Industrial Data Ops in Industry 4.0
Data is ubiquitous. But it cannot always get into the hands of those who need or can use it. Companies spend time and money collecting and storing single-use data. What if you can leverage this data to improve the process or bottom line? You can with DataOps in Industry 4.0.
Solving the Unusable Data Issue
Data is gold in today's business world. But it needs to be useable for more than one purpose.
Unusable data occurs when people store data without context, lit lacks accessibility, or if the data is available in an inconsistent manner.
Many existing data systems lack systemic architecture to create the necessary context for data use beyond the original purpose. For example, many oil and gas facilities use pen and paper to collect air quality data for regulatory compliance. However, this collection method lacks context and accessibility to correlate it to other processes to improve operations and reduce regulatory exceedances. Even using sensors can result in unusable data, if stored on a local server and it is inaccessible or unknown to exist by other divisions.
Implementing Industrial DataOps
Information technology (IT) includes the network, data centers, the cloud, applications, and systems within the internet or internal networks. It manages your data and applications. Operational technology (OT) is the devices, sensors, and software applications that control the physical world of the industry's operations. Unfortunately, the IT and OT teams may work independently, resulting in lost opportunities for Industrial DataOps.
Standardizing Data Acquisition
It is unrealistic to have 100% one-to-one compatible machinery and software across an entire facility, let alone the entire company. Machinery has a long service life, and new machinery needs to come online. Standardizing data collection and collaboration between IT and OT may require intermediate tools, like
Node-RED, to facilitate data collection from legacy equipment to modern standards.
Standardized data acquisition transforms how data is used so facility machinery data outputs, including sensors, can provide insights into systematic efficiency improvements.
Integrating IT and OT
Connecting IT and OT is necessary to manage the flow of information. Many refer to this as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The challenge comes from the different ways these systems operate. OT is often proprietary and closed software, which means operators cannot change the data output or how it modifies machinery operations. The software could be in any of several computer languages as well.
Scaling IT and Securing Data
Industrial facility security is a major concern, and rightly so. Bad actors could steal valuable data (intellectual property) or hijack a facility. Losing control of a manufacturing process is not acceptable. This is why integrating OT and IT is critical to identify and manage vulnerabilities before anyone can exploit them.
Proprietary and closed architecture systems do not mean fewer vulnerabilities, however. Open software architecture allows for scaling and flexibility across facilities without sacrificing security. Strong software architecture allows for the free flow of data within set parameters, and it is useful to increase efficiency or other process goals; all while serving the original data collection purpose.
Start Mining Your Data Gold Mine
To start, determine which systems to implement Industrial Data Ops on first. This could be a newer facility or just a portion of one. Have the OT and IT departments collaborate with other stakeholders to identify process efficiencies and other data use opportunities.
Ready to add digital hardware and software to upgrade your Industrial DataOps data collection?
Aegex Technologies' digital tools are intrinsically safe digital data collection and communication solutions for value-added data in implementing Industry 4.0.
