MAY 2021CIOAPPLICATIONS.COM8CRAIG ZEDWICK, DIRECTOR PRODUCTION EXCELLENCE AND AUTOMATION, CABOT MICROELECTRONICS [NASDAQ:CCMP]n the late nineties, I worked for Eastman Kodak in their solvent recovery and synthetic chemicals division. They had a sophisticated Distributed Control System (DCS) so operators could run interconnected distillation towers from a central control room. The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system had graphics showing every valve status, which pumps were running, and whatever data we wanted to display from our thermocouples, flow meters, and online gas chromatographs. Back then, such systems were state-of-the-art, even though the internet was in its infancy, with AOL and FTP sites representing cutting-edge technology. Fast forward more than twenty years, and manufacturing control systems haven't changed that much. PLC ladder logic is still used at many companies. SCADA systems look better in most cases, but the control mechanisms are basically the same. So, what's the big deal about Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)?IIoT is a buzzword and can mean many things, depending on the context. For manufacturers, it describes an interconnected set of sensors, smart devices, and control systems that are also connected to the cloud and accessible via internet URL's. The purpose of this interconnected system is to collect, structure, and utilize large amounts of data to provide manufacturing value. For certain industries, the advancements made in the last 10-15 years have enabled small, customized production runs that have transformed the customer ordering and fulfilment process. But for DEMYSTIFYING IIOT AND ITS VALUE TO MANUFACTURINGIIN MY View
< Page 7 | Page 9 >