In the factory of the future, one equipped with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology, it all comes down to data collection and analysis, which is used to make actionable decisions.
In the video above, we talk about new methodologies that allow users to analyze data using the personal electronics devices we carry with us today.
“Schneider Electric’s software uses a four-step operating model: connect, collect, analyze and act,” said Lucian Fogoros, senior product marketing manager at Schneider Electric. “Programmed on a basic HMI, it has over 240 different protocols. It can connect to pretty much any controller or HMI out there, regardless of vendor, as it is hardware agnostic and can run on any operating system.”
Machine performance is displayed on the HMI (shown in the video above), along with other metrics and data, all of which can be stored in a historian program for documentation, analysis and presentation.
“In addition, we can not only collect data from sensors and feed it into our Wonderware Historian, but also upper level execution systems or ERP type databases,” Fogoros added.
Machine availability, uptime and downtime only scratch the surface of recordable data, however; temperatures, pressures, levels and other more intricate data points can also be recorded.
“The system is also very easy to work with,” said Fogoros. “One thing Schneider Electric announced just last month, Wonderware Prometheus, allows users to manage multiple connections between machines regardless of vendor, for a true vendor-agnostic framework where users can develop their control code and HMI from one environment.”
A graphical interface allows ease-of-use for employees ranging from mechanical engineers to chief operating officers. The data can also be migrated through cloud interfaces, for just one example, said Fogoros.
For more information, watch the video above and visit the Schneider Electric website.