Enterprise SCADA-Based Industrial Monitoring in Real-Time on the Cloud

“Monitoring remote locations in real-time at low operating cost combined with advances in AI and machine learning to interpret data are why cloud platforms are defining the future of SCADA and industrial monitoring” – Louis Columbus, Dassault Systèmes IQMS

Industrial monitoring

Monitoring industrial processes is about collecting data from operations at both local and remote enterprise locations. This data can then be processed via multiple systems that aim to globally increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve remote site security.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, for example, monitor the pulse of a company and tie multiple business processes together – like accounting, project management, and industry compliance – to enable the flow of data between them. Similarly, business intelligence (BI) systems track sales and other financial information, and the key performance indicator (KPI) provides a summary variable, like profit per hour or energy cost per unit of production. Working together, these enterprise software solutions provide insight into day-to-day operations.

With industrial monitoring systems come monitoring charts, which should display data in as close to real-time as possible; diagnosing and fixing problems becomes more complex and costly with time left uncorrected. With developments in cloud computing, the IoT, and machine-to-machine (M2M) tech, real-time processing is possible and essential for a 360-degree view of remote operations.

Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) in industrial monitoring

Enterprises use SCADA systems to monitor and control equipment across all locations, collecting operations data on the way. These systems generally include programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and remote terminal units (RTUs) that communicate with plant and warehouse floor equipment in all locations. Data is gathered from the equipment and sent to be monitored using controls in the human-machine interfaces (HMIs), which allow operators to communicate with the system. Operators can also interact with associated equipment at all enterprise locations from one central site, facilitating the industrial monitoring process.

SCADA-based industrial monitoring allows enterprises to monitor local and remote operations in real-time. M2M tech then runs this data through statistical process control (SPC) applications to provide real-time alerts, stats, and reports. The industrial monitoring game has changed and the cloud is sealing the deal.

The cloud is the future of industrial monitoring

IQMS Principal Louis Columbus tells Forbes the 10 reasons why the cloud is the future of industrial monitoring, and it all comes down to real-time tracking and collaborative managing.

The information processing capabilities of the cloud allow enterprises to optimize quality control by monitoring compliance, traceability, and equipment maintenance of all remote locations, in real-time. All that operations data is then used in SPC to further improve product quality by continuously tracking and fine-tuning manufacturing processes. This includes managing constraints specific to each remote location, for example, or determining which components how equipment components individually contribute to performance over time.

By also offering a single platform on which multiple departments can collaboratively manage operations at all remote locations, the cloud optimizes company aspects like quality and inventory control, for example. With this level of control and communication between locations and real-time availability of information, the cloud leads the way to scalable industrial monitoring.

At LeCiiR, we tailor our highly scalable and secure cloud infrastructure according to your enterprise network needs. Our custom hybrid setups and unique SLAs can be used as the basis for fast-growing corporate industrial monitoring systems. For questions on our services, cloud-based video conferencing, or any other topics don’t hesitate to contact us and leave your comments.

References

CopaData, What is SCADA? Acc. July 2020.

Kevin Dunn, Process Improvement Using Data – 3.9. The industrial practice of process monitoring. May 2020.

Louis Columbus, 10 Reasons Why The Cloud Is The Future Of Industrial Monitoring. July 2020.

Oracle, What Is ERP? Acc. July 2020.