Industrial Automation

As another wonderful year at Stratus comes to a close, we take a look back at some of the exciting events we’ve attended. Here are the highlights of the 4th annual Smart Industry conference in Chicago, IL in late September.

Avoiding downtime is a huge motivator for companies embarking on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and can pay big benefits for organizations that do it right. Here are four best practices about keeping your eyes on uptime as you embark on IIoT.

A primary consideration for edge computing platforms is determining how many clients can be reliably hosted before performance degrades. The following approach was used to realistically explore how a typical Stratus ztC Edge system would perform when hosting multiple applications.

When developing complex digital strategies to achieve successful IoT initiatives and control system projects, the convergence of OT and IT processes is essential. To align OT and IT processes and reduce risks for more effective industrial computer projects, some factors should be considered.

Computing infrastructure is an ever-changing landscape. The rise of edge computing capabilities, coupled with traditional industrial control system architectures, provides increased levels of customization.

To help navigate the new world of machine intelligence, we have teamed up with the International Society of Automation (ISA) to provide informative articles discussing the power of machine intelligence and how facilities can best utilize intelligence to enhance operations, productivity and uptime.

The concept of digitalization within the manufacturing industry can feel a bit like trying to build a bridge between two islands – IT and OT. Each side has been aware of the other and each understands the other’s importance. But the idea of connecting to one other can be met with resistance.

Downtime disrupts the supply chain on the front and back end of the food and beverage industry. Behind the curtain; profits and compliance are at risk when the production floor grinds to a halt. Safety also becomes a concern since injuries often occur when equipment is down, plant managers have limited visibility or systems are in maintenance mode.

The rising tide of data that organizations now receive, manage and analyse shows no signs of receding. The emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) in particular has increased data management exponentially. More than ever before, the need for reliable hardware and accessibility solutions is a pivotal part of most organizations’ long-term plans.

Manufacturers leaning on outdated, stacked systems could very well find themselves left behind if they don’t modernize in order to keep pace with the explosive IoT. Gartner predicts that by 2020 the number of IoT devices will reach an astounding 50 billion. The need to maintain a system with zero downtime will continue to rise as the the existing network of physical devices grows.