The Industrial Automation Business with OnPing, Exploring Automation
Welcome to the summary of our full Exploring Automaton series. We took the articles written over the last couple of years and tried to boil them down to a concise and easy to reference overview. I hope you enjoy it.
Part 1: The State of the Industrial Automation Business
The industrial automation business is growing rapidly. Terms like Industry 4.0, Industrial Internet of Things, Cloud, and Edge are becoming more common. Technology has become more powerful and accessible, leading to reduced costs and complexity in automation technologies. These factors have brought industrial automation into a new era.
Victories of Modern Automation
Low-code and no-code development platforms, increased access to online information and tutorials, and reduced costs of tech literacy have made technology easier to use and more powerful than ever before.
The Role of Integrators in Industrial Automation Business
Integrators simplify the connection between users and developers of automation technology, managing relationships with people and organizations. Despite the ease of use and accessibility of new technologies, high-level technical understanding remains crucial.
Basic Roles in the Industrial Automation Business
- Developer: Creates products for automation systems.
- Consumer: Needs automated solutions for business processes.
- Integrator: Connects developer solutions with consumer problems, implements system design, and maintains relationships.
Perspectives in the Industrial Automation Business
Integrators provide developers access to emerging markets and guide consumers through the vast array of available software products. They help bridge the gap between consumers’ knowledge and automation needs, processing marketing information to provide actionable solutions.
Platforming Automation: Balancing New with Old in the Industrial Automation Business
OnPing is a platform that supports integrators by providing a flexible environment for developing solutions. It can function as cloud SCADA infrastructure, an industrial app store, or an edge-computing network, depending on the needs of the integrator.
OnPing Platform Support for Integrators in the Industrial Automation Business
OnPing can supplement other products in use. Examples include:
- Data Pass Through: Connects data streams between non-native environments.
- Industrial App Management: Allows remote updates for edge-located devices.
- Product Development: Offers custom features and applications.
- Lumberjack Edge Computing System: Enables data logging and edge computation for consumers with existing cloud infrastructure.
OnPing aims to make data accessible and understandable, supporting integrators in solving problems for consumers.
Integration Summary
The role of integrators is expanding as automation solutions increase. OnPing will continue to develop a platform that supports the best solutions and specialists, enabling access to powerful tools and providing tailored support.
Part 2: Scenarios in Industrial Automation Business
A common scenario for integrators involves convincing consumers of the benefits of cloud services while addressing their concerns about reliability.
A Common Misstep: Stepping Out of Frame
Integrators should avoid arguing against consumers’ perceptions of reliability. Instead, they should work within the established framework to build trust and offer integrated solutions that combine on-prem and cloud systems.
An Integrated Environment
Consumers often lock themselves into sub-optimal systems by choosing a single solution. Integrators can propose hybrid systems that maintain the reliability of on-prem solutions while leveraging the benefits of cloud tools.
Filling the Gaps with OnPing and the Cloud
OnPing can supplement on-prem systems by providing:
- Automated Report Generation: No extensive technical experience required.
- Data Back-up Processes: Multi-year data back-up with redundancy.
- Simplified Networking: Multi-site data integration and proxy network management.
- Expanded System and Information Access: Remote data access and simplified information management.
How OnPing Expanded an On-prem Solution
OnPing was used to extend the visibility of floor-level operations to the cloud in a production facility. This allowed real-time information to be accessed remotely, enhancing the facility’s control system without compromising reliability.
Summary
Integrators should use platforms like OnPing to offer flexible solutions that address specific consumer needs. By focusing on relationships and leveraging the right tools, integrators can provide effective automation solutions.
Part 3: Communication in the Industrial Automation Business
Effective communication is crucial in automation, involving the transfer of information from devices to users or functional tools.
Importance of Notifications
Small alerts and notifications help prevent big problems by ensuring important information is communicated effectively.
Communication Failures
Integrators often excel at identifying communication errors in systems but may struggle with issues in interdepartmental communication.
Problems and Solutions
Common complaints in automation can often be addressed with better metrics and feedback channels:
- Old, Dysfunctional Equipment: Program metrics to detect device performance and communicate it effectively.
- Quality Control Disruptions: Integrate quality metrics into the automation system and create dashboards for relevant departments.
Communicating to an Audience
Device-to-device communication is only one aspect of an automation system. Effective dashboards and information interpretation are crucial for ensuring valuable data reaches the right people.
Example: Quality Control
Quality control investigations are often the result of communication failures. By providing tailored dashboards and integrating QC into the feedback loop, these issues can be mitigated.
Business and Automation are Connected
Automation systems should facilitate communication throughout an organization. Integrators can identify business opportunities by recognizing communication issues and developing solutions.
Part 4: Strategic Partners in Industrial Automation Business
Collaboration between developers, consumers, and integrators is essential for innovative development in the industrial automation business.
Developers – Innovators
Developers bring forward-thinking technologies but need real-world context to ensure relevance.
Consumers – Necessary Perspective
Consumers provide insights into industry challenges, guiding technological innovations.
Integrators – Catalysts
Integrators bridge the gap between developers and consumers, translating needs into technical specifications and ensuring resources are directed towards relevant solutions.
Synergistic Strategy: Collaboration for Impactful Solutions
Collaboration leads to customized, practical solutions that are technologically advanced and tailored to market demands. Strategic alliances also expand market reach and improve the development process.
Partners Expand Market and Reach
Strategic partnerships benefit all parties by providing access to new markets and offering the latest technological solutions. By working together, developers, consumers, and integrators push the boundaries of automation and set new standards for efficiency and innovation.
Strategic Partners Drive Industrial Automation
Collaborative projects, cross-training initiatives, and co-marketing ventures enhance the skill sets of teams, improve solution implementation, and expand market reach.
OnPing – Product of Collaboration
OnPing’s most impactful tools were developed through partnerships with users and integrators, such as:
- Data Analysis: Built in collaboration with users for intuitive tools.
- HMI Local: Tailored features for immediate on-site access to equipment data.
- Lumberjack Remote: Alternative data channels for temporary sites.
- OnPing Report Management: Regulatory reports for the water/wastewater industry.
- Event Table: Developed for industrial food and beverage partners to compare performance metrics.
In Conclusion
Collaboration is essential for driving innovation in the industrial automation business. Strategic partnerships between developers, consumers, and integrators lead to advanced, efficient, and user-centric solutions, fostering a more integrated and effective future for the industry.
OnPing was created by an Automation Consulting Agency that grew out of an Automation System Integrator so this is a business very near and dear to us, please feel free and contact us with any questions or comments related, we’re always happy to hear them.
