5 MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES of Your Future Plant Floor

With the implementation of new equipment and software, plant floors are constantly changing.

It can be overwhelming to consider the unknown future in the midst of pressing data access and connectivity concerns during a major software or equipment implementation. However, addressing the future now is the first step toward a secure, scalable, and future-proof plant floor. These five common data connectivity challenges—and the ways you consider and approach them—can mean the difference between a successful, long-term strategy and a frustrating, disconnected one.

Challenge 1: Integrating new equipment

Consider:?When it comes to integrating new equipment, you must consider both existing legacy assets and any potential future assets. Implementing a connectivity solution that only connects to a specific asset or type of asset could set you up for rework in the case of future asset additions.

Approach Connectivity Strategically:?With that in mind, it’s critical to implement a connectivity solution equipped with drivers that can connect to both existing and new equipment across your plant floor.

Challenge 2: Scaling Across the Enterprise

Consider:?Enterprise-wide data visibility is a crucial, but often difficult, achievement—especially if assets are located across multiple sites. Without enterprise-wide connectivity, enterprise-wide decisions, communication, and performance consistency are more difficult.

Approach Connectivity Strategically:?Scaling across the enterprise is a key consideration, particularly for enterprises with assets spread across multiple sites. In addition to providing greater visibility, standardization across the enterprise ensures controls engineers can more securely send data outside the operations network.

Challenge 3: Implementing New Software

Consider:?Eventually, the addition of new software—and the need to integrate that software—will be inevitable. If you haven’t taken a proactive approach, it’s likely you’ll need to rebuild connectivity. Rebuilding connectivity to accommodate new software is costly and time-consuming.

Approach Connectivity Strategically:?Here, approaching connectivity strategically means setting the early expectation of new software additions. In these efforts, you’ll need to choose a connectivity solution that will allow the quick integration of new software while you avoid rework and added cost.

Challenge 4: Avoiding Vendor Lock-In

Consider:?You already know it’s critical to maintain flexibility with new software. You’ll also want to achieve the same level of flexibility with different vendors. Locking in with a single vendor (or “vendor lock-in”) could mean depriving your plant floor strategy from different tools and features you might want to utilize—and risking a connectivity rebuild.

Approach Connectivity Strategically:?You should be able to build your plant floor based on your needs and that of the enterprise, not on any particular vendor’s roadmap. Some suppliers can connect to any machine, helping you achieve greater vendor flexibility and access new features as needed.

Challenge 5: Preparing for the IIoT

Consider:?Proper connectivity—that is, a solution that utilizes protocols beyond connectivity to on-premises, traditional applications—is the essential foundation for IIoT implementation.

Approach Connectivity Strategically:?It’s critical to choose a connectivity solution that aligns with your long-term initiatives. A strategic approach to connectivity (as opposed to a reactive one) ultimately allows you to avoid rework and additional cost. A connectivity solution equipped with IIoT-ready features will achieve connectivity while enabling fully future-proofed data.

Source: gluetopic.com