Evolution

We polled four leading software vendors to find out what they’re seeing in the future of the industrial software market.

Eric Schwantler, ClearScada product manager, Control Microsystems commented that “although process control software is a mature technology, it continues to evolve. Government compliance and reporting requirements, such as reporting spills within two hours, are driving the need for data logging to ensure ‘no holes in data’ even if network communication is down or intermittent.”

Tien-Li Chia, PhD, president of ControlSoft, feels “the reduction in or retirement of experienced plant technical personnel is creating a need for industrial software tools with functionality that captures a knowledge base of the best or optimal performance indicators of the plant. Besides providing a knowledge foundation for replacement of technical staff, the software tools must also provide higher-level KPI reporting capability for all plant management levels.”

Ric Snyder, senior product manager, Pavilion Technologies, Rockwell Automation, says, “More than ever, manufacturers need to maximize efficiency, improve and maintain quality standards, and reduce energy costs and raw material consumption — all while adhering to increasingly strict environmental compliance regulations. They will address these issues with a combination of advanced regulatory control technology, model-predictive control and optimization.”

Craig Thorsland, GE Fanuc product marketing manager suggests that “customers are looking for tighter integration between graphical faceplates and the controllers.”

Patti Pool
Products Editor
[email protected]