IT/OT convergence
One aspect that remains under-discussed is the impact of digitalization on corporate organizations.
Production departments have traditionally been reluctant to adopt technologies unless they are well-proven and built for a decades-long lifecycle.
Ideally, they prefer solutions based on "iron" (dedicated hardware). This differing mindset has historically complicated the dialogue between IT departments and Operations (OT).
However, things have been shifting since the early XNUMXs: the rise of PC-based industrial controllers and the arrival of Ethernet on the shop floor were the first signs of an unstoppable trend. Today, even the factory floor is embracing tablets, apps, and other "tech gadgets" long common in the IT sector.
The logical consequence is that—at least in more forward-thinking companies—production teams are beginning to reach out to their IT colleagues, seeking advice and collaborating to manage the digital transformation, especially in areas that remain challenging for those on the plant floor.
IT/OT convergence
The first topic – apparently the most trivial – is how to manage i big data which risk becoming only an ocean of meaningless bits, if the right steps necessary to transform them into information actually usable.
The second theme, however, has to do with a purely industrial priority: business continuity. In manufacturing, especially in certain sectors, every hour of downtime risks being extremely costly.
The last theme – last obviously only in order of exposure – is that of cyber security.
How to securely transfer data between the Cloud, the Plant Floor, and the Enterprise Network.
Types
Layout
