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As manufacturers embrace Industry 4.0, smart factories and connected operations, a different reality is emerging: smaller, more efficient AI models are often the better tool for the job.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com A common topic of debate revolves around how process system architectures will be shaped in the future. One architectural vision would enable a shift of focus from process efficiency control to business performance control, with increasing levels of monitoring and control.

Industrial control and automation systems investments require critical business management decisions for long term competitiveness, growth and profits over time.

SCADA systems were traditionally “walled off” from other systems operating independently from the network. Prior to the awareness of possible attacks, this seemed to provide all the protection the SCADA system needed. They were largely proprietary systems with such limited access and esoteric coding that very few people would have the ability to access them to launch an attack. Over time, however, they became integrated into the larger company network as a means to leverage their valuable data and increase plant efficiency. Therefore, the reality is their security is now often only as strong as the security of the network.

Seamless connectivity between IT and OT networks has become a fundamental business need, but it requires a fresh look to balance confidentiality, integrity and availability.

Cybersecurity has never been more important or more challenging for manufacturers and critical infrastructure operators.

As digitalization flows through every major industry in the world, the need for visibility into the devices operating on the network–including IT, OT and IoT assets–has never been greater. And as cargo, passenger, fare and other systems used by the transportation industry become more complex and connected, they are increasingly targeted in high stakes cyberattacks.

Next year will be about freeing trapped value from legacy manufacturing constraints, compressing time-to-market and reducing the cost of competitiveness.

The PLCopen Process Industry Working Group will explore the incorporation of the function blocks PLCopen has developed for the O-PAS standard into a new PLCopen standard.

Reliability is expected when systems are new. The real test comes after deployment and years of continuous operation.

It is time to think of a drone as more than a flying camera. It is a mobile platform for easily delivering sensors to various locations.

Dramatic advancements in technology are driving the Internet of Things, creating more tools for industrial automation and the process industries.

Perhaps no other new technology comes with more promise to manufacturing executives than big data analytics for manufacturing and the process industries.

Converging networking and other technologies ease remote access from the plant floor to PCs, tablets, and smartphones.

The best way to determine potential ROI is by tracking some vital key performance indicators or KPIs.

The industrial automation industry is starting to explore and implement Internet of Things concepts and technology.

Make the pilot lab more flexible, accurate, and productive while maintaining the Class 1, Division 2 hazardous area classification.

OPC UA or MQTT, do they work together, or is one better than the other?

Applying the ANSI/ISA-95 standard to IoT, IIoT, and all things internet.

Combining industrial grade ultra‑wideband technology and the omlox open locating standard, SICK’s Coriva real-time location system continuously monitors vehicles, goods and material to support operational efficiency improvements.