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Sustainability, Resilience: Lessons From Today’s Challenges

By Alejandro Capparelli - Rockwell Automation
President, Americas Region

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By Alejandro Capparelli | President, Americas Region - Wed, 09/08/2021 - 08:50

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The pandemic has uncovered fundamental lessons for companies with regard to their digital transformation journeys. Enterprises worldwide have sought out strategies to build a more sustainable world through efficient operations, cost, and risk reduction. Many companies have adopted new practices and technologies for remote operations, all designed to promote staff well-being while remaining resilient and productive in the face of the evolving COVID-19 crisis.

Across all industries, manufacturers have addressed their resilience and sustainability goals by reducing the points of failure in their operations, increasing remote activities assisted by new software tools, deploying automation capabilities, and using augmented reality to provide added value to customers.

Due to various restrictions resulting from COVID guidelines, more than ever before, today’s companies need to increase investments to expand manufacturing capacity and eliminate potential failures. These improvements have already been applied in several Latin American countries across different industries, always considering a global perspective to support customers, as the industry's transformations require flexibility.

In critical industries, such as life sciences and food and beverage, a clear example of health emergency demands is the use of tools to simulate equipment conditions using 3D simulation software.

In one sense, the vast majority of companies were already working on industrial automation projects such as these. But the pandemic greatly accelerated digital transformation efforts across all industries. A key element of that accelerated change is the convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) on the plant floor.

IT/OT convergence in industrial operations is driven by the need for better data visibility and utilization, full realization of system and software ROI, and enhanced cybersecurity. It’s also an enabler for industrial companies to achieve their digital transformation goals. While the value of business drivers is increasingly apparent, executing IT/OT convergence remains challenging.

The technology is a given but it is people who are the biggest factor in the success of IT/OT convergence. The “connected company” concept enables those from both the IT and industrial operations to develop common policies.

Three tips to get started:

  • Outline specific business outcomes driving IT/OT convergence.
  • Identify and address IT/OT cultural convergence challenges.
  • Proactively develop a well-defined IT/OT convergence policy.

Three main benefits:

  • Resilience: Innovations regarding safety, operation, and remote diagnostics.
  • Agility: Analytical technology, information management, and software to facilitate the decision-making process.
  • Long-term sustainability.

Whether you are at the beginning stages of planning for IT/OT convergence, or are in the process, experienced consultants can provide beneficial guidance. Working with teams who have been through IT/OT convergence projects with other industrial customers can help you avoid common points of failure and establish a roadmap for success.

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation, Inc. is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 24,000 problem-solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing The Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit: www.rockwellautomation.com

Photo by:   Alejandro Caparelli

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