Volume 5:  September/October 2008

• Wonderware NorthEast Local Events
• New Remote Response Objects for System Platform
• Add Value to Any Legacy Systems
• This Month's TECHTIP

• The Proprietary Panel Killers
• Mobile Computing Solutions
• WonderWorld 2008 Review

Coming to a location near you -- today's manufacturing environment is becoming increasingly competitive with corporations having to be more agile and efficient to accomplish a growing list of initiatives, but with fewer resources. Now more than ever, those running our manufacturing operations need the ability to gather and present timely information that is packaged specifically for the intended audience, and brings to light information which allows us to drive that efficiency.

Join Wonderware, Wonderware NorthEast, and our partners for this one-day local event to learn how to extend your existing infrastructure (no matter what HMI or control system products you currently use) to start accessing and reporting on the information needed to drive Operational Excellence.

The Wonderware System Platform can be used on top of any existing systems (InTouch, 3rd party HMI, etc. as well as any control infrastructure/legacy DCS) to expose and normalize the data/capabilities needed to achieve your overall goals around Operational Excellence. With the System Platform, companies can install fast and simple applications for tracking and tracing, performance monitoring, condition based maintenance monitoring, and more. All of this without the need to replace your current infrastructure…ultimately leveraging your past investments and enhancing their value. 

Join us as we Discuss and Show:

• Discuss - The latest tools in InTouch 10.1 and System Platform 3.1
  • Features and benefits along with brief summaries of the new Water & Wastewater Industry Pack, Facilities Management Industry Pack and the CPG/Food Industry Pack.
• Show - How to layer a basic Track and Trace Application over an Existing HMI or Control System
  • What this simple tracking and tracing capability can provide, how it can be applied to any manufacturing environment, how it can leverage your existing infrastructure, how all of this information can be easily accessed via the built-in web browser that is part of the overall system.
• Show - How to Layer Basic Performance Monitoring over an Existing HMI or Control System
  • What performance monitoring can provide, how it can leverage your existing infrastructure, how all of this information can be easily accessed via the built-in web browser that is part of the overall system.
• Show and Discuss - Leveraging SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services in Information Server to create rich reports that allow users to access information in the context of their process and job function.

Special Guests

Additionally, we will be joined by experts from Mtelligence and ACP to show how their offerings can extend the power of your plant systems.

• Show - Leverage the Mtelligence Solution to add condition based or meter based asset management capability over your existing HMI or Control System
  • Connect to any of the large EAM or CMMS systems (SAP PM, Maximo, Indus, DataStream, etc.) for data driven maintenance utilizing actual real-time data - includes plant-floor work order visibility through an InTouch front-end.
• Show - Leverage ACP’s ThinManager Thin Client technology to deploy HMI solutions and reduce plant floor computer maintenance dramatically.
  • Thin Clients are virtually immune to viruses, have no operating system that needs upgrades and no moving parts that can fail. Thin Clients are the most robust, maintenance-free architecture for plant floor applications.

Special Breakout Session for King of Prussia Event Only

Due to the larger venue, we are happy to be able to present a special breakout session for those interested. 

Wonderware Historian is now the central repository for data critical to building a solid foundation for manufacturing intelligence systems throughout many of the world’s plants. In this track, we will look at where the data currently exists in our plants and what to do with this information as it pertains to some common and important manufacturing scenarios.

• Show and discuss  - How to leverage the Wonderware Historian to gather data from any source, store it in an open database standard, access and analyze it with standard tools, and make it available to others with easy to create reports.

Conference Dates and Details

Registration: There is no fee to attend but seats are limited so register early and please let us know ASAP if there is a need to cancel. To register, simply e-mail Darren Kline at dkline@wonderwareNE.com with your complete contact information and desire to attend (Include the location you will be attending).

Food: There will be breakfast and coffee available from 8AM as well as a hot lunch. Hot and cold beverages will be available throughout the day.

We look forward to receiving your registration and seeing you at the conferences!

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Wonderware continues expanding the reach of System Platform with the release of the Remote Response Objects which are fully functional ArchestrA Objects that integrate with the System Platform and can be customized by the user to deliver alarm notification via e-mail or text message to cell phones via SMS (Simple Messaging System) to remote users. Remote users can view alarm information, acknowledge alarms, and enter comments all from a remote device. Because Remote Response Objects are pre-developed ArchestrA Objects, they are extremely easy to incorporate into a System Platform application and configuration, customization, deployment, and maintenance are easily performed within the IDE environment.

Remote Response Objects are particularly beneficial to Geo-SCADA systems where users are often in the field away from the office or plant. Remote Response Objects use the most common open standards for email exchange and scheduling.

One of the key features of Remote Response Objects is Escalation Scheduling which allows up to 3 groups/levels of escalation for alarm notification and acknowledgement. In addition, the escalation groups can be configured to change by hour of day or day of week as work shifts and personnel change. The work shift configuration can be performed using any standard calendar client such as MS Outlook, GoogleCalendar, or Mozilla Sunbird. The calendar client simply needs to support the iCalendar standard (RFC 2445) for calendar data exchange which is the most common text file format for scheduling applications. This standard supports the full power of recurring meetings based on the scheduling recurrence rules.

Remote Response Objects are designed to integrate with the ArchestrA security model for alarm acknowledgement capability. They include security features to prevent unauthorized users from acknowledging alarms. These security features include: a globally enabled 4 digit unique PIN number per user entered at time of alarm acknowledgement; fully integrated with Galaxy security so that if Galaxy security is enabled then each user email address and/or phone address is associated to a corresponding Galaxy User name. In addition, the entire Ack capability can be disabled in the case of applications that only require notification with no response.

Remote Response Objects can be deployed to any number of nodes per Galaxy and configured for any number of Alarms and any number of users. Remote Response Objects integrate with redundant Application Engines on redundant AOS nodes so remote alarm notifications, escalations and acknowledgments continue unaffected under failover. Delivery of notifications and receipt of responses is achieved by connecting to any email server that supports SMTP (outgoing) or POP3 (incoming) email messaging standards.

Remote Response Objects are fully integrated with the Wonderware AlarmAppObjects of the Galaxy so alarm configuration is closely coupled with remote notification and response. The Application Objects are configured to monitor one or more alarm condition indicators within the Galaxy. A configured list of users in Exchange Server will be notified via e-mail or which can be converted into SMS text message when an alarm occurs. The alarm message to be delivered in the notification message can be customized by the user to contain both static text and also snapshots of attribute values of any object in the Galaxy.

Key Features

• Build as ArchestrA Objects – allowing to easily extend your existing application
• Email and SMS (via appropriate gateway) support
• Operator response (acknowledgement) via email or SMS
• Low Cost

Key Capabilities

• Built-in scheduler
• PIN-based security option
• Configurable escalation in case of non-response
• Operates with redundant (failover configuration) of System Platform

If you have the need to understand and react to system alarms from locations outside of your control room or plant, System Platform Remote Response Objects may be just the thing for your application.  Give us a call or send us an e-mail if you want to learn more.

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Almost every company we speak with has an interest in a better understanding of their process or in methods to improve the reliability of equipment or in methods to increase equipment uptime, etc. but often the challenge is how to implement this capability across the myriad of systems that exist in the plant.  You may have several different existing HMI systems in place or you may have varying brands of control equipment so the effort of employing some of the above capability may be too large of an integration and customization challenge to get a project moving.  How do you accurately track and report on production when part of the information exists in a custom relational database, and part exists in an existing HMI and yet another subset of information exists in some sort of proprietary panel and the option of replacing these existing systems is just not viable?

The answer is the Wonderware System Platform.  You may be familiar with this technology as Wonderware's Object Oriented system that allows users to implement any kind of capability (Basic HMI, SCADA, Geo-SCADA, MES, ERP Integration) within one single environment but I bet that your perception is that to make use of this offering, you would need to abandon what you already have.  This is simply not true and it does not matter if your existing systems are products that are competitive to Wonderware offerings.  The System Platform can be implemented on top of your existing infrastructure and can actually extend the value of those existing systems.

Normalizing your existing systems

The key to the Wonderware System Platform is its ability to connect to virtually any systems (PLCs, DCS, HMIs, relational databases, etc.) and model the data from those systems as a single data model built in the image of your working plant. This single data model (the plant model) becomes the "glue" that ties together all of the information from your disparate systems together into a single, common, normalized model that you can then leverage to start to understand the complete workings of your facility.  This ability allows you to manage information form multiple sources as part of a single system.  Once the model is created it can be used to:

• Normalize several disparate alarm systems into a common alarming model that accounts for all areas of the plant in within a single system.  View and work with these alarms in a common front-end solution.
• Normalize data collection into one common data repository so that you can easily create reports that leverage data from multiple systems and structures without endless data transformations and and intermediate data tables.
• Provide access to all of this varied information through a common HMI front end or through a common web portal.
• Begin to use this information as part of a new tracking and tracing application or a new performance monitoring application or perhaps to drive condition based work orders in your CMMS system - all by extending your new plant model.

Adding the capability that you need to improve your plant

So the System Platform can easily be added over top of any of your other existing systems to normalize all of the disparate data, alarms, data collection, etc. so that this information can be managed as a single system (without the need to change or remove any of your existing infrastructure).  This ability to leverage data from existing InTouch Systems or other non-Wonderware based systems allows users make use of previously disparate data to drive capability like basic production tracking or equipment performance monitoring, etc.

By adding objects into your new Plant Model that were built for activities like track and trace, or downtime tracking, or condition-based work order generation, users can begin to gain access to information that can truly transform their manufacturing processes.  This capability is unlike any other system on the market.  From a single development environment working on a single system, users can communicate to virtually any other system, extract data into a single data model and begin to add MES capability.

• Tracking and Tracing - Extend your new Plant Model with a standard Wonderware generated equipment template object and use a simple trigger (from your existing systems) to collect and store production information . View the stored process data in the context of your production to allow detailed analysis that can improve operations.  This capability could be layered into your plant in just a couple of days.
• Performance Monitoring - Extend your new Plant Model with a standard Wonderware generated equipment template object and use a simple trigger (from your existing systems) to collect and store detailed downtime information or real-time OEE from your plant systems. View the stored process data in the context of your production to allow detailed analysis that can improve operations.
• CMMS Connectivity - Extend your new Plant Model with objects that allow you to connect to your CMMS System (SAP PM, Maximo, Datastream, Indus, etc. and drive condition based work orders from real-time meter data.  Allows operators to gain visibility into live work orders via their plant floor HMI terminals.
• More...Again, simply by leveraging the information that already exists around your plant, you can start to gain access to actionable information. 

So if you have a need to gain access to information that could transform your manufacturing environment, there is a way to easily start the process and it does not require a change from the systems you already have working.  If you would like to learn more, please e-mail us or call us or consider joining us at one of our local events listed above.  We would be happy to help you to begin to drive improvement in your plant.

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In many areas of an industrial environment, having a fixed computing station is not feasible or the need for an operator to be able to travel with his systems throughout a process area requires mobility.  Perhaps your process requires the operator to interface with several tools (scanners, test equipment, biometric readers, etc.) while entering information in a computing system that allows for mobility.  For any of these applications, Mobile Computing Stations can be invaluable.   STRONGARM is the leader in mobile computing stations for industrial environments.

From basic Pedestal Stations on casters to systems incorporating computers, wireless Ethernet, printers, scanners, scale systems, and Lithium Ion Batteries for untethered computing, STRONGARM has designed mobile stations for many different needs in many different industrial environments.  These systems allow users to place computing solutions wherever they are needed by operators and are perfect for Quality Stations, Plant Floor ERP access, MES solutions and more.

Features of STRONGARM Mobile Solutions:

• Stainless steel or painted construction
• Integrated LCD displays with many size offerings
• Integrated keyboards with a variety of pointing device options
• Wheel selections specific to floor surfaces and environmental needs
• Integrated computers or thin clients
• Designed around specific use requirements and built as a finished, integrated and tested product
• Tethered options for localized mobility vs. completely untethered for complete mobile operation

Other Options to Consider:

• Integrated sampling equipment for use in mobile quality stations
• On-board battery or UPS for untethered operation for up to 8 hours
• Scanner integration
• Label Printer Integration
• Wireless Ethernet capability
• Biometric security integration
• Scale integration
• More...

Remember that STRONGARM specializes in customized solutions so if you have a need for a specialized mobile application, simply give us a call. We would be happy to design your specific solution.

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WonderWorld 2008 was a great success with this year's event drawing an even larger audience than previous events. Customers, vendors and industry experts from many different disciplines came to Las Vegas to share ideas and learn about the latest issues affecting the industry and the latest technologies that can help drive manufacturing excellence.

Wonderware has made conscious efforts to increasingly bring non-Wonderware and 3rd party industry content to WonderWorld to make the event someplace where customers and partners can gather to learn and share information. This effort has taken WonderWorld beyond a generic user conference and into a venue where users and non-users alike can come to learn about the latest in manufacturing automation.

Additionally, Wonderware has made significant investments over the years in developing ground-breaking products, purchasing complementary technologies and creating meaningful industry partnerships to allow our customers to be able to confidently deploy information systems in their industrial and manufacturing environments. These systems leverage the core System Platform Technology which provides for a modular, object oriented infrastructure that allows any organization interested in driving excellence to implement a single, extendable system to achieve any of their organizational goals around manufacturing information management. 

The System Platform concept has resonated with partners like SAP and Microsoft as well as engineering partners, OEMS, 3rd party software vendors and of course Wonderware customers to create an ecosystem whose goal is to better manufacturing operations.  WonderWorld 2008 was this year's culmination of those efforts and from the extensive positive attendee feedback, the show did not disappoint.

So for those that attended, we hope that WonderWorld met your expectations.  For those that could not join us this year, please mark you calendars and set your budgets for next Fall.  Wonderware will continue to expand our content and draw in experts to continue to make WonderWorld a must see event.

Highlights of the Show

• Keynote Address by Martin Eberhard describing the birth of Tesla motors and the concept for the first electric powered sports car.
• Partner Expo with over 40 Manufacturing and Industrial Automation Partners presenting solutions to help drive manufacturing excellence.
• Presentation by the General Manager for Microsoft's Manufacturing Business detailing upcoming technology and how their partnership with Wonderware will drive innovations that will revolutionize the way we think about manufacturing information.
• Dozens of breakout sessions covering all aspects of manufacturing and Wonderware technology
• Hundreds and hundreds of customers bringing their own ideas and experiences to one of the largest manufacturing technology forums in the country.

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Wonderware Hardware sales continue astounding growth as more and more customers understand the value of access to the world's most popular HMI product on a Wonderware supported hardware platform.  No longer do customers have to deal with proprietary, closed panel products or multiple development environments, or questions as to how to handle certain functionality within a stripped down panel offering.

Because of the ease of use, power, and flexibility of these offerings and because both hardware and software are fully backed by Wonderware and their award winning support channel, customers continue to realize that there is no longer a need to deal with limitations when they can get everything they need at a very competitive price.  Additionally, with the best OEM program around, OEMs around the world can gain access to the breadth of Wonderware offerings and need only learn one development environment to handle any project.

High Level Benefits of Wonderware Hardware:

• Wonderware Panel Computers are developed using the only development System Wonderware provides - The Wonderware Development Studio.  This system can be used to work with any product that Wonderware provides.
• Wonderware Panel Computers communicate to all major PLC brands with native Wonderware drivers and can also leverage any Wonderware Certified 3rd party driver on the market. All Wonderware drivers are included so again, one system to work with any hardware.
• Wonderware Panel Computers don't have limited capability because they are running the full version of InTouch - the World's leading HMI.  So never worry about what flavor of panel offering to use to accomplish the job.
• If you do need a low end, pushbutton replacement offering, Wonderware makes a CE product running a stripped down version of InTouch  - but again, screens on these systems are still developed using the same Wonderware Development Studio.

Wonderware's Hardware Offerings

• Compact Panel Computers running Microsoft Windows CE (varied screen sizes)
• Compact Panel Computers for Hazardous Environments (varied screen sizes)
• Thin Client Computers
• Box PC Computers
• Operator Interface Computers (varied screen sizes)
• Touch Panel Computers (varied screen sizes)

Wonderware offers a variety of different hardware platforms depending on your needs so the next time you need a panel based HMI offering, please call.

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