Digital Transformation Viewpoints

The role of System Integrators Alliance Partners has never been more important or critical than it is today. System Integrator Alliance Partners are typically on the front line when it comes to deploying and supporting key technologies to better monitor and control operations, protect against downtime, ensure high productivity, protect and upskill personnel, enable remote workforces, and do this while leveraging enhanced cybersecurity architectures. Going forward, however, in a time where the only market certainty is uncertainty, what will be required of Alliance Partners so they can continue to help their customers progress on their digital transformation and sustainability journeys to build stronger, more operationally resilient businesses that ensure long-term viability and profitable growth?Craig Resnick from the ARC Advisory Group speaks to Luke Stephenson, Business Operations Vice President at Enterprise Automation; and Avril Zamora, Global Commercial Director System Integrators and Strategic Programs at Schneider Electric to discuss what are the main challenges that System Integrators Alliance Partners envision for their upcoming projects considering the new demands of end users and OEMs, how is Schneider Electric supporting its System Integrator Alliance Partners help meet these new demands, how has the System Integrators Alliance Partners journey been in upskilling and meeting these new demands, how has the Schneider Electric Alliance Partner Program helped its System Integrator Alliance Partners to secure new business opportunities, and predictions as to what technologies are coming next that the System Integrator Alliance Partners and Schneider Electric need to be prepared for?

Peter Manos, ARC Advisory Group's Director of Research, discusses with Krishna Uppuluri (VP/GM at mPACT2WO) and Chip Hilarides (VP of Quality and Stewardship at Flint Hills Resources) on the emerging emissions transformation for process industries. Explore insights into successful emissions monitoring and leak detection, emphasizing the pivotal role of operator adoption and collaboration in driving transformative change.

100 years of providing motor management, protection, and control is a major accomplishment for any company, but how does a century old company evolve from producing products that some may look at as commodities to providing solutions that leverage the latest digital transformation technologies? Craig Resnick from the ARC Advisory Group speaks to Iount Farcas, Senior Vice President, Europe Hub leader for Low Voltage, at Schneider Electric, to discuss its TeSys motor controls business, the history of TeSys,  attributes that contributed to TeSys century of success, TeSys solutions beyond motor protection and control, benefits that customers derive from TeSys motor management solutions, key synergies with Schneider Electric’s portfolio of solutions that TeSys customers can leverage and benefit from, and how Schneider Electric and TeSys will continue to provide power distribution solutions over the next century.

The second in ARC’s Industrial AI Podcast Series features a conversation between Colin Masson, ARC Advisory Group’s Director of Research for Industrial AI, and Schneider Electric's Chief AI Officer, Philippe Rambach as they discuss more than 50 years of experience applying AI techniques to industrial use cases Listen to Colin and Philippe discuss how Schneider Electric has dramatically ramped up their internal AI resources with almost a ten fold increase in dedicated AI staff since Philippe's appointment as Chief AI Officer two years ago.Philippe shares some examples of how Schneider Electric has been applying AI techniques over several decades to tackle energy optimisation use cases, and how they consider efficiency, cost, and environmental impact before selecting the appropriate AI tools and techniques needed for each use case.

Being in business for 100 years is a significant milestone for any company, but what are the secrets to that success and how does that company continue to keep thriving for the next 100 years? Craig Resnick from the ARC Advisory Group speaks to Ira Sharp, Director of Automation Product Marketing at Phoenix Contact, to discuss the history and background of Phoenix Contact; how the company has grown, evolved, changed, and been successful for 100 years; how the company is helping its customers with innovations, solutions and technologies for data collection, edge, data aggregation, security, and network connectivity; how Phoenix Contact is addressing its sustainability, ESG, and net zero goals; and what are Phoenix Contact’s next steps for innovations and technologies as they begin their journey for its next 100 years. 

In the first in ARC’s Industrial AI Podcast Series kicks off with a conversation between Colin Masson -  ARC Advisory Group’s Director of Research for Industrial AI - and Seeq Corporations Founder and CTO, Dustin Johnson. Listen to Colin and Dustin set the stage for the Industrial AI (R)Evolution as they dispel some of the myths and new opportunities surrounding Generative AI, explore the long history of the application of machine learning and neural nets to industrial AI use cases, and zero in on some of the complexities of contextualizing time series data that’s needed for many  industrial AI use cases. Dustin share some examples of how Seeq has been applying AI techniques for more than 5 years, and explores how Seeq is applying Generative AI to empower people, and simplify processes to leverage the latest technology breakthroughs. 

Marianne D'Aquila, Director of Research at ARC Advisory Group and Bryan Saunders, Global Director and head of IoT Industry Consulting at SAS discuss Industrial Analytics in this podcast. They explore key initiatives at driving operational efficiencies, new technology approaches, and the challenges companies encounter. Georgia Pacific, a SAS customer, is highlighted as an example of a successful journey implementing SAS IoT solutions.For Additional Downloads Click Below:https://www.sas.com/en/whitepapers/arc-next-big-leap-asset-management-predictive-maintenance-at-scale-113699.html

In this podcast, ARC’s Mark Sen Gupta discusses challenges users face with regards to remote operations and approaches to counter act those changes with James Redmond (Global Offer Manager for Remote Operations at Schneider Electric).  They discuss overall trends, challenges, regulations, applicable technologies, and Schneiders latest SCADAPack Offerings:  SCADAPack 470i and 474i.

In this podcast ARC’s Harry Forbes discusses a new generation of MV switchgear with Michael Lotfy (Senior VP Power Products and Systems at Schneider Electric).  They talk about how this new MV equipment brings smart sensing to non-rotating equipment, transforms operating and maintenance practices, and brings new levels of safety, reliability, and sustainability to energy infrastructure.

Virtually every manufacturing and processing company worldwide is going through a digital transformation process. However, there are substantial differences in the progress each company has made in their digital transformation journey as well as the rate of that journey. Often, the companies that have made the most digital transformation progress at the fastest rate utilize a Digital Transformation Consultancy.  But what exactly is a Digital Transformation Consultancy? How does the consultancy help companies start their digital transformation journey? What does the consultancy do to help companies realize the value of the Digital Transformation strategy that the consultancy helped them identify and craft? How does the consultancy help companies to quantify Digital Transformation business value? And how does the consultancy help companies transform culture, which is often a bigger challenge than transforming technology?  Please join Rik De Smet, Digital Transformation Consulting Senior Partner, APAC, at Schneider Electric; and Christian Horn, Digital Solutions Engineering Director, APAC, at Schneider Electric; as they discuss these questions and much more in this podcast moderated by Craig Resnick, Vice President of ARC Advisory Group.

Global Leader in Digital Transformation and Industrial Automation. That is how Rockwell Automation, with its solid legacy of operational technology (OT) offerings such as control systems, variable speed drives, sensors and switches, now describes itself.During her visit to Singapore from her base in San Francisco, Claudia Chandra, Chief Product Officer ‒ Industrial Data, AI, Edge, and Analytics, talked with ARC’s Bob Gill about the rising importance of IT and software as clients look to digitally transform their operations and as evidenced by Rockwell acquisitions like Plex Systems (MES) and Fiix (CMMS), growing investments in the increasingly cloud-based FactoryTalk software suite, and new personnel hires that increasingly come with deep IT experience. Ms Chandra herself joined Rockwell Automation after senior executive roles at companies including Oracle and Informatica.Among the topics discussed in this podcast: industrial digital transformation opportunities and successes; client readiness for cloud solutions; the value of the PTC partnership; and future directions for the Rockwell Automation software portfolio.

Sustainability and ESG are front and center for nearly every industrial organization. While decarbonization continues to impact all industries, there are emerging circular business models for those who make chemicals. Yasmine McColl, Global Business Development and Ramki Sethuraman, Global Solutions Architect, Chemicals Segment with Schneider Electric, join ARC to discuss the impact of circularity in the Chemicals industry and the essential digital solutions.

The process of value chain optimization remains a journey, not a destination, for manufacturers and processors worldwide. Examples of value chain optimization includes supervisory visualization, where centralized control rooms in single plants are optimized into integrated operations centers that provide an integrated management system for control of entire value chains. Another example includes enterprise visualization, where centers of excellence designed to solve specific problems are optimized into unified operations centers converging IT and OT across the business value chain, aiding in business decision support. But how does value chain optimization occur? What are some of the technical and cultural challenges that need to be overcome? What are some of the sustainability benefits and cybersecurity concerns? And can you achieve even greater value chain optimization by integrating integrated operations centers into unified operations centers? Please join Elias Panasuik, Senior Global Program Director, EcoStruxure Power and Process, Schneider Electric; and Yong The, Global Sales Lead, AVEVA Unified Operations Center; as they discuss  these questions and much more in a podcast moderated by Craig Resnick, Vice President of ARC Advisory Group.

This podcast focuses on how Yokogawa is helping companies use newer technologies to become more autonomous. We’ll explore what specific technologies Yokogawa is providing that is driving autonomy, reducing human error, and  improving operational efficiencies across a wide variety of industry sectors.

As the pace of digital transformation accelerates, it’s now more important than ever to prepare your entire operations for the future—and it begins with a foundation of asset digitization. Digital transformation is difficult if you don’t have a basic digitalized operation.  From there, you can take full advantage of continuous innovation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, allowing your company the ability to compete on a whole new level. Modernization of older assets is the key to managing the lifecycle of your plant, and in the process, increasing productivity, revenue, and profitability, now and in the future. 

Recently, several global oil and chemical leaders created a groundswell of support around the need for sustainable and open digital twins. Sustainable digital twins are needed after handover for the long operate and maintain portion of a plant’s lifecycle. Open digital twins are needed to accommodate the variety of applications and business processes to operate and maintain. The implications for this new initiative are far-reaching into the operating and business systems of energy and chemicals producers and their technology suppliers.

Recently, several global oil and chemical leaders created a groundswell of support around the need for sustainable and open digital twins. Sustainable digital twins are needed after handover for the long operate and maintain portion of a plant’s lifecycle. Open digital twins are needed to accommodate the variety of applications and business processes to operate and maintain. The implications for this new initiative are far-reaching into the operating and business systems of energy and chemicals producers and their technology suppliers.

Schneider Electric’s Michael Martinez (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejmartinez/), EcoStruxure Foxboro DCS Leader, discusses sustainability and automation with ARC Research Director Harry Forbes (https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-forbes-9bb4ba/).  Schneider Electric helps organizations achieve responsible profitability while also monitoring their sustainability targets.  Michael shares examples how Schneider Electric enables safe and effective use of your energy and resources for positive impact on your organization, your customers, and your community.

In Singapore, Boris Marrone, Vice President and Head of South Asia and South East Asia, AVEVA, which describes itself as a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, tells ARC’s Bob Gill that the reason why sustainability is now a priority for AVEVA is because it is a critical performance benchmark for customers reassessing business strategies and carbon footprints in the light of COP26.Other aspects discussed in this podcast include the value 2021’s $5 billion acquisition of OSIsoft is bringing to AVEVA; how Performance Intelligence is delivering deeper, data-driven insights to customers; the successful digital projects completed for Petronas in Malaysia and SCG Chemicals in Thailand, and the opportunities Boris Marrone is eyeing for business growth in the region in 2022.

Welcome back to another cybersecurity-focused episode of the ARC Digital Transformation Podcast. In this episode, we speak to Randy Armstrong, director of IT operations at the OPC Foundation.  OPC has a very solid cybersecurity foundation and Randy has been at the center of this for some time, giving us an excellent summary of the many different layers of cybersecurity within OPC UA.  Security isn't something that was bolted on to OPC. From the beginning, security has been a primary concern. According to Randy, "We wanted to have a standard that incorporated security as a first-class concept. From the beginning, every aspect of the specification is analyzed in terms of its impact on security, and, and has to be able to follow the conventions and the requirements that we've laid out for the overall framework. So by doing this, we've developed a standard that has a very cohesive, holistic view of security that shows up at different levels in the implementations."Many of the concepts behind what's known today as "zero trust" already exist in OPC, such as advanced authentication schemes, including the use of PKI, application authentication, and more. According to Randy, "What we built into the OPC UA infrastructure is this concept of application authentication. So every application that's installed on a particular node has a unique identifier and has a certificate assigned to it. And it will be configured to only allow communication with a finite number of other applications. And it's up to the administrators to decide who's allowed to trust who, and you have very fine-grained control. So you can have a cell on a factory floor with 10 machines, and those 10 machines would all be I'll be configured to talk to each other but nobody else. And this is going to be independent of the user credentials, which may determine what access somebody has when they're accessing the machine. So it's really two layers of authentication."