The Connected Enterprise must continually evolve

June 13, 2015 12:30 pm

“Just one in 10 plants has an IoT strategy in place or is planning to put a strategy in place”
 Rockwell Automation has been developing its Connected Enterprise for nearly a decade. Yet even though it has integrated information technology systems with operations systems and devices many years ago, none can be found  —  at its corporate headquarters, in the IT department, or on the plant floor — who thinks we’re finished. The Connected Enterprise is a big driver of Rockwell’s success — today and tomorrow.
Why? Because it’s not just a revolution, it’s an evolution as well. According to Beth Parkinson, Market Development Director, Connected Enterprise, Rockwell Automation, “Companies that follow The Rockwell Automation five-stage Connected Enterprise Execution Model —with its assistance and the help of partners such as Cisco Systems — recognise that The Connected Enterprise is a foundation upon which to build great things.” Ms Parkinson observed that the Connected Enterprise evolves because the business world mutates at digital speed:
TechnologiesThe capability and affordability of plant-floor Ethernet and smart devices, powerful computing solutions, and networking technologies are constantly improving. Each information technology/operational technology (IT/OT) enhancement will improve enterprise visibility and decision-making.
Business activitiesThe evolution of any organisation — mergers, acquisitions, new plants and offices, new customers and suppliers — requires adaptive systems and devices to mesh with The Connected Enterprise backbone. Similarly, new investments in equipment and employees means new points of access to the IT/OT infrastructure. Any company wouldn’t make a new hire and then deprive him or her of collaboration tools or real-time dashboards that boost productivity and profitability, would you?
Market changesThe only thing certain about markets is that they will change — and change again. This presents both opportunities and challenges. For example, evolving information capabilities at utilities will help plant managers to optimise energy consumption, while metadata from commodities markets will drive cost-effective procurement. The challenges will continue to be rescuing insights from an ocean of data that threatens to drown executives.
Unfortunately, many companies have yet to start their Connected Enterprise evolutions. New research finds that only about half of manufacturing plant executives are aware of the Internet of Things. Even worse, just one in 10 plants has an IoT strategy — i.e. The Connected Enterprise — in place or is planning to put a strategy in place.
“The Rockwell Automation Connected Enterprise Execution Model leads to intelligent networks that boost productivity, optimise asset utilisation, deliver insights for informed decision-making — and bring operations and information security into the 21st century,” Ms Parkinson avers.
For more information:Visit www.rockwellautomation.com Or email at indiamarketing@ra.rockwell.comCustomer Care (Toll Free): 18002000121