Revitalize Your Operations

6 Ways Modern HMI Technologies Can Help Your Digital Transformation

Operator using FactoryTalk Optix software on a OptixPanel

In today’s digital climate, it is becoming imperative for organizations to harness new technology to further drive innovation, streamline operations and boost business agility. The goal of a Human Machine Interface (HMI) is to create an intuitive, accessible interface that is easily understood by operators. HMIs can be designed to enhance flexibility, increase productivity and ease troubleshooting.

Designers need HMI tools that help them quickly create solutions and offer ways for operators to visualize data from the plant floor while making the information available throughout the entire enterprise. In this article, we will explore six ways in which visualization software and HMI technology are assisting digital transformation and revitalizing operations through an open, flexible solution.

Empowering Digital Transformation through a Modern HMI

Advancements in technology have had a major hand in the evolution of HMIs. As a result, we have seen more user-friendly experiences with touch-based interfaces and improved access to data. The most recent development is in the integration of HMIs with automation and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). This integration allows for greater machine-to-machine communication, remote monitoring and overall control.

The future of HMI will see a seamless integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Smart devices and applications will anticipate user needs, adapt to preferences, and improve the user experience based on data analysis. With the growth of IIOT, HMIs will be instrumental in managing and controlling interconnected devices, providing a unified and cohesive user experience.

Driving a More Connected Future

Technology and automation are driving the next generation of manufacturing where all roles will benefit from new technologies.

The ability to use data for real-time decision-making starts with visualization built on interoperability and openness that is so easy to use that your operators can get right to work with an HMI automatically presented in their preferred language, regional settings, date and time format and style. With FactoryTalk® Optix™ by Rockwell Automation®, HMI developers can give operators an intuitive user experience that minimizes the need for training.

With FactoryTalk® Optix™ users can benefit from:

Accelerated development with real time collaboration
Centralized source management with integrated code repositories hosted in the cloud or a local server
Visibility to the HMI from anywhere
Web browser access to design tools
Remote HMI application deployment

As HMIs continue to evolve, the barriers between human and machine will continue to shrink, leading us towards a more connected, empowered future.

Facilitating Collaborative Design Environment

Modern HMI tools offer enhanced efficiency. A lack of visibility can lead to difficulties tracking progress, identifying parties making changes and understanding the reasoning behind those changes. New HMI software tools offer comprehensive project visibility within a collaborative design environment, connecting designers with timely, pertinent information necessary for quick and informed decision-making. HMI's integration with web-based tools empowers teams to design and deploy applications remotely and implement changes or updates seamlessly within the production environment.

Cloud-empower Your Workforce

Reimagine efficiency and instantly scale to meet demand by adding users, enabling access to projects, and turning on new software at the click of a button.

Connect Your Design Teams

Intuitively collaborate and unleash your team's full potential using software and project content that is always up to date and easily accessed from a web browser.

Seize New Growth Opportunities

Use the latest digital automation capabilities to design, refine, and innovate faster - so you can create better systems and reach the market faster.

Centralized Repository Integration Advantages

Cloud-based design tools can seamlessly integrate into the centralized repository, allowing multiple users to make and merge changes. This integration also helps identify and resolve potential duplication. Centralized integration allows teams to easily identify who made changes and access different versions of individual components as well as the entire application, right within the design tool. This empowers HMI developers to engage with customers, facilitate application building, share ideas, exchange code snippets, troubleshoot solutions and evaluate objects and demo applications through a shared, centralized repository.

Another advantage of integrated HMI design tools is the creation of reusable code libraries stored within the centralized code repository. The proven performance in the field makes these code modules a valuable resource for designers, allowing them to drag-and-drop them into their code blocks and build the application's features around them.

Augmenting Operators

Remote access tools for maintenance play a pivotal role in empowering operators. They allow the timely flagging of issues and the notification of maintenance engineers. Depending on complexity, the problem may be resolved through a built-in chat tool, as provided by FactoryTalk® Remote Access™ from Rockwell Automation, with the operator describing the issue while maintenance offers potential solutions. Some issues may require escalation and with remote access in HMI tools, maintenance engineers can view the operator's screen. This collaboration enables them to make necessary changes remotely. Any maintenance-related changes to a running application are saved in the cloud repository, ensuring the application runs the most up-to-date version.

All-in-One Solution

From HMI hardware to software, an all-encompassing solution like the FactoryTalk® Optix™ portfolio enables developers to streamline operations and optimize processes. It not only saves time, but also budget when developers can unify various processes in one environment designed to work together.

Across many industries, people are looking for a complete end-to-end HMI solution with a software platform, hardware options and remote access solution that will solve all their daily problems. A single, end-to-end solution offers distinct advantages.

Benefits of an end-to-end solution include:

Complete visibility from start to finish on a single project
Lower costs from using only one vendor
Consistent reliability with software and hardware products designed to work together
Increased flexibility and scalability
Improved data insights
Better customer experiences

Achieve Your HMI Vision Today

A modern HMI should be flexible, intuitive and cost-effective. An HMI needs to provide an operator with a view of the entire process with minimal effort. But a truly modern HMI goes well beyond just connecting operators to data from plant floor control systems.

Today’s digital landscape is not stopping for anyone, members of the manufacturing community can either join in, or be left behind. Progress is never ending and to stay relevant, we must adapt and embrace the latest innovations. Organizations are harnessing technology to further drive their innovation, streamline operations and boost business agility.

OEMs and system integrators can adjust their business models and create new ones by leveraging and monetizing cloud-based connectivity services offered by their automation solution providers. Manufacturers like Rockwell Automation® are leading the way in providing businesses with the end-to-end solutions that empower them with innovation and agility. Their newest addition, the FactoryTalk® Optix™ portfolio, provides an open, scalable HMI visualization platform with options. For more on this latest offering, visit the website.

Published July 26, 2024