IT in Manufacturing


Security a top trend for the future of IIoT

Technews Industry Guide: Industrial Internet of Things & Industry 4.0 IT in Manufacturing

The effects of the Internet of Things (IoT) is something we experience in our everyday lives through the proliferation of smartphones, cars, thermostats, and even smart refrigerators entering our homes. These smart devices provide us with a rich source of sensor data that can be networked, gathered and analysed by software to detect potential issues, allowing us to work more productively and save more energy.

A less frequently talked about phenomenon, the Industrial IoT (IIoT), is the application of these same principles to a wide range of industrial plants and processes. The IIoT has been developing in parallel to the more consumer-focused IoT, and it promises to revolutionise industrial prowess by improving efficiency at manufacturing plants, mining operations, oil refineries and off-shore oil platforms, and more.

Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure

Looking for opportunities to expand its digital offering through the application of the IoT to industrial environments, plants and factories, Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure promises to change South Africa’s mining, food, beverage, and water industries.

“Gathering technical data, tracking equipment and monitoring maintenance activity would help to reduce downtime, process energy usage, maintenance costs and time-to-market,” says Marc Ramsay, vice president of Schneider Electric South Africa’s Industry Business Unit. “This smart IIoT software ultimately serves to make plants more efficient, safe and reliable.”

Information security

IIoT technology has continued to develop at a steady rate, and a number of trends are expected to guide these developments for 2018. Adoption of the IIoT has increased significantly as more and more industrial devices get connected to the Internet. As the networks have expanded, volumes of data have increased and more information is now at risk, therefore it comes as no surprise that the focus on creating applications and data storage solutions capable of providing the necessary security has intensified.

“We understand that robust cybersecurity protection is a must, and Schneider Electric’s solutions apply rigorous policies and methodologies to ensure the protection of critical infrastructure,” adds Ramsay. “We also assess risk, implement cyber-specific solutions and maintain onsite defences over time. Cybersecurity solutions are applied from the operations perspective while making sure all appropriate IT policies and requirements are implemented. I think this is what sets Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure apart.”

While early IIoT implementations were generally focused on improving asset utilisation through better monitoring and predictive analytics, such as predictive maintenance, many industries are now taking advantage of increased connectivity in order to implement more autonomous systems.

“Schneider Electric is a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and industrial automation in South Africa, and the rest of the globe,” explains Ramsay. “Our EcoStruxure solutions offer a new level of efficiency and performance, and specific products such as Edge Control allow for remote automation, process automation and machine automation.”

Maintaining plant equipment can be a daunting and costly task, and creating efficiencies and using predictive maintenance has become a top priority in the future of the IIoT. Here, sensors and real-time monitoring could help organisations understand precisely where and when equipment needs to be adjusted or replaced.

“This connected ‘smart’ technology is capable of automatically measuring, monitoring and controlling energy consumption and demands,” concludes Ramsay. “When automation and energy is coupled with software and analytics, an unprecedented level of operational intelligence can be delivered, leading to better, and more predictive decision-making in real-time.”

For more information contact Jason Ullbricht, Schneider Electric SA, +27 (0)11 254 6400, [email protected], www.schneider-electric.co.za



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Energy audits pave the pathway to sustainability and savings
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Energy audits serve as essential tools for businesses looking to reduce costs and meet environmental targets. By analysing energy consumption across systems such as lighting, HVAC, ICT and water infrastructure, audits identify inefficiencies and quantify carbon footprints, enabling data-driven decisions for operational and financial optimisation.

Read more...
Poor heat management in data centre design
IT in Manufacturing
Designing a world-class data centre goes beyond simply keeping servers on during load shedding; it is about ensuring they run efficiently, reliably, and within the precise environmental conditions they were built and designed for.

Read more...
Schneider Electric unveils new range of circuit breakers
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric has launched its new MasterPacT MTZ Active range of circuit breakers in South Africa. This is a revolutionary new circuit breaker designed to set new benchmarks for safety, efficiency and sustainability while ensuring business continuity.

Read more...
It’s time to fight AI with AI in the battle for cyber resilience
IT in Manufacturing
Cybercrime is evolving rapidly, and the nature of cyber threats has shifted dramatically. Attacks are now increasingly powered by AI, accelerating their speed, scale and sophistication. Cybersecurity needs to become part of business-critical strategy, powered by AI to match attackers’ speed with smarter, faster and more adaptive defences.

Read more...
Why AI sustainability must be a boardroom priority
IT in Manufacturing
As South African companies race to harness artificial intelligence for innovation and growth, few are asking the most critical question - the environmental cost.

Read more...
South Africa’s journey to smart, greener transport
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
The good news is that there are some truly feasible solutions that can assist in overcoming some of South Africa’s most pertinent transport electrification challenges.

Read more...
RS South Africa shines spotlight on MRO procurement
RS South Africa IT in Manufacturing
RS South Africa has highlighted the growing pressures faced by procurement professionals responsible for maintenance, repair and operations supplies across the country’s vital economic sectors.

Read more...
Sustainable energy management
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Utilising its innovative ONE approach technology, Siemens provides complete transparency on resource consumption and offers data-driven optimisation recommendations for sustainable energy management.

Read more...
Paving the way for a carbon-neutral future in South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
At ABB Electrification, we believe the infrastructure of the future must do more than support daily operations, it must anticipate them. We are committed to building intelligent systems that connect and optimise infrastructure across sectors.

Read more...
Protecting buildings’ embodied carbon with retrofitted systems
Schneider Electric South Africa Sensors & Transducers
The World Economic Forum has said that around 80% of the buildings in existence will still be around in 2050; it is therefore essential that in order to combat climate change we retrofit them for energy efficiency.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved