SEMI, the industry association serving the global electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, and 16 organizations representing industries including automotive, medical and technology urged the Biden administration to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research. The letter calls for funding the initiatives authorized in the CHIPS for America Act and the enactment of a federal investment […]
Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and human-machine interface (HMI) systems have great potential for manufacturers. However, there are many details that might be missed that could cause major headaches and reduce their overall effectiveness. Consider these four key elements when using them. 1. Pay attention to situational awareness: Problems often occur when users fail […]
The market for industrial automation products is continuing to skyrocket, with ever more ambitious demands for advanced, data-driven solutions. To thrive in this sector, it is more favorable for automation specialists to develop strong collaborations with other industry players. Groups that rely on industrial automation open networking standards deliver high-quality, interoperable products and are able […]
As the COVID-19 pandemic unraveled in early 2020, the majority of businesses around the globe were forced to radically adjust their operations to minimize person-to-person interactions. Companies whose business were deemed non-essential were mandated to halt in-person gatherings, sometimes for extended periods of time, resulting in severe socio-economic hardships. Meanwhile, competing forces had been reshaping […]
The Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) will hold its Annual Convention and Solutions Exposition June 27-29, 2021, at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Tex. The theme for the 2021 Convention is “Keeping Industries Moving.” Jerry Gray, EASA Chairman of the Board, said in a press release, “One of our responsibilities as electromechanical […]
Learning Objectives Control system technology improvements can make plant operations faster and safer. Recent workplace changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic have forced operators to make their control systems more flexible. Advances in edge computing, digital twins and computing power let control systems make more decisions. Organizations invest in control systems intending that the control systems will […]
In searching for new manufacturing solutions that increase efficiency, provide greater flexibility and improve quality, there is one central choice – select a turnkey solution from an end-to-end partner, or leverage independent suppliers for different section parts of the final system used for industrial manufacturing. Leveraging an end-to-end system integrator to craft an advanced, turnkey […]
Learning Objectives Characteristics of AI-based controllers include learning, delayed gratification and non-traditional input data. The AI controller needs its brain trained. AI controller use cases include energy optimization, quality control and chemical processing. Control systems have continuously evolved over decades, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are helping advance the next generation of some control […]
In the world of industrial automation, direct-drive motors and gear servomotors are frequently quoted against one another for similar applications. This overlap often causes confusion about which motor type is best suited for a particular axis. As direct-drive servomotors become more common, with a wider range of sizes and features, direct-drive servomotors are finding homes in more applications. Defining characteristics of direct-drive servomotors A direct-drive servomotor is […]
Most operational technology (OT) environments use scan-based patching tools, which are pretty standard but not overly insightful to show us what assets we have and how they are configured. What is really needed is robust asset profiles with their operational context included. Asset IP, model, OS, etc., is a very cursory listing of what might […]