Real time HMI data: Proficy Pulse empowers operators to do their jobs better

Software from GE Intelligent Platforms increases analytics and unifies presentation of information.

By Renee Robbins April 1, 2010

Operational efficiency starts with an informed and efficient operator.

GE Intelligent Platforms announced new visualization software empowers operators, manufacturing engineers and analysts to view, analyze and co-relate real time operational situations and historical intelligence. Proficy Pulse contextualizes data within one application and lets it be shared with others via the web.

Combined with GE’s Proficy Historian, Proficy Pulse enables customers to consolidate disparate data into a single viewpoint to drive continuous improvement, increase quality through monitoring, facilitate faster troubleshooting, and drive accountability. It consolidates operational and process data with operational personnel in mind, improving the performance of a real time HMI (human machine interface).

"Operational efficiency starts with an informed and efficient operator," said Claire Cerrato, general manager of automation software for GE Intelligent Platforms. "The role of today’s operator is changing as he/she takes on more responsibilities to keep plants running. This requires operators to have access to as much operational information as they can get in the environment that they are most used to. Therefore, companies are looking for that‘ergonomic’ HMI that presents operational data beyond the traditional HMI to analyze large volumes of data from many sources, making objective decisions based on complex, real-time information."

"With the loss of experienced workers, growing volatility in raw materials, energy, and finished goods markets, and the increasingly more demanding and complex manufacturing environment, the need for improved operator situational awareness is on the rise," according to Tom Fiske, Ph.D. Senior Analyst at ARC Advisory Group.

"Currently, there is a dearth of tools available specifically aimed at bringing multiple data sources together that provide operational context, intelligence, and situational awareness for operators so they can profitably respond to changing market conditions. ARC sees a growing need for more types of tools like Proficy Pulse."

Features of Proficy Pulse include:

Real-time HMI – Proficy Pulse is a true OPC DA and OPC Alarms & Events client, providing users with the ability to view and interact with real-time data from operational devices, HMI/SCADA systems and other software. It can directly interface with native OPC servers like the Industrial Gateway Server (IGS) as well as other third party OPC servers to provide an open architecture for HMI functionality.

On the fly historian analysis – Provides operators with the flexibility to switch to an analysis mode with Proficy Historian on the fly, either for the entire display/s or individual elements on the display. This provides a completely new insight into the daily functioning of the operation.

Open architecture – Supports industry standard interfaces like OPC, ADO, OLEDB and ODBC to allow different data sources to be combined for co-relation with actual operational data.

Flexible graphics editor – Integrated Microsoft Visual Basic scripting allows developers to customize navigation, interface external applications, define actions and design composite applications within the Pulse environment. Ability to drop in ActiveX and OCX controls provides Pulse increased flexibility to bring enhanced content into the environment. Users also can create and reuse custom objects.

Background scheduler – Scripting engine let users define schedules that could be both periodic and event based to drive analytical and real time actions. Schedules can act as a source for performing various critical functions like triggering reports, initiating workflows, generating analytical samples etc.

Intelligent and collaborative user environment – Proficy Pulse participates in Operational Workflows defined through GE Intelligent Platforms’ Proficy Workflow product, to make the operator a collaborative part of the greater operational metric. And, it also integrates with Proficy Cause+ analysis tools to provide the operator with intelligence to make the right decisions at the right time at every step in his/her daily functions. Proficy Pulse also tightly integrates with Proficy Plant Applications to bring in interaction with the Operational KPIs to the operator.

Visualization ergonomics for operators – Consolidates all operational systems into a single environment for increased efficiency and ease of operation.

Proficy Pulse is a scalable, single-application, multiple-deployment product allowing the application to be deployed on everything from embedded devices like panels and tablets to desktop computers to thin clients or a web clients. The software comes with an integrated change management support tool that allows for application deployment, versioning, disaster recovery and collaborative development.

– Edited by Renee Robbins, senior editor
Control Engineering News Desk
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GE Pulse workspace photo caption: Proficy Pulse, which empowers operators, engineers and analysts to view, analyze and co-relate real time operational situations and historical intelligence.