Fit-for-purpose software applications allow users to begin connecting their plant floor and enterprise systems for a fraction of the cost of an entire MES.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is turning traditional homes into high-tech havens. The most successful solutions allow consumers to start small. For instance, vendors offer lighting systems controlled remotely via your smartphone. As a separate package, they might offer a smoke detector that integrates with the lighting system, so lights flash to visually alert you of a fire.
When purchased separately, these compatible components can be obtained for only a couple hundred dollars each. Once you start to see value of your initial investment and have more money to spend, you can often easily integrate them into your home’s digital platform.
That same basic principle is now applicable for a manufacturing execution system (MES). New, fit-for-purpose software applications are available that allow users to begin connecting their plant floor or operations technology (OT) with their IT and enterprise systems for less than a fraction of the cost of an entire MES.
By Khris Kammer, information partner and competency manager, Rockwell Automation
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