Data Integrity starts with the design of the system which in the case of Yokogawa’s recorder, is based upon a non-Windows operating system. This means minimized risk of computer viruses or malicious codes. The SMARTDAC+ paperless recorder is a fit for purpose system with full integration of hardware and software (firmware) components. This results in less validation work.
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, information retrieval or even data mining – these are all buzzwords that come up in connection with autonomous systems within the process industry. Are autonomous systems the future in the process industry and thus practically the next step beyond automation? I already wrote in my previous post that I see in precisely this circumstance the beginning of a change in automation that is moving towards industrial autonomous systems. But what actually makes us so confident that this transformation will actually take place?
Autonomy through perseverance Read More »
Digital transformation, so-called Industry 4.0, has been talked about for ten years now. What began at that time as a future project for comprehensive digitalisation is now taking place as a transformation throughout society and is also establishing itself in industry. The past twelve months in particular have given another enormous push in this direction. For example, the pandemic has accelerated the digital communication strategy of companies by six years on average worldwide. Digital transformation offers opportunities in all areas of business to adapt and evolve in the world of rapidly changing markets and technologies. The continuous development of digital technologies opens up new opportunities in research and development, but also in the areas of engineering, marketing, sales and services, all the way to logistics and value chains. Join us here on this blog with more topics on digital transformation in the process industry.
Make your digital transformation in the process industry Read More »
Imagine this scenario: A chemical processing company decides to launch a cybersecurity program for a manufacturing plant, so it brings together an IT expert and someone from operations who is moderately well versed in the plant networks. The two have other responsibilities and complete their task quickly by inserting a smattering of security appliances at strategic points and declare the plant protected.
Meanwhile, a hacker who has been systematically analyzing the plant’s networks over several months, has a better grasp of the architecture and what assets are deployed than anyone in the facility. The hacker gained access because some system integrator, a few years ago, installed a Brand X PLC to solve a chemical injection problem. The technician left a path to access the PLC via the internet for follow-up service, but everyone has forgotten about it. The hacker is aware of a key vulnerability—a default password—with that PLC because its characteristics were published, but the plant never acted on changing it because they had forgotten it is even there. This vulnerability provides the hacker a path into the larger network through an unprotected connection from the PLC to the automation system.
While this scenario is an oversimplification, it illustrates the problems many companies face as they consider how to approach cybersecurity strategy for operations technology (OT) networks. A well-thought-out strategy will find and correct these problems, and for the rest of this article, we will look at how to implement this type of plan.
Risk Assessment: First Step to Securing an OT Environment Read More »
It is not easy to find your way in the sea of technological solutions related to predictive maintenance. As Product Marketing Manager, it is my job to understand and test the real potential of the tools I am dealing with, in this case Yokogawa’s wireless sensors, called “Sushi Sensors”, which monitor parameters such as vibration, pressure and temperature. Read the blog article with the title “A simple experiment on Predictive Maintenance and IA2IA” here.
A simple experiment on Predictive Maintenance and IA2IA Read More »
The potential for innovation through digitalisation and its digital technologies is infinite – especially with regard to Synaptic Business Automation. With the entrepreneurial innovation mindset and methodologies like the SBA, many ideas can be found and implemented. Against this background, it is of course indispensable that the security foundation is laid in digital terms – keyword: Plant Security.
Optimisation? Of course! – Part 3 of 3 Read More »
Self-propelled cars are well known. In other areas of application, however, “autonomy” is also a major (future) topic, for example in the process industry. But what do we actually understand by “autonomous systems” at present and where is the journey heading? In his latest column “Zur Sache, bitte” (To the point, please), Dr. Andreas Helget, Managing Director of Yokogawa Deutschland GmbH, deals with the topic of IA2IA.
Topic IA2IA – new column by Dr. Andreas Helget is online Read More »
To start 2020, we look back to 2019 on the Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals blog and present the ten most read articles of the past year in an exciting and worthwhile top ten list.
The most popular blog articles of 2019 Read More »
Our new three-part blog article deals with the topic “Converging and Securing OT-IT – Enabling Industrial Network Security Solutions for Use With Key Technologies”. Read the third and last part here about Customer Satisfaction and an interview with Hideyuki Nakaya of the Facilities Department’s Electricity Section, who led the project, and Satoshi Ikawa of the General Affairs Section., among other things.
