Key points
As Edge Computing and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) gather pace, many businesses are wondering what automation technologies will blossom in the fourth industrial revolution. Will Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems still be part of the Factory of the Future and is so what will they look like?
Natalie Turner, Sales Director at Products4Automation (P4A), the exclusive UK distributor of Progea’s Automation Platform.NExT, looks at how the latest SCADA platforms will deliver in Industry 4.0 applications.
There is no reason to think that SCADA systems will retire any time soon. In fact, their key features in remote monitoring, supervisory control, reporting, alarms and alerts make SCADA a mainstay in industrial automation applications.
Even as IIoT and Edge Computing develop and become increasingly fundamental in industrial applications, they will certainly not replace SCADA. Instead, they will add new capabilities to SCADA platforms, as they can contribute to strengthening industrial communications, improving plant efficiency and performance whilst reducing downtime.
A limitless SCADA system
The first aspect that next-generation SCADA will need to address is scalability and flexibility, in order to meet the requirements of businesses of different sizes as well as support their growth.
More precisely, the systems should be able to control micro-environments as well as multiple plants. Scalable SCADA is also fundamental due to the continuously growing volume of process and machine data that needs to be stored and analysed.
It is important for SCADA to be able to integrate multi-vendor devices. As an industry sector expands and continues to implement Industry 4.0 applications, factory equipment will be installed and upgraded at different times.
Therefore, new devices need to coexist and interact with existing ones, even when using different technologies, protocols or vendor conventions. This is the only way to create a fully interconnected factory without any islands of data.
SCADA developers can address openness issues by adhering to standards such as the Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA), which promotes manufacturer and platform-independent industrial communications.
Implementing Cloud- or Web-compatible SCADA platforms
Other attractive tools for SCADA systems ready for Industry 4.0 are the Cloud and the Web, which help to target scalability, comprehensive access to data and remote control.
Thanks to these technologies, plant operators can access relevant data from anywhere at any time, when equipment requires human attention or intervention. As a result, any issue on the manufacturing line can be quickly addressed, minimising downtime.
When implemented, Cloud- or Web-compatible SCADA platforms need to feature proper security and reliability measures. It is clearly vital to ensure continuous protection of sensitive or critical data as well as real-time monitoring.
Using AR to unite process equipment with SCADA automation data
In addition to increased connectivity on different levels, other emerging technologies are likely to shape the future look of SCADA. These solutions include advanced visualisation functionalities that improve ease of use. Key examples are mixed reality technologies, such as augmented reality (AR), to unite process equipment with its SCADA automation data.
Expert SCADA developers are up-to-date with the latest technology trends and always keep an eye on what other innovations could improve SCADA systems and support manufacturers.
By relying on expert SCADA developers, manufacturing industries can be sure of staying ahead with innovations in plant automation with high-quality, reliable and constantly improving solutions.
