March 2019

55 www.drivesncontrols.com March 2019 EXECUTIVE VIEWPOINT n Managing Innovation in Process Control “Even the smallest sensor can now be a source of data and a node on a network or two” The level of automation and innovation in today’s process control systems is a long way from where we were just a few years ago, and it will require process engineers to take-on new challenges, particularly with regards managing technical innovation, data and connectivity. There are two clear UK market themes from my perspective as a business manager of a company that supplies both 100,000+ catalogue process and control products, plus a wide variety of highly customised system solutions. The first is the value of innovation when it is correctly applied, and the second is managing process data and platform integration efficiently. The UK market is a mix of niche, high-value OEM manufacturing and engineering, with a large process infrastructure including the utilities, food & beverage, pharma and medical and so on. Typically, when we are solving problems for an OEM, managing innovation is all about making design and process engineers aware of what is possible, from the rafts of new products that allow for the micro-management of gases and fluids, for example, to new sensing and monitoring technologies. Whenever an innovation is brought to market, it has inherent benefits for a range of potential customers – either being a lower cost to operate, or other benefits in terms of quality, throughput or smart operation. We have to work hard to let our customers and the general market know what is out there (good quality trade magazines such as D&C obviously help!) and provide plenty of training and demonstration opportunities to help introduce new technologies. Managing data and connectivity is another major area for change in the market. Even the smallest sensor can now be a source of data and a node on a network or two. We have developed a version of CANbus to ensure our own process products can be networked together to provide the decentralised model that so many new and updated systems require, however distributed control is usually part of a wider control and information network. Concepts such as Industry 4.0, the smart factory, and the IIoT, have moved quickly from concepts to reality and for the UK market to remain competitive, every process and control engineer will need to be comfortable integrating systems into a wider network. The good news is that, in our experience, the UK market is proving to be both flexible and responsive. We are seeing a significant uptake in new ideas, training and a genuine open-mindedness about how to approach process automation in new ways, with more advanced technology, regardless of the prevailing politics. n General Manager, Burkert UK Neil Saunders lowered the barrier to entry for many businesses, which may have assumed the technology was not suitable for them. Operators now have many options when it comes to implementing Scada, making it suitable for industries of any size. Scada systems can be optimised to the needs of each individual process and facility. We have recently seen Scada products used in the UK in applications as divergent as emergency services training, airports and renewable energy. Another spur driving Scada’s popularity is its ability to display big data efficiently and intuitively. Tailored icons, symbols, diagrams and reports allow big data to be rationalised into actionable knowledge for operators in real time, presented within a supervisory system that closely matches their actual plant. The vast quantities of data produced by a smart facility can be translated into a fast response on the ground, protecting uptime. Where this flexibility and modularity really pays off is in keeping pace with hardware. A Scada system can now evolve with hardware technology, delivering a high level of interchangeability. As hardware grows or changes within a facility, re- integration is achieved easily by changing individual modules or process visualisations. With rapid changes in technology being a key to Industry 4.0, Scada is well-placed to ensure a certain level of future-proofing. Recent integration with technologies such as augmented reality (AR) further proves this adaptability. Scada is helping to smooth the transition to, or even introduce, the concept of the smart facility and Industry 4.0 to UK businesses.