Product category:
Control systems, panels, HMIs, interfaces, screens
News Release from: Citect | Subject: Control systems
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 18 May 2006
Avoid damaging your business
Many engineers and managers believe if their current legacy system is operating without problems, there is no need to upgrade, but costs will rise over long term, says Martin Filz.
Many engineers and managers believe if their current legacy system is operating without problems, there is no need to upgrade This may seem to save money in the short term but will potentially result in rising costs and lost business over a period of time
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 20 Feb 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Manufacturing execution system software released
Latest version of Manufacturing Execution System software allows multiple applications to provide faster integration and more flexible business processes.
SCADA system protects production against failures
In very large installations, host pairs of servers are used with one host pair dedicated as a standby in a separate location from the primary host pair.
In the meantime, their competitors have reduced costs and improved productivity and increased market share by implementing the latest technologies.
Even more problematic, is many companies have no defined method of determining the status of their current control systems.
They are not aware their existing systems are not operating at optimum efficiency.
Further reading
Advanced clustering improves plant reliability
With the latest HMI/SCADA software, manufacturers can put local systems and centralised servers into redundant pairs, providing the benefits of standardisation and improving plant reliability.
Facilities monitoring cuts management costs
Citect Nexa is open and reliable way to cut building management costs and achieve centralised single or multi-site control
Citect launches new benchmarking service
Citect has launched a new benchmarking service designed to support corporate performance benchmarking through visually sharing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) between corporate and plant managers.
The results of following questionnaire will provide an accurate assessment of whether it is critical that you update your current control system, as follows.
1 - is your control system more than 5 years old.
2 - does your control system software run on unsupported operating systems (Win 95/98, WinNT etc.).
3 - is the future for the control system software uncertain, i e, little or no investment in future releases or the vendor has multiple products to maintain.
4 - will an upgrade to the latest version incur significant reconfiguration (more than 10% of the original configuration?).
5 - is it difficult to find system integrators to help enhance or maintain your current version.
6 - has the product support on your current version expired, or is it about to.
7 - is your system becoming more expensive to maintain.
8 - was the last Service Pack or update for your software available more than 12 months ago.
9 - is your control system at risk from attacks by viruses.
10 - is it difficult to integrate you control system with other business systems.
If you answered 'yes' to 8 and 10 questions, then it is imperative that you replace your systems immediately, as their hidden costs may cause long- term competitive damage.
If you answered 'yes' to 5 and 7, the best course of action is to speak with your current vendor about upgrade options.
A score of 3-4 means your control system is performing adequately.
Finally, a score of 1-2 testifies that your control system is in good order.
For companies in the top-scoring bracket with obsolete legacy systems, there are a number of options.
*One option is to do nothing - this option is not really viable since it will impair the company's ability to compete as costs continue to mount and productivity is lost.
* Another option is to upgrade with the existing vendor - maintaining an up-to-date control system prevents it from becoming a legacy system that no longer provides business benefits.
Naturally, it is much easier to upgrade when a control system vendor provides a seamless upgrade path to its latest product release.
Replacing the present legacy system entirely is also an option.
This may be expensive because software is only a fraction of the overall cost of a new HMI/SCADAsystem.
Developing a new configuration can take months and incur significant downtime.
However, if your current provider does not have a seamless upgrade path, you may want to consider this alternative to prevent future problems.
The final option is to automatically convert the existing legacy system to a completely new one.
Companies such as Citect, who specialise in the automation market, offer a conversion tool called Switch2Citect that dramatically reduces the time and expense involved with developing a new system.
Tools like Switch2Citect help companies easily change their existing SCADA systems to ones that provide clear upgrade paths.
The conversion tool easily converts graphics and tag databases to a CitectSCADA system.
Configuration time of graphical displays is reduced from days to hours or even minutes.
More importantly, users will not be tied to a legacy system with prohibitive upgrades that will ultimately hurt their bottom line.
* About Citect - Citect is the leading, independent global provider of industrial automation, real-time intelligence, and next generation manufacturing execution systems (MES).
Leveraging open technologies, CitectHMI/SCADA and Ampla connect to multiple plant and business systems.
Our products are complemented by professional services, customer support and training, and sold in numerous industries: mining, metals, food and beverage, manufacturing, facilities, water, gas pipelines, power distribution and pharmaceuticals.
Headquartered in Sydney Australia, Citect has 19 offices and representation in Oceania, Southeast Asia, China and Japan, North and South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Its products are distributed in more than 50 countries worldwide.
* About the author - Martin Filz is European managing director at Citect. Request a free brochure from Citect ...
• Citect: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
