Elly Yates-Roberts |
ICONICS, a global automation software developer and six-time winner of the Microsoft Partner of the Year award, is committed to assisting its customers and partners through the current pandemic. Specifically, ICONICS technology contributes to manufacturers’ best practices in both offsite and onsite data management to help mitigate person-to-person exposure to the virus.
In the earliest days of assembly lines, a human being had to be in close proximity to the equipment to monitor and control it. Over time, these supervisors were able to move away from the manufacturing machinery itself, but still had to remain onsite in a nearby connected control room. Today, the concept of remote management is now common. This is where the data created throughout the manufacturing process is visualised, archived, analysed and mobilised offsite in separate facilities from where the processes are physically taking place. The industrial internet of things takes the concept even further, allowing for easier, faster and more secure remote monitoring and control.
For more than 30 years, ICONICS has been involved in the transformation of remote data and process management (although not necessarily with a global pandemic in mind). The company’s GENESIS64 SCADA and IoTWorX IoT integration software are often used in combination with other technologies to help limit onsite exposure via digital twin virtual replication, proactive fault detection/diagnostics, and collaborative robotics (known as cobots).
However, the reality for most manufacturers is that they still need some people onsite at their facilities to manage processes. ICONICS can provide assistance with this via CFSWorX, an advanced remote worker notification solution that helps to streamline the efficiency of field service organisations through intelligent scheduling and reliable notifications. The integrated Remote Expert assistance feature is an additional benefit, which is particularly advantageous in a time where mandated social distancing measures have limited onsite personnel. The feature allows offsite staff to assist onsite technicians, who can provide their vantage point via headmounted computing (such as RealWear HMT-1) or other mobile devices. With that in mind, ICONICS has offered free use of its CFSWorX solution to new applicants for the remainder of 2020. Interested parties can enquire about the free trial offer at iconics.com/CFSWorX-free
ICONICS aims to guide its manufacturing customers through process improvement, both offsite and onsite, especially during today’s trying times.
Melissa Topp is senior director of global marketing at ICONICS
This article was originally published in the Autumn 2020 issue of The Record. To get future issues delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for a free subscription.