Martyn Williams explains the role of SCADA software in smart factories and argues that hardware-independent software is essential for making the transition to Industry 4.0.

Eric Fidler offers advice on how to use SCADA to best advantage, and the way it’s meant to be used.

While increasing connectivity can offer significant benefits it can also increase the cybersecurity risk to control. Steve Ward explains further.

Christian Nomine explores the changing requirements for both SCADA software and HMI systems across the manufacturing and processing sectors as the importance of collecting, storing and analysing data grows.

Carl Nash examines the use case for 5G in a SCADA context – looking at how it can pave the way for increased performance and greater functionality in plant automation, with simpler implementation than traditional wireless networks. 

Find out how a medical appliance manufacturer cost-effectively solved a data gathering headache in a factory full of multiple branded devices.

Martyn Williams explains how today’s large scale data acquisition requires new methods of storage, and why the security requirements of cloud-based systems are so complex.

Suzanne Gill reports on the changing role of SCADA systems as we enter the era of smart manufacturing and IIoT.

Find out how Interconnector UK solved a two-way remote alarm management challenge on a bi-directional gas pipeline.

Brigitte Händler discusses the requirements for a SCADA system in an age of digitisation.

Ben Savage explores the advantages and disadvantages of converged devices for industrial applications and offers advice on what specifiers should be looking for.

Suzanne Gill reports on the use of mobile devices in industrial applications. It appears to be a slow-burn technology on the plant floor and there are some hurdles that need to be overcome before mobile devices become more widely used.

It is important to ensure that HMIs have the capability to work with devices and platforms being used to implement the IoT and Industry 4.0, says Fabio Terezinho.

Many control room engineers are working in an uncomfortable environment with outdated equipment. Tightening margins and higher production targets further add to the pressure on them and it is important that operators have the tools they need to meet the demands of their job, and enable them to add value to the process operation, says Bruce Calder, vice president of Technology at Honeywell Process Solutions.

Control Engineering Europe spoke to Carsten Meier, marketing manager TIA Portal, Siemens AG, Digital Factory Division, to find out what benefits TIA Portal can offer users today, and in the future.

Control Engineering Europe looks at some recent enhancements and additions to offer additional versatility to SCADA and visualisation solutions.

The increasing degree of networking in automation calls for a new generation of intelligent, decentralised networked devices. Standardized Computer on Modules with the SMARC specification with ARM SoCs are now enabling this new class of device to be developed efficiently. Martin Unverdorben, product manager, Computer-on-Modules at Kontron, explains.

The process of dying and knitting yarn for textile process has long been machine automated. However, advanced SCADA software has provided an intuitive development environment for robust monitoring and data acquisition applications, making it possible to follow that process through every step – from raw material to finished product.

A control system is helping machine-tool expert Halifax Numerical Controls (HNC) to achieve success in the competitive market for roll grinders for rubber-coated rollers.

Ellyn Foltz, managing director, Worldwide Process Manufacturing at Microsoft Corp, discusses the issues of visualising and making the best use of the increasing amounts of data that are being created by industry today.