HMI, OI

The Global System Integrator Database has 522 system integrators list HMI, human machine interface among engineering specialties; 274 system integrators list PC-based control among engineering specialties. Courtesy: CFE Media and Technology
HMI, OI January 20, 2020

Industrial HMI migrations: Help with Microsoft Windows 7 expiration

Microsoft Windows 7 expired on Jan. 14, and manufacturers’ human-machine interface (HMI) software may still need help migrating to a supported operating system. System integrators can provide migration assistance to lower cybersecurity risk.

By Mark T. Hoske
Diagram of a spray dryer system. Courtesy: McEnery Automation
System Integrators December 20, 2019

System integrator upgrades spray dryer controls

Control system upgrade of spray dryer improves product quality and profitability.

By Michael McEnery
Figure 3: The new control center was created quickly. Courtesy: Inductive Automation
System Integrators December 17, 2019

Short timeline for automation infrastructure

System integrator assembled a diverse collection of technologies to meet an aggressive schedule.

By Jim Meyers
System Integrators December 16, 2019

System integrator expands brewery can line

Wicked Weed Brewing increased production by a factor of five.

By Eric Casciaro
Figure 1: Robotic material handling and custom automation was part of an upgrade for a thermoforming customer in the food and beverage industry. The new automation was to fit between and connected to two existing manufacturing processes on multiple production lines in a 24/7 operation. Courtesy: Applied Manufacturing Technologies
HMI, OI December 13, 2019

Revamped HMI provides better process control, operator compliance

System integrators should do a deep dive into the customer’s manufacturing process with detailed conversations and clarification of expectations during the design phase of any project.

By Rick Vanden Boom
These AutomationDirect StrideLinx VPN routers provide built-in firewall protection to isolate machine level LAN and companywide WAN networks, and optional 4G connectivity, enabling cloud-based remote access and simplifying implementation. Courtesy: AutomationDirect
Virtualization, Cloud Analytics November 7, 2019

Secure remote connections with cloud technologies

Cloud technologies enable remote connectivity for industrial applications, but can introduce security issues unless built from the ground up with cybersecurity in mind. See top five cybersecurity issues to address.

By Jonathan Griffith
FacilityConneX simplifies and speeds up the manual data entry process, making it possible to add and integrate these data points via mobile devices. Courtesy: FacilityConneX
Process Safety November 5, 2019

Intelligent alarms create actions from noise

Inside process: Alarm management software can decipher raw data, identify critical alarms, locate alarm sources, and provide role-based intelligence for faster resolution.

By Jennifer Grimley
Better control means getting useful information when needed to the right people, for smarter decisions. Intuitive dashboards showing plant parameters provide faster understanding, as shown at the 2019 Honeywell Users Group Americas meeting in June. Courtesy: Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering, CFE Media and Technology
Process Manufacturing October 31, 2019

Opening your options: Control system migration

Inside Process: Aging process control systems (PCSs) create nine major problems. There are three good reasons to migrate distributed control systems before obsolescence.

By Satnam Bhogal
Mobile HMIs may be hand-held, or on a cart as shown here, but can serve to widen the area where control and information tasks can be performed, from the central control room to the plant floor. Courtesy: Emerson
HMI, OI October 29, 2019

HMIs enable operations and maintenance collaboration

Mobile interfaces facilitate convergence of operations and maintenance.

By Rich Carpenter
Project execution with a new generation control system: Honeywell Experion PKS Honeywell Integrated Virtual Environment (HIVE) uses Lean project execution principles (the Honeywell LEAP process introduced in 2014), software and networking to decouple control applications from physical equipment, and controllers from physical input/output (I/O) devices. Modular designs allow multiple controllers to form one virtual controller. PKS stands for process knowledge system. Courtesy: Honeywell Process Solutions
Process Manufacturing October 1, 2019

Control Engineering hot topics, September 2019

Control Engineering's most clicked articles in September 2019 included stories about control system design shift, process control education, model-following control, the evolution of modern manufacturing, and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.

By Chris Vavra