Top tips to help you implement 4IR projects that deliver value September 2019, IT in Manufacturing In the just over 10 years I have spent working on IT projects in the manufacturing space, the amount of new fads and IT jargon that has to be adopted has reached the heavens, and ascended into other realms. ...
Smart devices for Ex areas: Unbelievably simple mistakes that prevent control. September 2019, Michael Brown Control Engineering, Motion Control & Drives I am often astounded by finding really basic problems with controls in plants, which have operated that way for years. These problems are so basic that one can only wonder at how these controls could ...
Preparing fertile ground for a successful IIoT project Technews Industry Guide: Industrial Internet of Things & Industry 4.0, Absolute Perspectives The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a collection of emerging technologies that together have the potential to create significant business value and even create new business models.
Control loop question answered June 2019, Michael Brown Control Engineering Control loop expert Michael Brown recently received a question from reader, Hansell Williams. The question relates to applying neural network and machine learning concepts to plant automation and control. ...
Nick Denbow’s European report: Trends in plant monitoring March 2019 Early last year, the interest from many large automation and sensor suppliers focused on condition monitoring, for example, using wireless communications to monitor the condition of the motors and bearings ...
Now might be the time to have a talk with your IT service provider March 2019, Absolute Perspectives, IT in Manufacturing The Gartner hype cycle provides a simple graphic representation of how emerging technologies are adopted in the market. The principle is quite simple: a new technology (such as augmented reality) will ...
Emerging technologies pose a pressing governance challenge December 2018 As the year draws to a close, multiple factors compel the continuation of the Industry 4.0 theme and its challenges, particularly those related to governance. Many readers of this column, as well as social ...
First rack-mounted switches that comply with the IEC 61850-3 Edition 2 Class 2 Standard November 2018, RJ Connect In today’s industrial processing environment, industrial Ethernet has become a de-facto standard to connect to the company’s PLCs in manufacturing, IEDs in substations and cameras for CCTV, in harsh environments. All of these demand ruggedised networking switches to ensure stable communications to the company’s scada, ERP and MES software. Often, industrial networking products are installed in and around the production areas where they are subjected to high temperatures, vibrations and electrical noise from VSDs and motors.
Economic thought and lessons from China October 2018 Through my past experience occupying various roles across multiple industries and institutions in South Africa, in both the private and public sectors, one thought that inextricably captures my imagination ...
Industrial control system cybersecurity - Part 5: ICS network segmentation. October 2018, IT in Manufacturing In the last three articles on cybersecurity in ICS environments, we have covered risk assessments, asset discovery and vulnerability management, environment hardening and security monitoring. In the penultimate ...
Integrity management key for industrial assets September 2018 What is AIM?
Integrity management is a key component for a successful asset management programme. The main objective of asset management initiatives is to ensure that assets perform their required functions ...
