Digital Transformation Viewpoints

In a recent ARC Advisory Group SPARC podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Steve Blackwell, Head of the Manufacturing Center of Excellence at Amazon Web Services (AWS). We dove deep into one of the most transformative shifts happening in the industrial sector today: Software Defined Manufacturing (SDM) in the Era of Agentic AI.Would you like to be a guest on our growing podcast?If you have an intriguing, thought provoking topic you'd like to discuss on our podcast, please contact our host Jim Frazer or Our Producer Tom CabotView all the episodes here: https://thedigitaltransformationpodcast.buzzsprout.com

In this edition of the ARC Digital Transformation Podcast, we talk to Grant Vanderbrake and Arnold Offner from Phoenix Contact about a new technology called Ethernet APL (Advanced Physical Layer), which essentially brings Ethernet technology to the field device level at the physical networking layer. Ethernet APL is a great technology, and every major process automation vendor seems to be supporting it, but what about the cybersecurity implications associated with it? This podcast goes into the details of Ethernet APL and security, what users need to know, and how this technology could actually make OT security much more effective.Find out more at Phoenix Contact's Website: https://www.phoenixcontact.com/en-us/technologies/communication-technologies/ethernet-aplOr the Ethernet APL Organization Website: https://www.ethernet-apl.org/ARC Advisory Group is the leading technology research and advisory firm for energy, manufacturing and infrastructure. Our coverage of technology and trends extends from business systems to Industrial AI, product and asset lifecycle management, Industrial IoT, Industry 4.0, supply chain management, operations management, energy transition, and automation systems. Our analysts and consultants have the industry knowledge and the first-hand experience to help find the best answers to the complex business issues facing organizations today.ARC's global influence across industrial operations is unparalleled. It is driven by the passion and expertise of our analysts and consultants, who keep abreast of industry trends and developments through research and actively engaging with clients.  ARC's analysts and consultants have spent most of their careers working with industrial companies and are truly passionate about helping companies achieve superior performance.  ARC has 100 professionals worldwide with extensive, first-hand experience servicing a multitude of business issues, technologies, and vertical industries.   Our offices are located in the US, Germany, Belgium, Japan, India, China, Singapore, and Brazil.

For industrial manufacturers, the role of Industrial Automation Distributors and a partner ecosystem has never been more important or critical than it is today. There is an urgency for industrial manufacturing companies to modernize their operating practices and technologies to successfully compete in today's dynamic and continuously evolving marketplace. The industrial manufacturing companies that have been most successful with their digital transformation are the ones who have best leveraged their Industrial Automation Distributors and partner ecosystem. Just as how industrial manufacturers must rapidly progress on their digital transformation journey, so do the Industrial Automation Distributors and partner ecosystem, who face similar challenges with regarding technology advancement, including workforce reskilling, talent management, training, supply chain resilience, and technology specialization. This has led Schneider Electric to develop its Alliance Partner Program that provides these services to its Industrial Automation Distributors and partner ecosystem. Discussing this important topic are Amit Bhatia, Distribution Channel Director at Schneider Electric; Rakesh Jain, CEO of Rexel India; and Craig Resnick, Vice President of the ARC Advisory Group.

For those who may not know him, Rick is a true titan in the industrial technology landscape. As a co-founder of Lighthammer (which evolved into SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence) and ThingWorx (later acquired by PTC), Rick has consistently been at the forefront of innovation. His pivotal work has shaped connected systems, driven digital transformation, and advanced intelligent automation. I consider Rick a serial entrepreneur, a valued advisor to startups and investors, and a leading expert in industrial AI, particularly in advanced manufacturing and the crucial intersection of data-driven insights with industrial operations.In our first discussion, we laid the groundwork by exploring the foundational data challenges Rick has encountered and tackled over his decades of experience – from the early days of connecting disparate systems on the factory floor to the rise of Industrial IoT and the evolving nature of industrial data.

Examine of cutting-edge digital technology with industry experts Luciano Botto and Libanio Souza. In this compelling podcast episode, recorded live at the ARC 29th Annual Conference, we explore the transformative power of new digital solutions in process control. Discover how these innovations are enhancing maintainability, interoperability, and quality improvement in the industry. Learn about the groundbreaking OPC UA and OPA standards, and how they are paving the way for smarter, more efficient operations. Join us as we discuss the challenges and opportunities of adopting these technologies. Don't miss this insightful conversation that promises to reshape the future of process control!

Are you interested in taking your sensor-driven real-time insights to the next level? The latest trends in real-time solutions driving operations excellence for anomaly detection with emissions and corrosion monitoring leveraging Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) come to the forefront in my recent discussion with Molex executive Krishna Uppuluri, from mPACT2WO.  #AIoT #RealTimeSolutions #Innovation #OperationsExcellence

In this episode of ARC Advisory's Industrial AI Series, Jim Frazer sits down with Colin Masson, ARC's Director of Research, to delve into the transformative world of Industrial AI. Together, they dissect how Industrial AI stands apart from general AI, exploring the powerful tools and techniques that drive data insights, optimize operations, and enhance safety in mission-critical environments. From the nuances of supervised learning to the promise of causal AI, Frazer and Masson provide a comprehensive introduction to AI's role in reshaping the industrial landscape. Whether you're navigating AI's complexity or curious about its business applications, this episode is packed with insights that highlight how technology is revolutionizing industrial processes today. --------------------------------------------------------------------------Would you like to be a guest on our growing podcast?If you have an intriguing, thought provoking Digital Transformation topics you'd like to discuss on our podcast, please contact our host Colin Masson or Our Producer Tom CabotView all the episodes here: https://thedigitaltransformationpodcast.buzzsprout.com

This podcast features Colin Masson of ARC Advisory Group and Dustin Johnson, CTO of Seeq - a global provider of advanced analytics, AI, and enterprise monitoring for industrial companies - discussing the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in industrial settings.  Key topics include the transformation of user interfaces through generative AI, the challenges of applying large language models to time-series data, and the distinctions between AI assistants and agents. Johnson emphasizes the importance of human-in-the-loop systems and the need for AI tools to be both powerful and user-friendly. The conversation concludes with predictions for the future of industrial AI, acknowledging both the hype and the potential for significant advancements in 2025 and beyond.--------------------------------------------------------------------------Would you like to be a guest on our growing podcast?If you have an intriguing, thought provoking Digital Transformation topics you'd like to discuss on our podcast, please contact our host Colin Masson or Our Producer Tom CabotView all the episodes here: https://thedigitaltransformationpodcast.buzzsprout.com

In this episode, Colin Masson, Research Director for Industrial AI at ARC Advisory Group, and Bryan Saunders, Global Director and Head of IoT Industry Consulting at SAS, delve into the critical aspects of the AI and analytics lifecycle in the industrial sector. They explore key areas, including:Data Management: The discussion emphasizes the importance of managing data quality for improved decision-making and outcomes. They address the challenges of dealing with diverse data types, including sensor data, text, video, and acoustic data, highlighting the need for a flexible "any data, anywhere" approach. The experts advise against a "big bang" approach to data fabric implementation and recommend focusing on specific use cases to realize value quickly.Model Development: The conversation moves to model development, where they stress that selecting the right tool for the job is essential. It is noted that most AI deployments in the industrial sector are not using Gen AI, but more traditional, narrow AI techniques and algorithms, partly due to cost and explainability. They also highlight the need for more accessible tools that allow subject matter experts to contribute to model development.Deployment of Insights: The podcast explores how to operationalize and scale insights by tying analytic investments into existing business systems. The discussion highlights common use cases, like predictive maintenance, quality control, energy optimization and worker safety and cites examples of companies like Georgia Pacific and Lockheed Martin.The Role of Gen AI: During their conversation, Colin and Bryan also discuss the transformative potential of Gen AI, particularly in synthetic data generation, assisting with code creation, and as a digital assistant to upskill the workforce. Gen AI is also seen as a way to address the skills gap and improve knowledge transfer in the industrial sector.This episode offers a pragmatic view of AI in the industrial sector, emphasizing the need to focus on business outcomes, use cases, and the importance of data governance. It provides valuable insights for those looking to leverage AI and analytics effectively in their operations.--------------------------------------------------------------------------Would you like to be a guest on our growing podcast?If you have an intriguing, thought provoking Digital Transformation topics you'd like to discuss on our podcast, please contact our host Colin Masson or Our Producer Tom CabotView all the episodes here: https://thedigitaltransformationpodcast.buzzsprout.com

This podcast discusses the expanding application of computer vision within industrial AI. Computer vision, defined as the computer processing of visual input, is experiencing widespread adoption across various industrial sectors. Colin Masson and Larry O'Brien of ARC Advisory Group highlight numerous use cases, including worker safety, asset management, and quality inspection. Much of their conversation focuses on the diverse landscape of suppliers, ranging from traditional machine vision providers to hyper-scalers and specialized robotics companies. Colin and Larry also address the importance of cybersecurity considerations and offer advice for industrial organizations looking to implement computer vision solutions.--------------------------------------------------------------------------Would you like to be a guest on our growing podcast?If you have an intriguing, thought provoking Digital Transformation topics you'd like to discuss on our podcast, please contact our host Colin Masson or Our Producer Tom CabotView all the episodes here: https://thedigitaltransformationpodcast.buzzsprout.com

In this discussion, part of ARC's Digital Transformation series, Arnold Offner of Phoenix Contact discusses the prospects for Ethernet-APL, a new technology that will bring truly standardized, high-speed networking to field devices in future process plants. He discusses who has developed this technology, when it will become available, and how it might change operations and maintenance activities in process manufacturing.Featuring:Harry Forbes, ARC Advisory GroupArnold Offner, Phoenix Contact

Welcome to a special crossover episode of The Sustainability Podcast, in collaboration with ARC's Digital Transformation Podcast. Join host Jim Frazer, Vice President of Smart Cities and Infrastructure at ARC, and Colin Masson, ARC's Director of Research and former Microsoft executive, as they dive into the world of Industrial AI. This episode kicks off a five-part series exploring whether AI in the industrial sector is an evolution of existing technologies or a revolutionary leap forward. Jim and Colin discuss the history, tools, and techniques of AI, setting the stage for an engaging conversation on the future of industrial AI. Don't miss this insightful discussion that bridges the gap between engineering rigor and transformative potential. Tune in for future episodes on AI wars, industrial use cases, data fabrics, and AI's role in sustainability. Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and watch the episode on YouTube.

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.

Drones and robots in process applications? Drones are just than flying robots, and robotic applications today go far beyond logistics and assembly. These mobile devices are used for inspection and gathering of data points in previously inaccessible places. Equally important is the back-office framework that manages and tracks robots and drones as they move about, enforcing safety norms, obtaining take-off clearances, and ensuring mission success.

Join ARC's David Humphrey and Dillon Fosa for a quick talk about the hottest topics at ARC's upcoming European Industry Forum. As forum manager, David has spent the past 4 months recruiting top speakers to cover both the conventional topics such as Open Process Automation and Industrial Cybersecurity, as well as leading-edge technologies not yet covered at our forum, such as DataOps for Industrial Users and Robots and Drones in Industry. Our 2-day forum includes a wide variety of user testimonials, expert panels and workshops. So join us next week by registering here today: https://arc-industry-forum-europe.arcweb.com/. 

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."

In the latest cybersecurity podcast, Sid Snitkin, leader of the cybersecurity practice at ARC, interviews Radiflow Chief Information Security Officer Rani Kehat and ServiceNow head of product James Destro.  This was a wide-ranging discussion covering the convergence of IT and OT cybersecurity, the skills gap, incident response, and more. It's also a good introduction to Radiflow and ServiceNow.  Radiflow was one of the pioneers to develop OT-specific security solutions, and today they have greatly expanded their role to be a proactive cybersecurity provider focused on managing risk and getting the right threat intelligence to measure cybersecurity posture.  You can also hear about ServiceNow's expanding role in OT cybersecurity and its partnership with Radiflow. According to James Destro, "ServiceNow has now extended into workflows for the operational technology space, specifically around Incident management, vulnerability response, security, incident response, just to name a few. "Rani Kehat's thoughts on the Convergence of IT and OT Cybersecurity are also worth noting:“The term IT and OT I think is slowly dissolving. Basically, we're talking about processes, we're talking about production. They span across multiple silos of technology. Some of them could be in the cloud, some could be something physical, and they are all joined to the same production process. So, these boundaries are currently dissolving and not really describing correctly the threat landscape or the client's system. Today, when we look at any production environment, it will start from anywhere from the enterprise, for example, SAP, and it will go down into the production flow commands, sent via data channels. Controllers today are working on TCP IP networks, some of the production environments,  are even service-oriented. So, the convergence is here. The thing that hasn't converged are people, we haven't converged our mentality between engineers and cyber people. “

In this podcast, Tony Catterson, Manager, Pilz New Zealand, tells ARC's Bob Gill why he is so excited about the digitalization opportunities in the world of machine safety. And from his several decades of experience in the sector, Tony gives his take on the current level of machine safety awareness across different industries and offers three key lessons for manufacturers looking to ensure a safe workplace.

In this podcast hosted by Bob Gill, ARC's General Manager for Southeast Asia & Friedhelm Best, Vice President of Asia Pacific Region for HIMA discuss the link between digitalization and process safety. Friedhelm explains why, in the era of Industry 4.0, safety systems need to be just as smart as production processes. In this 30 minute podcast a wide variety of other aspects & insightful topics are discussed. Including the current level of process safety awareness in Asia; the increasing need for plants to be both safe and cybersecure, the continuing control and safety integration/separation debate; and how lifecycle services can best be deployed to maximize the safety profile of customer facilities.  

ARC Advisory Group's, Peter Reynolds discusses Workforce Competency with Honeywell's Jennifer Prgesa, Product Line Leader and Carlos Pazos, Solutions Marketing Manager. Learn about how companies are accelerating their digital transformation journey's through Workforce Competency tools.

Many people are familiar with CESMII, the US-based nonprofit smart manufacturing institute. But there are a number of details that many people are less familiar with regarding how CESMII is funded, how does CESMII work with industrial organizations outside of the US, and what other organizations does CESMII partner with. Join Craig Resnick, Vice President, ARC Advisory Group as he interviews John Dyck, CEO of CESMII, to learn more about these details as well as what technologies does CESMII offer to manufacturers, vendors, and system integrators, how can CESMII help industry solve major challenges such as supply chain disruptions, and how can industrial organizations get involved with CESMII and best leverage all that the institute has to offer.

Janice Abel, Principal, ARC Advisory Group and Morgan Bowling, Sr. Analytics Engineer, Seeq discuss advanced analytics and machine learning (ML) innovations for process manufacturing data. Ms. Bowling explains how Seeq, an advanced analytics software application, is transforming the ability of process engineers and subject matter experts to quickly find and share insights from data in process historians with their colleagues. And at the same time how this new generation of advanced analytics is “future proof” due to its compatibility with cloud deployment, next generation data stores, and IT governance requirements for security and administration

ARC Senior Analyst, Inderpreet Shoker interviews Vincent Higgins, Global Director for Honeywell’s Workforce Excellence portfolio to discuss trends associated with worker productivity and competency, and related offerings from Honeywell.

In Singapore, Jonas Berge, Senior Director, Applied Technology, Emerson Automation Solutions, tells ARC’s Bob Gill about how technology developments in areas including wireless process instruments, networks and protocols, advanced analytics apps, augmented and virtual reality, are enabling industrial plants to more easily implement new and powerful digital ways of working and facilitating transformation programs at industrial companies across the Asia Pacific region.   

Partnerships are an essential part of the industrial ecosystem that accelerate the development and introduction of solutions that are required to help manufacturers and processors advance with their digital transformation journey. But what are some examples of success stories that result from these partnerships for digital transformation solutions, is there differentiated value that is derived as a result of these partnerships, and what are some examples of the logistics regarding bringing jointly developed solutions to the market? Please join Tom O'Reilly, Vice President, Global Business Development at Rockwell Automation; Dave Petrucci, Global Business Strategy Leader, Manufacturing Industry at Microsoft, and Craig Resnick, Vice President at ARC Advisory Group, who will discuss why Rockwell Automation and Microsoft decided to partner and co-innovate for Industrial transformation, what joint solutions do they provide, how do they co-sell these solutions, how does this partnership differ from others in the market, what can this partnership provide together that can’t be provided elsewhere, and how do their co-innovation efforts reflect the trend of IT/OT Convergence evolving into more of an IT/OT Fusion.

In this podcast, ARC Vice President Craig Resnick talks with Baker Hughes’ Michelle Rosinski, Senior Product Manager of Services, Nexus Controls, to discuss the role of data analytics in industrial control applications.  The podcast will cover an explanation of the different kinds of data analytics being used in conjunction with industrial control applications today, examples of how each type of data analytics may be used in relation to industrial control systems,  and the impact of COVID on data analytics and other related technology trends in industrial control applications.  The podcast will also cover advice for workers, such as operators, engineers, and maintenance personnel looking to prepare for the future with these new technologies, including the impact of autonomous operations. There are also suggestions for how someone could start to learn about these technologies and ideas regarding what additional value-add tasks workers might be expected to perform in the future.  The podcast will also discuss how augmented reality and virtual reality are being used in industrial control applications and their impact, as well as other important issues around technology trends in industrial control applications, some examples of how each of these trends may be applied, and the impact these trends may have on someone who may not be as familiar with these concepts.  Link to Original & More Baker Hughes Content: https://anchor.fm/michelle-rosinski/episodes/Data-Analytics-and-Other-Tech-Trends-with-ARC-eso7pr/a-a4v11mf

From Singapore, Bob Gill talks to Raimund Klein, Executive Vice President and Head of Digital Industries ASEAN, Siemens, about how initiatives such as the Advance Manufacturing Transformation Center (AMTC) and the ZerOne. Design digital factory consultancy are accelerating the digitalization of industries across Southeast Asia.

The ability for APC software to reduce process variability, product give away and optimize against process constraints is well understood. Often this optimization has also been accomplished in silos from other production stakeholders. Today and especially in the volatile energy future, in the downstream refining and chemicals industry, the benefits of steady operation will be managed in real-time against the gap existing between “plan versus actual”, While production optimization is not new, the ability to dynamically coordinate multiple process units in closed loop and automatically adjusting APCs is a market driver. Production optimization software is easily deployed and maintained by APC engineers and is often a logical extension of an engineer’s workload. In this Episode ARC Analyst Peter Reynolds speaks with Jaideep Bhattacharya & Christophe Romatier of Honeywell to discuss Process Optimization For a Volatile Energy Market.

ARC Sr. Analyst, Paula Hollywood, interviews newly launched Itus Digital Co-founder and CEO, Joe Nichols, to discuss the motivation for launching an APM company at this stage of market maturity, the importance of creating asset strategies, the development process and how the Itus asset strategies drives APM value.

ARC Sr. Analyst, Paula Hollywood, discussed the concept of Design for Reliability with Bentley Systems, Sandra DiMatteo, Digital Twin Solution Marketing Director, and Marie Getsug, Asset Management Consultant and Program Manager at Jacobs. Design for Reliability (DFR) blends engineering principles and subject matter expertise (SME) to eliminate defects and verify robust design.

ARC Senior Analyst, Inderpreet Shoker interviews Zameer Patel, Director of Product Management and Carlos Pazos, Product Marketing Manager at Honeywell Connected Industrials, to discuss asset performance management systems, related trends and offerings from Honeywell.

There is no question that the digital transformation journey requires end users and OEMs to obtain much more production and machine information, which means that more industrial components need to have the ability to collect production operations or machine data, process that data into meaningful information, and send that information to the edge, to a control system, to a cloud, or some combination of those options. This has led to the development of smart devices that have these built-in capabilities to help production lines and machines to be more productive and information-enabled to increase production efficiencies and decrease unscheduled downtime. In this podcast, ARC Vice President Craig Resnick interviews Rockwell Automation’s Brian Taylor, Business Director, Safety, Sensing and Connectivity, and Rodrigo Marangon, Global Business Director, Industrial Components Business to discuss what is a smart device, what type of products meet this definition of a smart device, applications where customers are deploying smart devices, examples of the results customers are seeing, what role are analytics playing in smart devices, and what the next generation of smart devices will look like.

Even before COVID 19, process manufacturers were facing challenges, such as market and commodity uncertainty, rapid fluctuations in demand, supply chain disruptions, and becoming more efficient and sustainable. During COVID 19, those challenges were all greatly magnified, leading process manufacturers to strongly focus on Operational Resilience. So how do process manufacturers look for ways to reduce capital requirements, lower risk, improve operational performance, optimize production throughout the entire asset lifecycle, and increase their Operational Resilience? In this podcast, ARC Vice President Craig Resnick interviews Elias Panasuik, Global Program Director, EcoStruxure Power & Process, Schneider Electric, to discuss how the integration of Power and Process Automation can improve sustainability across the entire lifecycle of a process manufacturing plant, as well as how this integrated, digitalized approach results in greater interoperability and flexibility, drives CAPEX and OPEX reductions, increases production efficiencies, decreases unscheduled downtime, improves profitability, and most importantly, provides greater Operational Resilience for process manufacturers.