed another podcast on the world. I know, I’m a little tardy getting it up on the blog site. By the way, did you know you can get an iPhone app for this podcast series and get updated regularly. Just search Automation Minutes Gary Mintchell. You can also subscribe on iTunes.
by Gary Mintchell | Feb 18, 2013 | Automation, Events, Operations Management
Schneider Electric used its time in the ARC Forum Press Conferences to announce PlantStruxure Process Expert System (PES), integrating the functionalities of Schneider Electric’s PlantStruxure collaborative architecture with StruxureWare Process Expert, a single software environment that integrates control applications, supervision and field devices to configure an entire control system.
PlantStruxure PES brings together programmable automation controllers (PAC) and Distributed Control Systems (DCS) to form an energy-aware process automation system that meets the demands of today’s production facilities while delivering on growing energy management requirements. The system combines energy and process data in one platform. PlantStruxure PES delivers data that drives timely and accurate decision-making to reduce energy consumption and increase process efficiency.
StruxureWare Process Expert, the software component of PES, leverages a single database to enable users to directly interface with a single process element, such as a pump, during runtime operations with a single click. The software also allows object libraries built for StruxureWare Process Expert to be easily modified, streamlined and customized for individual processes and users.
“PlantStruxure PES is a leading edge offer in the field of process automation systems that brings the best from the PLC/SCADA and DCS worlds and combines this with integrated Energy Management features to deliver superior value throughout the lifecycle of a plant,” said Mary Ramsey, Senior Vice President, U.S. Industry Business, Schneider Electric. “The tight integration of the system ensures efficiency from design engineering through operation, and engineers can develop the configuration faster and more accurately, and maintenance teams can diagnose and solve problems faster to reduce the downtime of a facility.”
Historically, choices have been limited to simple PACs or more complex DCS, with no customizable option for processes with different needs. The run-time services provided by PlantStruxure PES gives operators a complete picture of the production process, and enables single-screen configuration and diagnostic access traditionally found only in a DCS operator interface.
Schneider Electric’s PlantStruxure integrates both hardware and software components throughout the plant, delivering a complete process management solution. EcoStruxure connects five domains of business: Power, Datacenters, Process and Machines, Building Control and Physical Security – in an open and flexible technology architecture that delivers up to 30 percent savings in energy efficiency.
by Gary Mintchell | Feb 18, 2013 | Events, Operations Management, Software
Inductive Automation announced at the ARC Forum Press Conference that it will launch the Ignition Module Marketplace, which it touts as the first community-based software module store in its industry, on March 4, 2013.
It has probably been almost 10 years ago that I first met Steve Hechtman, founder and CEO of Inductive Automation. He sounded the same as many entrepreneurs I meet who have developed something disruptive that is going to revolutionize the industry. Well, ten years is a lot of staying power and the company used the ARC Forum as a launch pad toward greater visibility in the market (something I’ve done once or twice myself). His team is definitely building a platform and business model worth watching.
Ignition by Inductive Automation is a modular software platform on which companies in a wide variety of industries can customize to their specific HMI, SCADA or MES requirements. At the new Ignition Module Marketplace, Ignition users can add increased functionality to their installed platform by downloading, trying and buying any module. Modules can be purchased separately, and range from small plug-ins to full vertical software solutions.
In addition to modules developed by Inductive Automation, the community-based online store will offer modules developed and made available by Ignition users. The ability to share modules with other Ignition users around the world opens up many new possibilities and removes the proprietary boundaries which often lock users into repeatedly buying from the same software vendor.
According to the company, the launch of the industrial automation software industry’s first community-based module store is the latest in a series of “firsts” for Inductive Automation. Since its founding 10 years ago, the company has released the first database-centric HMI / SCADA software solution, the first HMI / SCADA software built entirely on Java, the first 100% cross-platform HMI / SCADA software, and the first HMI / SCADA solution built on a totally unified platform.
“Inductive Automation has consistently achieved firsts in the industrial automation industry by bringing the latest technologies to our field. The Ignition Module Marketplace represents a major step forward for HMI / SCADA software. The ability to instantly buy modules and share modules with the simplicity of an ‘app store’ experience will be revolutionary for our users,” said Hechtman.
by Gary Mintchell | Feb 18, 2013 | Events
I was way too busy during the Forum to post anything. Then I spent Friday catching up on life.
Overall, Forum attendance was on a par with others. I think more and more it has become hard for users to get travel permission to attend forums and conferences. It’s always a shame. Professionals can absorb tons of ideas to make their companies better–but those short-sighted bean counters are always suspicious (or jealous).
Following will be a series of announcements from the press conference marathon and a few observations.
