January 4, 2024 • 25 mins
Embark on a journey through the evolution of industrial automation as we unravel the mysteries of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) on ECO Ask Why. Prepare to trace the lineage of innovation from the days of clunky relays to the sleek, data-driven era of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and sophisticated control system.
We're not stopping at the hardware; we delve into the networking revolution that's interlinking machines and churning out data at an unprecedented rate. Yes, this data is the new gold, and with the aid of trailblazers like HMS Networks and their offerings, we're dissecting how this precious resource is being mined, refined, and put to work turbocharging manufacturing efficiencies.
In our latest installment, the spotlight shines on the unsung heroes of industrial automation—interoperability and standardization. These twin pillars have knocked down walls between disparate systems, thanks to common languages like Ethernet IP.
As we peer into the crystal ball of manufacturing's future, the shimmer of edge computing, the allure of AI, and the promise of 5G beckon, foretelling a saga of operational wizardry and split-second strategy. So buckle up, because this episode is an electrifying ride through the past, present, and future of industrial automation that is sure to ignite your imagination and fuel your curiosity.
Remember to keep asking why...
Automation IIoT Resources:
Connectivity Article
Interoperability Article
What is IIoT Article
Ethernet Article
Other Resources to help with your journey:
Understanding your One-Line
Installed Asset Analysis Support
EECO Smart Manufacturing Guide
System Planning Support
Schedule your Visit to a Lab in North or South Carolina
Schedule your Visit to a Lab in Virginia
Submit your questions and feedback to: podcast@eecoaskwhy.com
Follow EECO on LinkedIn
Host: Chris Grainger
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to ECO Ask why, a podcast that dives into
industrial manufacturing topicsand spotlights the heroes to
keep America running.
I'm your host, chris Granger,and on this podcast we do not
cover the latest features andbenefits on products that come
to market.
Instead, we focus on advice andinsight from the top minds of
industry, because people andideas will be how America
(00:24):
remains number one inmanufacturing in the world.
Welcome to ECO Ask why.
I'm your host, chris Granger.
Let's jump in.
Alright, we're excited to haveeveryone here today and hoping
that you're liking the newformat of ECO Ask why.
No, it's a little bit differentthan what we've done in the
years past, but we're justhaving a lot of fun digging deep
(00:45):
and trying to provide you withinformation and insight that's
gonna help you grow.
We start off this new series ofthis format with the installed
asset analysis, and we reallybroke that down on what that
looks like.
So hopefully you know if you'reinterested in installed asset
analysis, we have the team readyand capable and willing to jump
in and serve.
(01:06):
And then we started talkingabout mastering system designs
and going taking things from theconcept to reality, which
builds on a lot of tools withinthe electric equipment company
that we use to help you designthe most efficient systems out
there.
And then last month we talkedabout a deep dive into smart
motor protection and forsomething for me that was just
(01:29):
close, so close to my heart assomeone who's worked in close to
a motors for electric motorsfor years and ran our motor
service division, was blessed tobe able to be a part of that,
to have that conversation aroundsmart motor protection and how
the technology has changed.
What an incredible one.
So if you haven't had a chanceto listen to some of these
recent episodes, go back andcheck it out in our catalog.
(01:49):
It's a great way to getconnected, okay.
Now today we're going to betalking into we diving deep into
, industrial automation.
We're talking specifically witharound IIoT solutions Okay,
that's the industrial Internetof Things.
Okay, and we'll be reallyfocusing on how revolutionizing
(02:10):
manufacturing starts withefficiency and connectivity, and
there's a lot of innovationthat's taking place to get us
there.
So we're going to get rightinto it, because there's a lot
of information to look at hereto hopefully help you a more
prepared and equipped user ofthis technology in the future,
because we know, if we look atthat, the tapestry of industrial
(02:32):
automation, when the ad that ofthe industrial Internet of
Things happened, that was arevolutionary time and it really
has created such a rippleinside manufacturing because
it's reshaped the very fabric ofhow processes are done and how
they're thought of and then howthey're both, at the end of the
day, how they're executed andlearned from.
(02:53):
So, being an distributor at anelectrical equipment company
we've been in business foralmost a hundred years, so just
think through all the differentevolutions we've walked aside
with manufacturers on that hasforged that path.
One IOP on at a time, one relay,one wire at a time.
To me that's the cool part.
(03:14):
It really is.
And we see over and over againas more and more data, more,
more IOP points, the need formore information, happens.
There's a need to connect thisdata systems and that's led us
to partnerships with manybusinesses out there.
One of them is called HMSNetworks.
They have innovative solutionslike the E1, any bus that are
(03:36):
leading the charge, andconnectivity and
interoperability solutions,because this is crucial.
You have to be connected, butyou also have to be able to
operate on multiple systems andas we delve deeper here today,
we're talking about industrialautomation, we're going to
explore some of these nuances ofIIOT and we're going to think
(03:58):
about the future.
I'll really put your futurevision casting caps on for a
minute and we're going to lookat the role of connectivity.
It's not just a necessity butas a strategic imperative as you
move forward.
Okay, so we're going to digright into this, let's get going
.
So let's talk about theevolution of industrial, of
(04:19):
automation, rather in industrialmanufacturing.
Okay, so there has been anevolution.
So, if you think aboutautomation in industrial
manufacturing, it's been one ofingenuity, progress, of constant
changing, and it can trace itsroots way back to a time where
the plant floor was dominated byhard wired relays and control
(04:41):
systems.
Right, that's.
And I think about the days ofthe plants that I'd go to.
There was an old textile plant,the whole town I grew up and
there were lots of cabinets andrelay cabinets and filled with
wires going everywhere.
Right, and that's how.
That's how it worked.
Right, and it's infancyautomation.
Look basic, it was a lot ofmechanization and you know,
there's lots of things.
This did this, this, this, this, and you could.
(05:02):
You could literally see how the, how the logic worked.
It was effective, but not themost efficient.
So things had started evolving,improving efficiency and and
that was the focus that's whatwe see today.
Right, because we see thesophistication in the technology
that we have.
And you saw, as you startthinking about technology in the
(05:24):
, in the on the plant four,automation began advancing as
well, and it began from thosehard wire controls to the
integration of PLCs,programmable logic controllers,
and brought a new level offlexibility and precision to the
plant floor directly.
We see that, and this, thistransformative, transformative
journey, continued with theinnovation of, like CNC control
(05:47):
systems, and that that enabledautomation with complex tasks
and machining and manufacturingright there on the plant floor.
But when he started thinkingabout it, sit back.
The real watershed moment forindustrial automation arrived
when you started having networksystems.
(06:10):
This is what this is, this isreally cool.
Machines began communicatingwith each other and this changed
the basic assumptions ofeverything and right there we
saw the birth of an industrialInternet of Things.
So this is where we now havethe need for data, because data,
(06:33):
the way we use it, is to lifeblood of industrial processes.
So we kind of see thatevolution.
So it's going to come a longways, right, bless all those
days of the relay logic where wecan go replace relays and
things like that and trace stuffout.
Now you can just jump on anetwork and you can see what's
going on.
(06:53):
You can make enhancements, youcan make improvements, you can
correct items.
It's really just fascinatingwhat you think about it, right.
So now let's think about it fromthis standpoint.
You have the rise of IOT right.
But they're at the core.
There's a parallel to itscousin, probably its big cousin,
consumer IOT.
(07:15):
Let's think about that for asecond.
So you have these IOT type oftechnologies and requirements on
the platform.
Now it's gain prominence, butits roots, if you really think
about the roots, they wereintertwined as the industrial
internet of things.
The IOT impacted our dailylives.
(07:37):
It really did right and startthinking about this the presence
of your smartphone and thesmart devices that we have in
our homes.
That ushered in a whole new era.
I'm not sure if it's alwaysgood, but always it ushered in a
new era, one way or the other,of connectivity and our user
experience, and we startedhaving different expectations.
(07:59):
We just did because the thingsthat we experienced in our
personal life, we want to seethat in our industrial
manufacturing environments aswell.
Right, we wanted that.
So that experience of thehomeowner began to change and
their unique experiences for theplant user did well, did as
well.
(08:20):
Think about from the homeownerstandpoint you have the smart
thermostat, right, he has thesmart receptacles.
And then you start thinkingabout the way our homes are
connected now with advancedsurveillance security systems.
These systems are relativelycheap, right, compared to what
they were 10, 20 years ago.
And this expectation of beingable to listen, to connect, to
(08:42):
understand what's going on withthe plant and inside your home
at all times, that startedshifting from home sweet home to
home.
To now we're home, sweet,connected home, right, and we
start thinking about theseinterfaces that we deal with
every day now, right, we havereal time access to data,
(09:03):
seamless connectivity.
I mean, kids can connect tostuff, right, and consumers are
just enjoying it in our dailylives because it's created
better experiences for us.
And guess what?
All of a sudden startedcreating the same type of
expectation for plant managersand industrial operators.
It did, and this shiftnecessitated a response for
(09:28):
manufacturers to startintegrating this consumer driven
advancements into industrialprocesses.
That's what we see the smartfactory Boom.
It started coming out.
We did, we started mirroringthe conveniences of efficiency
that IOT had brought into ourhomes home to the floor and
(09:48):
manufacturers.
They started facing thechallenge of this transforming
traditional siloed systems whereyou just did this one process
here and this is all you focusedon To now everything's
interconnected.
You have interconnectedecosystems where machines
communicate in real time and westart thinking about how this is
kind of mirroring theinter-connectedness of our
(10:12):
devices and really it's mindblowing.
And you have devices like E1,any bus solutions from HMS.
They have enablers to be ableto make these connections happen
in the first place, because yougot to have infrastructure.
That infrastructure has to bethere to bridge the gap between
legacy systems and the evolvingindustrial landscape, and it's
(10:32):
just really interesting.
We start thinking about thehistory of it and the rise of
IOT and how everything tiestogether with our IOT
expectations these days.
It was just a matter of time,it was going to hit the plant
floor and that kind of leads ustoo.
Two key points that we need tothink about.
If you're in your fear ofmanufacturing plant today, that
(10:54):
you must address.
And when you look atmanufacturers, you start
evaluating vendors, you starttalking to your distributors.
Hopefully you're talking to anational equipment company.
We love to come in and help youthink about connectivity and
interoperability Because, as youhad that, iot Rise more and
more and more, you have a lot ofdifferent manufacturers and
(11:14):
solution providers Contributingunique technologies and
protocols the deplet that youcould use on the plant floor
Okay, which is cool.
But this created a little bit ofa challenge Because you know
there wasn't always standardizeddata formats and communication
protocols, so that reallyhindered a lot of this seamless
(11:35):
interoperability.
That's why you can hear acertain one this manufacturer
can only plays with thismanufacturer.
There's a little bit of truthto that, because manufacturers
found themselves kind ofgrappling with each other with
all these different proprietarysystems that could not
communicate with each other.
At the end of the day, that'snot getting stuff done.
So, recognizing the need for acommon language on the plant
(11:59):
floor Industry leaders andorganizations they advocated for
standardization.
That was huge, that was a big,big deal.
So you had common communicationprotocols such as Ethernet, ip,
right, and that became pivotalto achieving interoperability.
Then you have solutions likethat we talked about HMS is you
(12:20):
wanted any bus?
They have a commitment to openstandards and they position
themselves as a facilitator ofthis interoperable landscape
Because, when you start thinkingabout it, these solutions not
only support various industrialprotocols, but also provide
gateways that at thistranslators.
So devices are different.
(12:41):
With those differentcommunication standards that you
had, back in a day Maybe theycan be able to exchange data
more efficiently andeffortlessly.
And this created, when youstart thinking about
connectivity andinteroperability, a unified,
interoperable industrialecosystems where you have these
machines with these differentmanufacturers, everything
(13:03):
seamlessly connects.
You have, at that point, youhave, a agile, responsive
Manufacturing environment andthat is really what you're after
.
You want that system, that youhave to be reliable, we know
that, but it also has to beconnected.
It's gonna give you the datathat you need and you don't want
a bunch of hoops to jumpthrough.
This is why solutions like thismatter.
(13:24):
Then you start thinking aboutthe data.
Because it's all about the data.
Right, because you had thisinterconnectivity of devices,
you have the standardization ofprotocols.
Right, you felt that we findourselves often on the plant
floor flooded, flooded with Justdata that we just can't do
(13:45):
enough with.
Right, it's just, it's comingin faster we can never do
anything with.
So then you had IIoT solutionsthat became not just conduits
but managers of that data to tryto put that data in the right
places so we can make the bestinformed decisions in the moment
and we start thinking about thevolume, the sheer volume of
(14:07):
data generated on the plantfloor each day, from machine
machine performance metrics toenvironmental conditions.
This creates so greatopportunities for sure, to learn
, to grow, to adapt, to take, totake, to make the Adjustments
in your process to really be asefficient as possible, but it
also creates challenges.
Right, because it really does,because what you start equipping
(14:31):
advanced data managementcapabilities all these machines,
you better be able to move thatdata where it's needed the most
, where you can start usingHistorians and integrate into
cloud solutions to be anintegral part of your automation
system.
Right, because you get so tothink about that.
You make sure you're having theright tools in the right places
to extract the meaningfulinformation.
(14:51):
So you got to get the data thatyou want, but then you have to
move it to where you canactually make better decisions
and talk about, you know,predictive, maintenance and
optimization processes andEnhancing your overall
operational excellence.
You have to be able to do allthat.
You have to get that data inthe right places and this is
where the data deluge and allbeing able to understand the
data on the better standpointmatters, because Another thing
(15:17):
to consider we're set you haveas an industrial manufacturer
these days that you didn't haveto really think about 20, 30, 40
years ago is cybersecurityRight?
You having this data, you putthis data on this cloud.
Is it safe?
So, making sure you havesolutions and providers and
manufacturers out there andpartners like EECA who
understand this need and help,and let us come alongside of you
(15:40):
to incorporate the robustsecurity measures, because you
need to make sure that your datahas complete integrity, first
and foremost, but also needs tobe confidential, because
industrial data is sensitive.
It can be your intellectualproperty, so that IP matters.
(16:01):
So secure, remote access,encrypted communication,
proactive cybersecurity featuresthey have to be pillars that
you are not going to waver.
They have to be in place tostand against those
cybersecurity threats.
Those threats are real.
So when you start thinkingabout the manufacturers that
you're partnering with, makesure that they embrace these
(16:23):
ideas as well when they startlooking through the solutions
for the IOT.
Now let's think about the futureand think about some trends and
predictions.
As we move forward, as we kindof cast out, we'll do some
future casting, start thinkingabout industrial manufacturing
landscape.
Several trends start emerging.
(16:44):
They do.
They come up as catalysts forfuture evolution, particularly
in industrial automation.
So you have items like edgecomputing.
So you have that'scharacterized by decentralized
data processing, and thatpromises in itself to reduce
latency right.
But it hits real time decisionmaking capabilities.
(17:06):
That's real, that edgecomputing solutions are out
there, so start thinking aboutthat.
This is going to be part ofyour industrial landscape moving
forward.
Then you have artificialintelligence.
Let's just be real.
Ai is going to hit the floor.
It already has as many places,but it's coming.
And that's woven directly intothe fabric of IOT, right.
(17:27):
It has the potential totransform data into actionable
insights.
You really start thinking aboutdriving efficiency and
innovation.
Ai is going to be at the coreof a lot of stuff.
When you start thinking aboutimplementing 5G technology
further, that really does a lotfor your plan as well, because
that's the foundation of IOT,right.
(17:48):
Because you want to make sureyou have fast, more reliable
communication between theseconnected devices.
And so I'm telling you, as youfuture cast and start thinking
about what's to come and wheredo you want your plan to be in
the future different types oftechnology.
I'd be like to get this data.
What about this data?
How can we make this machinemore connected?
You may get overwhelmed and Iwant to encourage you.
(18:09):
The team at Electric EquipmentCompany continues to provide
work with partners such as HMSto help you understand the
different solutions available toaddress this IOT initiatives
this is happening very fast andthe commitment to staying ahead
(18:31):
of these technological changes.
That's where we live, becausewe want to make sure you, as the
industrial manufacturer, canconfidently navigate the
evolving landscape and startleveraging, using some of this
technology in your operationsthat's available, that just a
few years ago wasn't so.
(18:52):
Really, what are here for youbecause I want you to think
about as we come to the end ofthis conversation?
The journey from industrialhistorically, the way stuff was
done with industrial automationto the present is really a
testament to the industry itself, its adaptability and its
(19:14):
resilience.
I mean I think about my dad asan industrial technician back in
the 80s and 90s and thetechnology that they had
available and how that evolutionchanged.
I mean at one point they had aPLC on everything except the
Coke machine.
I mean it was crazy just to seehow all that connectivity, all
the blue hose that's insidethose plants and now you look at
(19:36):
a manufacturing plant today.
That is the expectation itreally is.
You start thinking about man.
All these devices are connectednow and I'm able to pull data
from this.
Like we talked about last month, this simple motor starter that
I never could imagine gettingthis amount of data from before,
and I get into all my motorsand I can pull this in
(19:59):
historians and try to get andrun trends and to predictive
Analysis.
And it's just when you startthinking of it that way.
It's just really cool sometimesto sit back and think about the
technology, because so much ofthis technology is a strategic
imperative for our growth and asyou, as you start navigating
the complexities of the few ofthe future and data management,
(20:20):
interoperability, cybersecurityyou gotta have solutions and
more important solutionproviders At your disposal.
That's gonna work alongsidewith you as a partner to help
you make the right decisions.
But again, that's what we do ateco.
We have experts designed ineach one of these areas.
(20:41):
Maybe you have a question likewe've been talking about this
for this month industrialautomation.
We have those guys and girlsready to come support you.
Maybe you want to talk aboutmotor circuits.
Well, we're ready there as well.
How about motor control centers?
Yep, got those resourcesavailable?
How about power management andswitch gears?
How about?
How about motor relays?
(21:03):
How about Smart meters?
How about HM, us?
Whatever you're thinking aboutfrom an industrial automation
standpoint, we have team memberstrained and ready and most of
the time locked and loaded withDemo's to bring and show you.
So this is what it's all about,because edge computing,
(21:24):
artificial intelligence, 5g allthis innovation is coming and we
are here.
We're learning with you.
We're learning to be able tobring out the best, the latest,
the greatest to help you,because we are Unwavering in our
commitment as Solution partnerswith you, because we want to
give you an advance, an edge onall the different competitors
(21:46):
that you're fighting against,and we want to be your partner.
So you just transform a journey, so, as you start thinking
about IIoT and everything infront of you and the right
solutions, industrialmanufacturers cannot only adapt,
but you can thrive in yourpursuit of excellence.
This is not something you haveto do kicking and screaming.
(22:07):
You get to do this willingly,because it's gonna make you
better In understanding thedifferent technologies.
This is what industrialdistributors like electrical
equipment company, do best.
So I'd encourage you to reachout to us.
Let us know if you, if you havea particular solution or a
process that you need help with,we're here, we're ready to
(22:27):
serve.
We're ready to jump in to hitit head on with you to give you
some wisdom, to give you someinsight, to give you some
discernment, to give you someideas to help you think outside
the box.
We even have innovative labs inplace where you can come, you
can try out, try it for yourself.
Let's put your, your case studyagainst this technology.
Let's see if this technologywill give you what you need to
(22:48):
make the best decisions movingforward.
That's what it's about.
You're gonna start asking morefrom your vendors and trusting
their expertise To make the bestdecisions moving forward.
That's what it's all about.
So hopefully, you're enjoyingthe new format of eco s.
While we definitely are, I'menjoying doing it.
It's just cool to have eco swhile back again, again you will
(23:09):
.
You can give us a rating andreview that helps for sure.
Share this out with other, manywith other, with others in
manufacturing.
We'd love to just, you know,take this message and get it out
as many people as we can.
If that's something we can comehelp you with, we have.
We have team members ready tocome to your industrial
manufacturing site, particularlyif you are in the southeastern
United States.
(23:30):
That's what we arePredominantly serve the bet the
most.
So let us know if we can serveyou there.
If we can come, we can help you.
Yeah, we have labs.
We have labs in Virginia, wehave labs in North Carolina,
south Carolina.
So we have labs that you couldcome to, where you can get
hands-on.
So if you're interested in that, we'll put a link in the show
notes for you to go check thatout as well.
So lots of solutions, lots ofexperts, lots of manufacturers
(23:54):
and different types of solutionproviders that can help you make
the best decisions that you canmoving forward.
So we'll love to help you, loveto serve you, love to help just
jump in any way possible.
So again, thank you forlistening to eco s why.
If you enjoyed this one, let usknow.
We love to hear from you.
It really would be interestingto hear your feedback.
(24:14):
And if you have a topic or areathat you'd like some some, some
supporter expertise in and youmaybe want us to do an episode
about it, send it, let us know,send us an email, connect with
us.
We'll have links here to showthose for you.
Go do that, okay, so have agreat day.
Thank you so much for tuning inand remember to keep asking why
.
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(24:38):
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(24:59):
that's ee co, asks Hycom.
Welcome to ECO Ask why, a podcast that dives into
industrial manufacturing topicsand spotlights the heroes to
keep America running.
I'm your host, chris Granger,and on this podcast we do not
cover the latest features andbenefits on products that come
to market.
Instead, we focus on advice andinsight from the top minds of
industry, because people andideas will be how America
(00:24):
remains number one inmanufacturing in the world.
Welcome to ECO Ask why.
I'm your host, chris Granger.
Let's jump in.
Alright, we're excited to haveeveryone here today and hoping
that you're liking the newformat of ECO Ask why.
No, it's a little bit differentthan what we've done in the
years past, but we're justhaving a lot of fun digging deep
(00:45):
and trying to provide you withinformation and insight that's
gonna help you grow.
We start off this new series ofthis format with the installed
asset analysis, and we reallybroke that down on what that
looks like.
So hopefully you know if you'reinterested in installed asset
analysis, we have the team readyand capable and willing to jump
in and serve.
(01:06):
And then we started talkingabout mastering system designs
and going taking things from theconcept to reality, which
builds on a lot of tools withinthe electric equipment company
that we use to help you designthe most efficient systems out
there.
And then last month we talkedabout a deep dive into smart
motor protection and forsomething for me that was just
(01:29):
close, so close to my heart assomeone who's worked in close to
a motors for electric motorsfor years and ran our motor
service division, was blessed tobe able to be a part of that,
to have that conversation aroundsmart motor protection and how
the technology has changed.
What an incredible one.
So if you haven't had a chanceto listen to some of these
recent episodes, go back andcheck it out in our catalog.
(01:49):
It's a great way to getconnected, okay.
Now today we're going to betalking into we diving deep into
, industrial automation.
We're talking specifically witharound IIoT solutions Okay,
that's the industrial Internetof Things.
Okay, and we'll be reallyfocusing on how revolutionizing
(02:10):
manufacturing starts withefficiency and connectivity, and
there's a lot of innovationthat's taking place to get us
there.
So we're going to get rightinto it, because there's a lot
of information to look at hereto hopefully help you a more
prepared and equipped user ofthis technology in the future,
because we know, if we look atthat, the tapestry of industrial
(02:32):
automation, when the ad that ofthe industrial Internet of
Things happened, that was arevolutionary time and it really
has created such a rippleinside manufacturing because
it's reshaped the very fabric ofhow processes are done and how
they're thought of and then howthey're both, at the end of the
day, how they're executed andlearned from.
(02:53):
So, being an distributor at anelectrical equipment company
we've been in business foralmost a hundred years, so just
think through all the differentevolutions we've walked aside
with manufacturers on that hasforged that path.
One IOP on at a time, one relay,one wire at a time.
To me that's the cool part.
(03:14):
It really is.
And we see over and over againas more and more data, more,
more IOP points, the need formore information, happens.
There's a need to connect thisdata systems and that's led us
to partnerships with manybusinesses out there.
One of them is called HMSNetworks.
They have innovative solutionslike the E1, any bus that are
(03:36):
leading the charge, andconnectivity and
interoperability solutions,because this is crucial.
You have to be connected, butyou also have to be able to
operate on multiple systems andas we delve deeper here today,
we're talking about industrialautomation, we're going to
explore some of these nuances ofIIOT and we're going to think
(03:58):
about the future.
I'll really put your futurevision casting caps on for a
minute and we're going to lookat the role of connectivity.
It's not just a necessity butas a strategic imperative as you
move forward.
Okay, so we're going to digright into this, let's get going
.
So let's talk about theevolution of industrial, of
(04:19):
automation, rather in industrialmanufacturing.
Okay, so there has been anevolution.
So, if you think aboutautomation in industrial
manufacturing, it's been one ofingenuity, progress, of constant
changing, and it can trace itsroots way back to a time where
the plant floor was dominated byhard wired relays and control
(04:41):
systems.
Right, that's.
And I think about the days ofthe plants that I'd go to.
There was an old textile plant,the whole town I grew up and
there were lots of cabinets andrelay cabinets and filled with
wires going everywhere.
Right, and that's how.
That's how it worked.
Right, and it's infancyautomation.
Look basic, it was a lot ofmechanization and you know,
there's lots of things.
This did this, this, this, this, and you could.
(05:02):
You could literally see how the, how the logic worked.
It was effective, but not themost efficient.
So things had started evolving,improving efficiency and and
that was the focus that's whatwe see today.
Right, because we see thesophistication in the technology
that we have.
And you saw, as you startthinking about technology in the
(05:24):
, in the on the plant four,automation began advancing as
well, and it began from thosehard wire controls to the
integration of PLCs,programmable logic controllers,
and brought a new level offlexibility and precision to the
plant floor directly.
We see that, and this, thistransformative, transformative
journey, continued with theinnovation of, like CNC control
(05:47):
systems, and that that enabledautomation with complex tasks
and machining and manufacturingright there on the plant floor.
But when he started thinkingabout it, sit back.
The real watershed moment forindustrial automation arrived
when you started having networksystems.
(06:10):
This is what this is, this isreally cool.
Machines began communicatingwith each other and this changed
the basic assumptions ofeverything and right there we
saw the birth of an industrialInternet of Things.
So this is where we now havethe need for data, because data,
(06:33):
the way we use it, is to lifeblood of industrial processes.
So we kind of see thatevolution.
So it's going to come a longways, right, bless all those
days of the relay logic where wecan go replace relays and
things like that and trace stuffout.
Now you can just jump on anetwork and you can see what's
going on.
(06:53):
You can make enhancements, youcan make improvements, you can
correct items.
It's really just fascinatingwhat you think about it, right.
So now let's think about it fromthis standpoint.
You have the rise of IOT right.
But they're at the core.
There's a parallel to itscousin, probably its big cousin,
consumer IOT.
(07:15):
Let's think about that for asecond.
So you have these IOT type oftechnologies and requirements on
the platform.
Now it's gain prominence, butits roots, if you really think
about the roots, they wereintertwined as the industrial
internet of things.
The IOT impacted our dailylives.
(07:37):
It really did right and startthinking about this the presence
of your smartphone and thesmart devices that we have in
our homes.
That ushered in a whole new era.
I'm not sure if it's alwaysgood, but always it ushered in a
new era, one way or the other,of connectivity and our user
experience, and we startedhaving different expectations.
(07:59):
We just did because the thingsthat we experienced in our
personal life, we want to seethat in our industrial
manufacturing environments aswell.
Right, we wanted that.
So that experience of thehomeowner began to change and
their unique experiences for theplant user did well, did as
well.
(08:20):
Think about from the homeownerstandpoint you have the smart
thermostat, right, he has thesmart receptacles.
And then you start thinkingabout the way our homes are
connected now with advancedsurveillance security systems.
These systems are relativelycheap, right, compared to what
they were 10, 20 years ago.
And this expectation of beingable to listen, to connect, to
(08:42):
understand what's going on withthe plant and inside your home
at all times, that startedshifting from home sweet home to
home.
To now we're home, sweet,connected home, right, and we
start thinking about theseinterfaces that we deal with
every day now, right, we havereal time access to data,
(09:03):
seamless connectivity.
I mean, kids can connect tostuff, right, and consumers are
just enjoying it in our dailylives because it's created
better experiences for us.
And guess what?
All of a sudden startedcreating the same type of
expectation for plant managersand industrial operators.
It did, and this shiftnecessitated a response for
(09:28):
manufacturers to startintegrating this consumer driven
advancements into industrialprocesses.
That's what we see the smartfactory Boom.
It started coming out.
We did, we started mirroringthe conveniences of efficiency
that IOT had brought into ourhomes home to the floor and
(09:48):
manufacturers.
They started facing thechallenge of this transforming
traditional siloed systems whereyou just did this one process
here and this is all you focusedon To now everything's
interconnected.
You have interconnectedecosystems where machines
communicate in real time and westart thinking about how this is
kind of mirroring theinter-connectedness of our
(10:12):
devices and really it's mindblowing.
And you have devices like E1,any bus solutions from HMS.
They have enablers to be ableto make these connections happen
in the first place, because yougot to have infrastructure.
That infrastructure has to bethere to bridge the gap between
legacy systems and the evolvingindustrial landscape, and it's
(10:32):
just really interesting.
We start thinking about thehistory of it and the rise of
IOT and how everything tiestogether with our IOT
expectations these days.
It was just a matter of time,it was going to hit the plant
floor and that kind of leads ustoo.
Two key points that we need tothink about.
If you're in your fear ofmanufacturing plant today, that
(10:54):
you must address.
And when you look atmanufacturers, you start
evaluating vendors, you starttalking to your distributors.
Hopefully you're talking to anational equipment company.
We love to come in and help youthink about connectivity and
interoperability Because, as youhad that, iot Rise more and
more and more, you have a lot ofdifferent manufacturers and
(11:14):
solution providers Contributingunique technologies and
protocols the deplet that youcould use on the plant floor
Okay, which is cool.
But this created a little bit ofa challenge Because you know
there wasn't always standardizeddata formats and communication
protocols, so that reallyhindered a lot of this seamless
(11:35):
interoperability.
That's why you can hear acertain one this manufacturer
can only plays with thismanufacturer.
There's a little bit of truthto that, because manufacturers
found themselves kind ofgrappling with each other with
all these different proprietarysystems that could not
communicate with each other.
At the end of the day, that'snot getting stuff done.
So, recognizing the need for acommon language on the plant
(11:59):
floor Industry leaders andorganizations they advocated for
standardization.
That was huge, that was a big,big deal.
So you had common communicationprotocols such as Ethernet, ip,
right, and that became pivotalto achieving interoperability.
Then you have solutions likethat we talked about HMS is you
(12:20):
wanted any bus?
They have a commitment to openstandards and they position
themselves as a facilitator ofthis interoperable landscape
Because, when you start thinkingabout it, these solutions not
only support various industrialprotocols, but also provide
gateways that at thistranslators.
So devices are different.
(12:41):
With those differentcommunication standards that you
had, back in a day Maybe theycan be able to exchange data
more efficiently andeffortlessly.
And this created, when youstart thinking about
connectivity andinteroperability, a unified,
interoperable industrialecosystems where you have these
machines with these differentmanufacturers, everything
(13:03):
seamlessly connects.
You have, at that point, youhave, a agile, responsive
Manufacturing environment andthat is really what you're after
.
You want that system, that youhave to be reliable, we know
that, but it also has to beconnected.
It's gonna give you the datathat you need and you don't want
a bunch of hoops to jumpthrough.
This is why solutions like thismatter.
(13:24):
Then you start thinking aboutthe data.
Because it's all about the data.
Right, because you had thisinterconnectivity of devices,
you have the standardization ofprotocols.
Right, you felt that we findourselves often on the plant
floor flooded, flooded with Justdata that we just can't do
(13:45):
enough with.
Right, it's just, it's comingin faster we can never do
anything with.
So then you had IIoT solutionsthat became not just conduits
but managers of that data to tryto put that data in the right
places so we can make the bestinformed decisions in the moment
and we start thinking about thevolume, the sheer volume of
(14:07):
data generated on the plantfloor each day, from machine
machine performance metrics toenvironmental conditions.
This creates so greatopportunities for sure, to learn
, to grow, to adapt, to take, totake, to make the Adjustments
in your process to really be asefficient as possible, but it
also creates challenges.
Right, because it really does,because what you start equipping
(14:31):
advanced data managementcapabilities all these machines,
you better be able to move thatdata where it's needed the most
, where you can start usingHistorians and integrate into
cloud solutions to be anintegral part of your automation
system.
Right, because you get so tothink about that.
You make sure you're having theright tools in the right places
to extract the meaningfulinformation.
(14:51):
So you got to get the data thatyou want, but then you have to
move it to where you canactually make better decisions
and talk about, you know,predictive, maintenance and
optimization processes andEnhancing your overall
operational excellence.
You have to be able to do allthat.
You have to get that data inthe right places and this is
where the data deluge and allbeing able to understand the
data on the better standpointmatters, because Another thing
(15:17):
to consider we're set you haveas an industrial manufacturer
these days that you didn't haveto really think about 20, 30, 40
years ago is cybersecurityRight?
You having this data, you putthis data on this cloud.
Is it safe?
So, making sure you havesolutions and providers and
manufacturers out there andpartners like EECA who
understand this need and help,and let us come alongside of you
(15:40):
to incorporate the robustsecurity measures, because you
need to make sure that your datahas complete integrity, first
and foremost, but also needs tobe confidential, because
industrial data is sensitive.
It can be your intellectualproperty, so that IP matters.
(16:01):
So secure, remote access,encrypted communication,
proactive cybersecurity featuresthey have to be pillars that
you are not going to waver.
They have to be in place tostand against those
cybersecurity threats.
Those threats are real.
So when you start thinkingabout the manufacturers that
you're partnering with, makesure that they embrace these
(16:23):
ideas as well when they startlooking through the solutions
for the IOT.
Now let's think about the futureand think about some trends and
predictions.
As we move forward, as we kindof cast out, we'll do some
future casting, start thinkingabout industrial manufacturing
landscape.
Several trends start emerging.
(16:44):
They do.
They come up as catalysts forfuture evolution, particularly
in industrial automation.
So you have items like edgecomputing.
So you have that'scharacterized by decentralized
data processing, and thatpromises in itself to reduce
latency right.
But it hits real time decisionmaking capabilities.
(17:06):
That's real, that edgecomputing solutions are out
there, so start thinking aboutthat.
This is going to be part ofyour industrial landscape moving
forward.
Then you have artificialintelligence.
Let's just be real.
Ai is going to hit the floor.
It already has as many places,but it's coming.
And that's woven directly intothe fabric of IOT, right.
(17:27):
It has the potential totransform data into actionable
insights.
You really start thinking aboutdriving efficiency and
innovation.
Ai is going to be at the coreof a lot of stuff.
When you start thinking aboutimplementing 5G technology
further, that really does a lotfor your plan as well, because
that's the foundation of IOT,right.
(17:48):
Because you want to make sureyou have fast, more reliable
communication between theseconnected devices.
And so I'm telling you, as youfuture cast and start thinking
about what's to come and wheredo you want your plan to be in
the future different types oftechnology.
I'd be like to get this data.
What about this data?
How can we make this machinemore connected?
You may get overwhelmed and Iwant to encourage you.
(18:09):
The team at Electric EquipmentCompany continues to provide
work with partners such as HMSto help you understand the
different solutions available toaddress this IOT initiatives
this is happening very fast andthe commitment to staying ahead
(18:31):
of these technological changes.
That's where we live, becausewe want to make sure you, as the
industrial manufacturer, canconfidently navigate the
evolving landscape and startleveraging, using some of this
technology in your operationsthat's available, that just a
few years ago wasn't so.
(18:52):
Really, what are here for youbecause I want you to think
about as we come to the end ofthis conversation?
The journey from industrialhistorically, the way stuff was
done with industrial automationto the present is really a
testament to the industry itself, its adaptability and its
(19:14):
resilience.
I mean I think about my dad asan industrial technician back in
the 80s and 90s and thetechnology that they had
available and how that evolutionchanged.
I mean at one point they had aPLC on everything except the
Coke machine.
I mean it was crazy just to seehow all that connectivity, all
the blue hose that's insidethose plants and now you look at
(19:36):
a manufacturing plant today.
That is the expectation itreally is.
You start thinking about man.
All these devices are connectednow and I'm able to pull data
from this.
Like we talked about last month, this simple motor starter that
I never could imagine gettingthis amount of data from before,
and I get into all my motorsand I can pull this in
(19:59):
historians and try to get andrun trends and to predictive
Analysis.
And it's just when you startthinking of it that way.
It's just really cool sometimesto sit back and think about the
technology, because so much ofthis technology is a strategic
imperative for our growth and asyou, as you start navigating
the complexities of the few ofthe future and data management,
(20:20):
interoperability, cybersecurityyou gotta have solutions and
more important solutionproviders At your disposal.
That's gonna work alongsidewith you as a partner to help
you make the right decisions.
But again, that's what we do ateco.
We have experts designed ineach one of these areas.
(20:41):
Maybe you have a question likewe've been talking about this
for this month industrialautomation.
We have those guys and girlsready to come support you.
Maybe you want to talk aboutmotor circuits.
Well, we're ready there as well.
How about motor control centers?
Yep, got those resourcesavailable?
How about power management andswitch gears?
How about?
How about motor relays?
(21:03):
How about Smart meters?
How about HM, us?
Whatever you're thinking aboutfrom an industrial automation
standpoint, we have team memberstrained and ready and most of
the time locked and loaded withDemo's to bring and show you.
So this is what it's all about,because edge computing,
(21:24):
artificial intelligence, 5g allthis innovation is coming and we
are here.
We're learning with you.
We're learning to be able tobring out the best, the latest,
the greatest to help you,because we are Unwavering in our
commitment as Solution partnerswith you, because we want to
give you an advance, an edge onall the different competitors
(21:46):
that you're fighting against,and we want to be your partner.
So you just transform a journey, so, as you start thinking
about IIoT and everything infront of you and the right
solutions, industrialmanufacturers cannot only adapt,
but you can thrive in yourpursuit of excellence.
This is not something you haveto do kicking and screaming.
(22:07):
You get to do this willingly,because it's gonna make you
better In understanding thedifferent technologies.
This is what industrialdistributors like electrical
equipment company, do best.
So I'd encourage you to reachout to us.
Let us know if you, if you havea particular solution or a
process that you need help with,we're here, we're ready to
(22:27):
serve.
We're ready to jump in to hitit head on with you to give you
some wisdom, to give you someinsight, to give you some
discernment, to give you someideas to help you think outside
the box.
We even have innovative labs inplace where you can come, you
can try out, try it for yourself.
Let's put your, your case studyagainst this technology.
Let's see if this technologywill give you what you need to
(22:48):
make the best decisions movingforward.
That's what it's about.
You're gonna start asking morefrom your vendors and trusting
their expertise To make the bestdecisions moving forward.
That's what it's all about.
So hopefully, you're enjoyingthe new format of eco s.
While we definitely are, I'menjoying doing it.
It's just cool to have eco swhile back again, again you will
(23:09):
.
You can give us a rating andreview that helps for sure.
Share this out with other, manywith other, with others in
manufacturing.
We'd love to just, you know,take this message and get it out
as many people as we can.
If that's something we can comehelp you with, we have.
We have team members ready tocome to your industrial
manufacturing site, particularlyif you are in the southeastern
United States.
(23:30):
That's what we arePredominantly serve the bet the
most.
So let us know if we can serveyou there.
If we can come, we can help you.
Yeah, we have labs.
We have labs in Virginia, wehave labs in North Carolina,
south Carolina.
So we have labs that you couldcome to, where you can get
hands-on.
So if you're interested in that, we'll put a link in the show
notes for you to go check thatout as well.
So lots of solutions, lots ofexperts, lots of manufacturers
(23:54):
and different types of solutionproviders that can help you make
the best decisions that you canmoving forward.
So we'll love to help you, loveto serve you, love to help just
jump in any way possible.
So again, thank you forlistening to eco s why.
If you enjoyed this one, let usknow.
We love to hear from you.
It really would be interestingto hear your feedback.
(24:14):
And if you have a topic or areathat you'd like some some, some
supporter expertise in and youmaybe want us to do an episode
about it, send it, let us know,send us an email, connect with
us.
We'll have links here to showthose for you.
Go do that, okay, so have agreat day.
Thank you so much for tuning inand remember to keep asking why
.
Thank you for listening to ecos why this show is supported ad
(24:38):
free by electrical equipmentcompany.
Eco is redefining theexpectations of an electrical
distributor by placing peopleand ideas before products.
Please subscribe and share withyour colleagues and friends.
Also leave comments, feedback,any new topics that you would
like to hear.
To learn more or to share yourinsights, visit eco s why Com
(24:59):
that's ee co, asks Hycom.
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