Latest Control Systems & HMIs Technical Articles

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B&R Industrial Automation Hardware and Software

B&R is a control system manufacturer less heard of than some of its bigger competitors Rockwell and Siemens, however their PLCs, lineup of motors, and product offerings with Automation Studio make B&R a leader in industrial innovation.

About 3 hours ago by Shawn Dietrich

Preventing Failures in High-Temperature Manufacturing Processes

Any machine can become a source of elevated temperature, even under regular operation. We cannot assume that temperature problems occur only based on climate conditions, and mitigation steps must be employed.

5 days ago by Antonio Armenta

I/O Module Debate: Digital Output or Relay Output?

When selecting the right module for the right load, be sure to understand how the load resistance will affect the voltage and current of the output module terminals.

August 10, 2022 by David Peterson

Cloud Computing and the Industrial Internet of Things

Over the last decade, cloud service providers have improved technology, particularly data security and integrity. These remain the top concern of many manufacturing businesses, but as improvements are rolled out, more and more companies are adopting cloud solutions. 

August 08, 2022 by Antonio Armenta

Grounding for Control Transformers

Grounding transformer connections presents its own set of challenges. This article addresses these challenges and several common configurations for control transformer grounding.

August 07, 2022 by David Peterson

Understanding Centralization vs Decentralization of PLCs

Centralized control systems are often seen as outdated compared to decentralized systems; however, both have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to choosing which one to use in manufacturing. 

July 13, 2022 by Seth Price

CTRL F3: Factory Explosion Field Study

The CTRL F3 series reviews field studies and failures in the field focused on control fails, fixes, and facts. This article covers an explosion at an industrial sawmill.

July 12, 2022 by Jon Peterson

Obsolescence in Control Systems - Disaster or Opportunity?

One of the most considerable risks in aging control environments is that eventually, spare parts become obsolete and unavailable, and the lack of an upgrade plan can turn a simple failure into a catastrophe.

June 14, 2022 by Antonio Armenta

Using AWS Greengrass and SageMaker Tools to Detect Manufacturing Defects

This article discusses Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon SageMaker and AWS IoT Greengrass, and how their capabilities at the edge can impact machine learning use cases such as defect defection.

May 24, 2022 by Ali Osman Ors, NXP Semiconductors

Web-Based Industrial HMIs: What’s The Difference?

With the increasing appearance of “web-based” HMIs, we investigate these devices, learn how they differ from the graphical HMIs, and see implications for our modern control system architecture.

April 13, 2022 by Anish Devasia

Overcoming Challenges with Automated WMS

In this article, learn about different challenges that warehouse systems can face and how automation helps solve them.

April 09, 2022 by Antonio Armenta

Info Byte - What’s the Deal With Debouncing Switches?

Before digital control systems, responses were fairly slow. Push a button, and a motor contactor engaged. These days, the speed of computers introduces some new challenges but brings solutions as well.

April 06, 2022 by David Peterson

SPC Pillar: Design of Experiments (DoE)

The fourth pillar of effective statistical process control (SPC) is the use of designed experiments used to learn as much as possible from a limited number of experiments, yet remain statistically relevant enough to be useful.

March 25, 2022 by Seth Price

SPC Pillar: Continual Improvement Process (CIP)

Statistical process control (SPC) allows for continual improvement process (CIP), a method of optimizing a process driven by data and statistical methods.

March 17, 2022 by Seth Price

SPC Pillar: Using Control Charts

Learn how control charts are used in statistical process control (SPC) to show how a process changes with time as compared to past measurements, providing reliable visualizations for data-driven decisions.

March 11, 2022 by Seth Price

Introduction to Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)

This article covers the definition of warehouse management systems (WMS), describing the basic functions and benefits.

March 06, 2022 by Antonio Armenta

Differences and Relationship Between IT and OT in Industrial Facilities

We’re all familiar with information technology, or IT. The computer systems, hardware, internet, and various software we use in our own homes and offices are mostly IT. But when it comes to industrial workplaces, the rules are different.

February 25, 2022 by Anish Devasia

What is Statistical Process Control (SPC)?

Learn how statistical process control (SPC) can provide a foundation for decisions used to reduce waste and increase efficiency in the manufacturing process.

February 19, 2022 by Seth Price

Introduction to Allen-Bradley Data Highway (DH) Networks

In this article, learn the basics of Allen-Bradley Data Highway, the various network structures, and the relationship between DH and Ethernet networks.

February 18, 2022 by Jon Peterson

Introduction to Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

Learn the definition of PLM and the stages of a product's lifecycle from initial concept design to final phaseout.

February 17, 2022 by Antonio Armenta