by Gary Mintchell | Feb 21, 2025 | Process Control, Technology
People often remind me of problems I tried to solve decades ago now made possible through technology advances and creativity.
Some 30 years ago, I tried to concept a system where we could monitor all the electrical power buses in a plant using the data to reveal potential problems with machines along the production line.
It didn’t fly.
One of the few companies that I would expect to be able to put that sort of system into operation would be Schneider Electric. I had the opportunity to interview Manishi Tiwari, Global Director of EcoStruxure Power and Process at Schneider Electric during the recent conference held in Orlando.
Her task is to lead the teams that will enable the sort of system I had envisioned with a customer way back in 1995. The technology now exists. Now the leadership exists to bring it all together.
She told me that about half of her 17-year career at Schneider Electric was in the process business with the other half working in the electrical power business.
Industries require electrical power to operate. But those systems are not built for information exchange between it and process control. Engineers must connect these systems considering latency, reliability, and continuity. Many systems are upgrades to brownfield sites. These most likely require upgrades to electrical equipment such as circuit breakers, relays and other such equipment. How these new components interact with the process must be carefully considered.
Conversely, process system upgrades, say a change in capacity, will affect the electrical power system. These must be studied and considered at design.
Cyber security also must be engineered into the system. Then steps must be taken to improve information to the operator to make their job better.
Schneider Electric not only has expertise in power systems and process systems, but it also has the AVEVA software portfolio to finish the loop.
I must add that in 27 years of interviewing I’ve seldom had a conversation where the other person jumped right in with background, problem statement, possible solutions, and, oh, with a minimum of marketing jargon. And when I sat down to write, I could construct a logical story.
by Gary Mintchell | Oct 14, 2024 | Automation, Data Management, Process Control
The automation side of Yokogawa has not contacted me for years. I’ve lost all my contacts there. Recently some news has come my way. This news incorporates a lot of things currently receiving media attention—data integration and visualization solution that incorporates robotic process automation (RPA).
Yokogawa Electric Corp. has announced the global release in all markets other than Japan of OpreX Intelligent Manufacturing Hub. By utilizing robotic process automation (RPA) implemented in a low-code / no-code environment or through customization by Yokogawa, this data integration solution can significantly reduce reporting time. OpreX Intelligent Manufacturing Hub covers the full range of key performance indicators (KPIs), workflows, and reporting at every level of the organization, from the C-suite to the plant floor, and employs a single database to integrate and display on dashboards data that customers need to make the right decision at the right time.
Main Features
- User-friendly dashboards that visualize data for decision makers at each layer of the organization
- Reduction in reporting time
The OpreX Intelligent Manufacturing Hub also allows for the drilling down through data to find root causes and gain insights. It is suited for use in a wide variety of industries, from oil & gas to chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Along with this solution, Yokogawa will provide holistic support and services through its global network that are essential for the success of any intelligent business tool project, including definition of specifications, training, maintenance, and technical support.
by Gary Mintchell | Oct 9, 2024 | Automation, Events, News, Process Control
I didn’t rate an invitation to this year’s Honeywell User Group. They have reorganized. All my marketing contacts are evidently gone. I checked in to the only source I have, Control Global, who somehow maintains contact and once again published the email show daily. The link is to one of the days of the show.
Looks like the highlight from the keynote is that once again Honeywell Process is reorganizing. They are trying to reflect the latest hype in the industry—AI and cybersecurity. Indications filtering to me hint at the relegation of Honeywell Connected Enterprise (whose user conference last year was the same dates as HUG this year) as a business unit. It’s all hard to tell what’s up with the major automation suppliers in this era.
From Control Global’s editor in chief Len Vermillion:
In case anyone still had any doubts, Pramesh Maheshwari, president of Honeywell Process Solutions, stepped on stage and matter-of-factly reminded an audience full of process control professionals of one simple fact: digital solutions will be at the forefront of the industrial future.
Maheshwari and other Honeywell business leaders mapped out the company’s business vision to open this week’s 2024 Honeywell Users Group (HUG) Conference at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.
Their vision focused on three key trends driving the future of the global industrial sector, each requiring a proactive approach utilizing new and existing technologies that will help businesses stay “ahead of the curve”—the event’s main theme. Those key trends include artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and the energy transition.
“Imagine a world that is incredibly efficient. That’s the power of AI. Imagine a world that is safer. That’s the power of cybersecurity. Imagine a world that is cleaner. That’s the power of energy transition,” Maheshwari said. “Finally, imagine a world that is a better place to live. That is what it means to stay ahead of the curve.”
by Gary Mintchell | Oct 1, 2024 | Process Control, Standards, Technology
I have two pieces of news regarding The Open Process Automation Forum. These came just as I was wondering if the organization had been making any more progress. I have unfortunately seen enough of these open automation standards attempts to wonder if this one will go much farther—especially given the maturity of the market.
This group started as a response to the high cost of upgrading automation systems in the field in the process industries. Where I see more opportunities would be in the discrete manufacturing area where the old trend of larger and more complex systems seem to be reversing to a more manageable size for the automation with the requirement to tie the systems to information networks.
My second piece, following this one, reports on an analysis of OPAF’s proposed system orchestration standard.
Philosophy aside, OPAF has made another step forward by launching the O-PAS Certification Program.
The Open Group Open Process Automation Forum (OPAF) has developed the O-PAS Standard, a standard of The Open Group, which uses existing and emerging standards whenever possible, making it a standard of standards. The standard enables the development of fit-for-purpose systems consisting of cohesive functional elements acquired from independent suppliers and integrated easily, via a modular architecture characterized by open standard interfaces between elements.
O-PAS certified products allow end users to build open, interoperable, and secure systems with products from multiple suppliers, offering greater flexibility in obsolescence management, system upgrades, and technology infusion.
Jacco Opmeer, Co-Chair of the Open Process Automation Forum at The Open Group and Principal Automation Engineer at Shell says, “Certification provides the credibility that the fundamental qualities open systems will bring are measurable, and this will support the realization of many of the values the Open Process Automation Forum has been promoting.”
Hideki Murata, head of the Systems Integration Planning Dept. at Yokogawa Electric Corporation, commented, “Yokogawa welcomes the O-PAS Certification Program as this will allow us to officially certify our products designed for the O-PAS Standard. We expect the program will accelerate the development of the O-PAS ecosystem by enabling end users to select certified products with confidence. This will help the industry move forward with open, interoperable, and secure products and systems.”
Within the O-PAS Standard, there are Profiles that define the various segments of the architecture. The O-PAS Certification Program is based on these Profiles and for each Profile, the Supplier must attain independent verification of its claims of conformance. The Connectivity Framework and the Global Discovery Server Profiles are currently ready to be certified against, and The Open Group is anticipating that more Profiles will be available by the end of the year.
by Gary Mintchell | Aug 19, 2024 | News, Organizations, Process Control, Sensors
Partnerships continue to form core strategy in this maturing industrial marketplace. This partnership allows each entity to focus resources on their core businesses forming a new entity with another focus.
Perhaps more technology companies should consider splitting out pieces of the business that could be focused and innovative. Then the core business could also be more focused and innovative. We’ve seen Emerson realign its portfolio over the past few years, for example.
German sensor company SICK and the Swiss measurement and automation technology specialist Endress+Hauser have agreed on a strategic partnership. Endress+Hauser will take over worldwide sales and service of SICK’s process analyzers and gas flowmeters, with a joint venture to be established for their production and further development. The aim of the partnership is to provide customers with even better support in increasing their efficiency and sustainability.
SICK and Endress+Hauser signed a joint memorandum of understanding for a strategic partnership in October 2023. Since then, the project has been examined and plans for implementing the cooperation have been drawn up. Following approval by the respective supervisory bodies, representatives of both companies have now signed a corresponding agreement. The closing of the transaction is planned for the turn of the year 2024/2025 and is subject to approval by antitrust authorities.
As a key aspect of the strategic partnership, Endress+Hauser will take over sales and service for process analysis and gas flow measurement technology completely. Around 800 specialized sales and service employees in 42 countries will transfer from SICK to Endress+Hauser. Customers will benefit by receiving more products from a single source. The global Endress+Hauser sales network will enable additional customers to be acquired, more industries to be reached and new applications to be developed.
From 2025, the production and further development of process analyzers and gas flowmeters will be the responsibility of a joint venture in which each partner will hold a 50 percent stake. It will employ about 730 people at several locations in Germany. The joint venture will work closely with Endress+Hauser’s competence centers to drive product innovations forward efficiently.
SICK is one of the world’s leading solution providers for sensor-based applications in the industrial sector. The core business of factory and logistics automation, which accounts for more than 80 percent of sales, will not be affected by the partnership.
by Gary Mintchell | Jul 10, 2024 | Automation, Process Control
Just when I realized there had been no news for quite a while from the major automation suppliers this news from Emerson came my way. The news concerns expanding DeltaV Automation Platform with the DeltaV Version 15 Feature Pack 2 update for its distributed control system (DCS). With so few new plants under construction, making upgrades easier becomes an important goal for developers. Especially so for transitioning from legacy competitive systems.
The release empowers users to transition to a DeltaV DCS from more third-party control systems, expands support for Ethernet device networks, and reduces the complexity of state-based control implementations.
“DeltaV Version 15 Feature Pack 2 provides users new functionality, capabilities and enhancements to further expand seamless data and I/O integration as well as applications to more easily modernize their operations, improve connectivity and collaboration, and lock in operational excellence,” said Claudio Fayad, vice president of technology for Emerson’s process systems and solutions business.
One of the most common barriers to control system modernization is the high cost and labor requirements of transitioning I/O. DeltaV IO.Connect, which lets users replace legacy control systems with modern DeltaV software and controllers while leaving legacy I/O infrastructure in place, now supports multiple third-party control systems.
Plants can now transition to a modern DeltaV control system from the most common third-party systems right away—immediately reaping the benefits of modern control—and transition their I/O infrastructure gradually, on their own schedule, to minimize downtime and risks.
Ethernet-based, high speed, data rich device networks continue to gain popularity across the automation landscape and will only accelerate as Advanced Physical Layer extends the application range in process and hybrid industries. With this latest release, the DeltaV control system has increased the types of data as well as the diagnostic capabilities of the wide range of supported Ethernet-based communication protocols including PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, OPC UA, and Modbus TCP. These enhancements advance the solid foundation of DeltaV automation to exchange increasing volume and variety of data from the next generation of field device networks.
State-based control is a key enabler as many plants drive toward autonomous and semi-autonomous operations to reduce downtime and minimize safety risk. With DeltaV Version 15 Feature Pack 2, engineering and operations teams now have more options for how state-based control sequences execute when operations dictate a change in logic. This optional behavior enables safe and reliable operations while improving the flexibility and maintainability of state-based logic. To improve operator situational awareness the watch area capability of DeltaV Live has also been enhanced to persist as operators navigate between displays.
