Manufacturers seek benefits from increased connectivity

Rockwell Automation touts the value of the “Connected Enterprise” at its RSTechED event, a user and partner conference designed to highlight discrete manufacturing and process control collaboration tools and technologies, in San Diego, June 9 to 14.

By Mark T. Hoske June 12, 2013

Commercial communication technologies are quickly migrating onto plant floors, creating opportunities, and potential risks, for manufacturers. During its 2013 RSTechED event, Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) offers approaches to help manufacturers securely integrate “disruptive” technologies (such as mobile devices,  cloud computing, and virtualization), to help build a “Connected Enterprise,” the theme of this year’s conference, in San Diego, June 9 to 14.

“Disruptive technologies can enable collaboration across all levels in manufacturing organizations,” explained Sujeet Chand, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Rockwell Automation and one of the scheduled keynote speakers at event. “By connecting the entire enterprise, manufacturers can fully harness the information they need to optimize their operations.”

The event includes more than 150 technical sessions, hands-on labs, and workshops from Rockwell Automation, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Kraft Foods Group, Enbridge, Ball Corp., Livzon Pharmaceuticals, and others.

In the keynote address, Chand and Frank Kulaszewicz, senior vice president, architecture and software, Rockwell Automation, explored how the adoption of disruptive technologies is transforming industrial automation.

“Manufacturing needs to be more smart, productive, secure, and sustainable. Collaboration sparks innovation to improve overall productivity and sustainability,” said Kulaszewicz. “The connected enterprise allows true collaboration, not only among plant personnel, but between production subsystems, as well as between the plant floor and enterprise IT systems. But first, manufacturers need a smart and secure infrastructure in place.”

At this year’s RSTechED event, new tracks and sessions examine the disruptive technologies driving the connected enterprise. Case studies, new technologies, system integration, cloud computing, mobility of production data, and network security are among topics. In-depth labs include networking security best practices for securing data regardless of location. The event has several customer-led sessions from manufacturers sharing best practices on process automation, manufacturing intelligence, visualization, machine safety, industrial networking, Internet of Things, and security, and other topics.

Rockwell Automation Inc. says it is the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell Automation employs more than 22,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.

– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager, CFE Media, Control Engineering, and Plant Engineering, mhoske@cfemedia.com.

ONLINE

www.rockwellautomation.com 

www.RSTechED.com 


Author Bio: Mark Hoske has been Control Engineering editor/content manager since 1994 and in a leadership role since 1999, covering all major areas: control systems, networking and information systems, control equipment and energy, and system integration, everything that comprises or facilitates the control loop. He has been writing about technology since 1987, writing professionally since 1982, and has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree from UW-Madison.