With adoption rates of Industrial Transformation (IX) continuing to grow over the past five-plus years, we now have enough historical perspective to create a maturity model to assess organizational efforts in the pursuit of improved business performance. This is especially helpful within Quality 4.0.

AspenTech recently announced the new release of Aspen Unified™ to deliver what they call, “the next generation of production optimization solutions that will transform business processes for the world’s refineries. The Aspen Unified solution brings planning and scheduling together in one environment to connect and automate isolated processes, maximize the yield of high-value products, push closer to limits, and drive improved margins.” The Aspen Unified™ solution includes Aspen Unified PIMS™, with Multisite option Aspen Unified Scheduling™, Aspen Unified GDOT Builder™, and Aspen GDOT™.

LNS has been writing about Edge Computing now for a few years. We noted that the powerful wave of moving data to the Cloud for analysis and action overshadowed the Edge, but in the last two years, the trend has been to swing back to a hybrid architecture with both Edge and Cloud in the mix. In our new eBook, “Edge Computing in the New OT Ecosystem,” we talk in detail about the various roles, applications, and state of adoption of Edge Computing devices in what we call the New OT Ecosystem. We explain that there are basically four Edge forms or types and five primary roles or applications for Edge:

It’s been a number of months since we blogged about the progress of APM 4.0. Since then, we have published our new eBook, APM 4.0 Shifts Into Second Gear, which details the trends and LNS Research insights into asset performance management. But it is a fair question to ask, what has been the effect of the COVID-19-induced recession and oil price war on APM? Has interest wained, investment slowed down, and adoption stalled? Or are things still moving full speed ahead? Who’s doing what, and why?

LNS had the chance, like everyone else, to dig into the wealth of content that Rockwell Automation has put together for ROKLive. ROKLive was intended to be co-located with PTC’s LiveWorx event this year. Like so many other large gatherings, the event itself was cancelled and replaced with a virtual event. Software companies have executed different strategies for their virtual events: some scaling way back, others going virtual with everything that can go virtual, and lots of alternatives in between. Rockwell Automation went “…with everything.” As Chairman and CEO Blake Moret said: “the content is extensive with over 100 keynotes, technical labs, and a partner showcase.”

LNS recently had the opportunity to participate in Siemen’s Media and Analyst Conference (MAC) held virtually this year because of the pandemic. While this year’s event held fewer presentations, the company still demonstrated that the pace of change at Siemens Digital Industries is accelerating.

LNS recently participated in the PTC’s LiveWorx Virtual event. Last year, we noted that LiveWorx, “is in a league of its own in the world of industrial software and automation events when it comes to marketing flash and audio-visual sizzle.” Going virtual dramatically limited the flash and the sizzle, but there was still plenty of meat this year as the company rolled out new products, updated alliances, and revealed a refined product strategy.

Introducing Survey Snippets

LNS Research has started a blog series called Survey Snippets that will include call-outs from our recent survey data and compelling insights for manufacturing executives. The first blog post of this series is about analytics’ role in a company’s Industrial Transformation (IX) program, and how leaders in this field are leveraging metrics to distinguish themselves from the rest.

Revisiting the Black Box

One of the questions that LNS Research often gets is how to explain Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) not only to plant personnel, but also to operating management, in such a way so that they can understand them sufficiently to place a reasonable degree of trust in them. In other words, enough to allow their adoption for predictive maintenance and other data science-based applications.

LNS recently participated in Plex Systems’ annual customer event, PowerPlex 2020, which was held virtually for the first time.  Three themes emerged from the event.