Implementation of digital initiatives require proper understanding and clarity in terms of requirements and expected outcomes
Technology trends moving into future
More and more manufacturing & process companies are adopting digitalisation with an aim to maximise profitability and flexibility. Going ahead, simulation in designs and operations is expected to gain momentum. Currently, top technologies are remote access and cloud connectivity —these play a vital role in the collection and analysis of plant data in real-time
Understanding the need for impactful investment
Today, digital technology is infused in every part of life, starting from online classes to enabling work from home. The manufacturing and process industry is no different and is heavily relying on digital technologies to streamline processes, increase productivity and ensure business continuity. When we talk about the OEM segment, the biggest ROI is coming from gathering the data from the machine and analysing it for machine diagnostics & troubleshooting purpose. For the manufacturing and process industry, digital technologies prove to be extremely helpful in reducing power and energy usage.
From the management’s perspective, one should look at the different simulations and the data of libraries for making the system/process more efficient. They should identify from these simulations & libraries the major actionable items for making their systems greener, smarter and as per the requirement, also making them more profitable.
Approach to digitalisation
Necessity is the mother of invention. In the current scenario, the necessity is social distancing, which can be achieved with digitisation, as it empowers us to access the data remotely. So, digitalisation is the need of the hour, and everything is moving towards it. Looking ahead, automation products and IoT will play a very important role in digital initiatives. At Delta, we offer automation products that start from the very basic level for factory automation, machine automation and process automation. The data can then be pulled by using gateways, cloud connecting devices and be then taken across the software. This ensures security and further transition.
Data governance & security
With data access and availability becoming easier, ensuring their data remains, their property is emerging as a top priority for organisations. For governance, robust software and multiple level security is a must. For instance, we have software to calculate OEE, EMS for effective data governance. These software also help in addressing the issue of silos. Considering the automation segment, wherein machines, processes and controlling devices come into the picture, Delta software offers powerful security with a multiple password level protection.
Pros & cons and recommendations
Everything comes with some pros and cons. However, with digitalisation, benefits far outweigh the risks. Digitalisation is advantageous for monitoring or reporting, which makes troubleshooting and diagnosis easier. The major reason for failure is not having proper understanding and clarity in terms of requirements and expected outcomes from digital initiatives. Because what we understand is what we implement.
