Slow Productivity

Are you the type of person who is known for getting things done? Is yours the first name that comes to mind when someone in the organization needs a report written or a light bulb replaced? Is “no” a seldom used part of your vocabulary?

In other words, do you always feel busy yet not accomplishing the work that would most boost your career or inner peace?

When you feel the need to focus on the things that really matter needing a way to say “no” more—or better stop being the name everyone thinks of first—then you need to dive into Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport (author of Deep Work, A World Without Email, Digital Minimalism, So Good They Can’t Ignore You, and more).

We know what productivity is relating to our production and manufacturing plants. But knowledge-worker productivity cannot be readily defined. 

Influenced through reading about the Slow Food movement in Italy, Newport thought about how our decades long obsession with productivity has led to what he calls pseudo-productivity—busy-ness just for the sake of appearing to be, well, busy.

He will show you a few calendar tricks to help you say “no” or at least something like “I’d be glad to help if you see where on my calendar I could get to it.” 

How do I get to Slow Productivity?

  • Do Fewer Things. 
  • Work at a Natural Pace. 
  • Obsess over Quality.

If you do what you’re supposed to do and do it well, how can anyone complain?

PICMG Announces Release of New InterEdge Standard

  • Targeted at Open, Modular Process Control Systems
  • Modular compute, switch, and I/O architecture enables interoperable standard for industrial PCs, PLCs, and distributed control systems.
  • Supports IEC 61499 and IEC 61131 for compatibility with a wide range of automation systems.
  • Hot-swappable modules can be replaced or upgraded while the system is running, minimizing downtime and maintenance costs.

I am trying to understand this one. Reading it for the third time, I guess the Open Process Automation Forum decided that one of its defined components among its “standard of standards” needed to be a standard. Although this “open, modular process control system” sounds eerily familiar. I hope it does help move the industry forward.

­­PICMG, the consortium for open hardware specifications, announced the release of InterEdge, a modular architecture for process control systems (PCS). The IEC 61499 and IEC 61131-compatible InterEdge specification promises to revolutionize the industry with an interoperable, multi-vendor alternative to proprietary Industrial PCs (IPCs), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), and Distributed Control Systems (DCSs).

Given that the OPAF initiative was begun by ExxonMobil engineering leaders, this quote is informative:

“Business needs evolve at an ever-increasing rate,” said Francisco Garcia, Americas Regional Instrument Lead at ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Company and member of the InterEdge technical working group. “InterEdge delivers an interchangeable base hardware standard for industrial manufacturers looking to adapt to changing business needs. As a result, providers can deploy and scale dedicated physical assets and focus on value-added software and services.”

And from the press release:

InterEdge defines a vendor-neutral, open standard for edge computing and I/O module hardware. It segments hardware into Compute Modules, Switch Modules, and I/O Modules. All of these modules are connected via a common backplane, enabling easy customization and expansion of industrial automation functions.

An overview of the specification and an architecture diagram are available here. The full specification is available to purchase. 

And the reason for the standard:

By replacing proprietary edge devices, InterEdge eliminates vendor lock-in, simplifies integration and maintenance, and enables online upgrades, all of which contribute to significant cost savings.

Emerson Jumps Into The Software-Defined Automation Architecture Fray

  • Sees Boundless Automation as Industry Inflection Point to Address Data Barriers & Modernize Operations
  • Advanced software-defined automation architecture to integrate intelligent field, edge and cloud, unlocking a new era of productivity
  • Global automation leaders convene to learn about Boundless Automation at Emerson Exchange in Düsseldorf

I seem have become sort of persona non grata by the new marketing regime at Emerson Automation group. However, I picked up this news from it’s meeting last month in Düsseldorf, Germany. I found this statement by automation President and CEO Lal Karsanbhai interesting. It reflects the underlying philosophy I wanted to address when Dave and Jane and I started Automation World back in 2003. The world requires suppliers to go beyond proprietary control and leverage all the data for higher level decision making.

“After decades of implementing evolving automation strategies, manufacturers recognize the need to extract greater value from data that is locked in a rigid and now outdated automation architecture,” said Emerson President and CEO Lal Karsanbhai. “The proliferation of data and the development of advanced software are moving us to an era of unprecedented productivity. Rich data and advanced software are converging to form the next major inflection point in the industry.”

Acknowledging the foundational problems we’ve identified for years, Emerson says it is “poised to transform industrial manufacturing with the next-generation automation architecture designed to break down data silos, liberate data and unleash the power of software with Boundless Automation.”

I applaud Emerson’s strategy, although I do wish it had been done along with the standards efforts of OPAF. But only a couple of competitors seem to be serious about that one. Further, I continue to find companies in my research still trying to break down the silos. I thought we had accomplished that 10 years ago. I guess not. We still have complex networks of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and every department for itself on data definition and retention.

To address this challenge and help customers achieve their operational improvements, Emerson is introducing a vision and actionable strategy to push more computing power closest to where it’s needed and establish the blueprint for a modern industrial computing environment. This environment includes flexibility to deploy software across the intelligent field; a modern, software-defined edge; and the cloud. All three domains will be connected through a unifying data fabric, helping to maintain data context, improve its usability and increase security.

Emerson’s modern, software-defined automation architecture will break down hierarchical networks, securely democratizing and contextualizing data for both people and the artificial intelligence (AI) engines that depend on a continuous flow of information.

Here are the components within Boundless Automation:

  • Intelligent Field: An intelligent field will simplify access to more data from more sources and a greater diversity of applications. With smarter devices and new connection technologies like 5G and APL, customers can streamline both connectivity from anywhere in the world, and integration across the new architecture
  • Edge: The new OT edge creates a modern, secure, low-latency computing environment, putting new software tools and actionable data closest to its user. This enhanced edge environment establishes a platform for IT and OT colleagues to innovate and collaborate more than ever before.
  • Cloud: The cloud will power complex operations and engineering capabilities on-premise and across the enterprise by providing infinite analytical computing power, enterprise collaboration, attractive lifecycle costs and on-demand support and service.

Advanced Video Skills Training

I first wrote about DeepHow almost a year ago. DeepHow is an AI solution for skilled trades know-how capturing and training. The video platform and capture app empowers organizations to capture their processes on a smart device, upload it into the platform via the cloud, and then leverage AI to segment, transcribe, and translate the video into steps and relevant languages for their multilingual workforce. Workers can access the videos at any time, allowing them to onboard faster and upskill more efficiently with their company’s proprietary processes.

Casandra (Cassie) Franklin, Program Manager Innovation and Training Center at ISAIC in Detroit, used the system and chatted with me recently about actually using the system to train employees in the sewing area. She works at quite an interesting organization. As its website proclaims:

The next big thing in the apparel industry is here. It’s not in Paris. Or New York. Or L.A. It’s right here in Detroit. Offering education, apprenticeships, and opportunity for new careers that look, sound, feel, pay, and are better. With a commitment to re-shoring, workforce development, and sustainability, ISAIC – Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center, will redefine how the future is fashioned.

A Detroit-based 501c3 nonprofit, ISAIC is a national resource for those committed to positive impact through responsible production of high-quality garments and provides solutions centered around people, education, advanced manufacturing and upward mobility for workers. ISAIC’s proprietary training curriculum is being used in multiple states across the country. Its learning and contract manufacturing factory is located in mid-town Detroit, above Carhartt’s flagship store. 

Its mission is defined thus: To redefine the future of work by putting people trained in advanced and emerging manufacturing technologies at the forefront of sustainable soft goods production with a commitment to the wellbeing of our team, partners, community and planet.

Franklin told me that they had tried some training systems. Mostly they were too complicated to maintain. With the DeepHow system, they had an easy workflow for making and using instructional videos. They were easy for their workers to access (QR code to HMI). The workers learned efficiently and effectively.

DeepHow told me: Traditional methods of learning like text-based SOPs can’t be updated efficiently, and the average worker today would rather turn to video to learn new skills. They can watch the expert right on the screen, and emulate that expertise on their own. Creating video content doesn’t have to be hard or require the support of a professional video production team with expensive equipment.

The system looks like this (information from DeepHow):

DeepHow’s Workflow Capturer lets you capture experts’ workflow via video as they perform real tasks. Its native apps (iOS & Android) are designed for multi-language capture and are noise-proof for industrial environments. Not to mention the easy setup and auto uploading management, DeepHow is incredibly user-friendly.

Once videos are captured and uploaded, AI Stephanie, DeepHow’s core technology, takes over. Using Natural Language Processing (NLP), image analysis, and computer vision, AI Stephanie indexes and segments your videos into key workflow steps. She also auto-tags keywords and images, auto-summarizes step names, generates subtitles, and converts them into multiple languages. 

DeepHow’s Workflow Builder lets you create smart how-to videos by integrating video, diagrams, subtitles, and translations. This module enables minor text editing and review, offers annotation and video trimming features, and allows for workflow reviewing, publishing, and sharing. 

Workflow Navigator delivers step-by-step workflow guidance in multiple languages and supports in-video search. Users can interact with AI Stephanie to learn anytime, anywhere, and at their own pace. The adaptive video resolutions ensure that video content is accessible and engaging for all.

DeepHow also boasts a Skills Management module. It empowers supervisors and HR professionals to create, assign, manage, and track skills training. It uses AI to recommend skills and promotes personal development. This means you can efficiently assess skills, certify workers, and have a clear, insightful understanding of your workforce’s capabilities. 

The Analytics component of DeepHow provides a comprehensive enterprise-wide review of video training health, tracks engagement, and pinpoints skill gaps and opportunities for improvement. 

The Open Group Welcomes Shell as Its Latest Platinum Member

I just released a podcast where I thought about standards, interoperability, and open technologies. This news came my way, speaking of open, that Shell Information Technology International has become a platinum member of The Open Group.

Shell has been a Member of The Open Group since 1997, and has contributed to its numerous Forums which enable collaboration to develop open technology standards and certifications. The company played a critical role in the foundation of The Open Group OSDU Forum that facilitates the development of transformational technology for the world’s changing Energy needs, and donated important intellectual property that formed the basis of the OSDU Data Platform. Shell also contributed to the inception of The Open Group Open Footprint Forum that focuses on creating an environmental footprint data model standard applicable to all industries.

The Open Group is a global consortium that enables the achievement of business objectives through technology standards. Its diverse membership of more than 900 organizations includes customers, systems and solutions suppliers, tool vendors, integrators, academics, and consultants across multiple industries.

Glad to see end user companies taking an active part in openness. Their support is the only way open technologies will grow.

Follow this blog

Get a weekly email of all new posts.