32
F. Firouzi et al.
Services such as these will allow for 100% uptime and zero-touch deployment, two
desirable goals for manufacturers.
IT/OT Convergence Since the 1970s, there has been an increase in automation
in the manufacturing sector. This trend continues as operational technology (OT)
and information technology (IT) converge with programmable logic controllers,
computers, networking, and connected devices and sensors. IoT brings manufacturing technology and enterprise networks together, eliminating technological silos.
These improvements will lower costs with scaled, automated, and platform-based
machine connectivity that will increase monitoring and optimization. It can be
claimed that the main driving factor in IIoT and IoT in the manufacturing industry
is the convergence of IT/OT. There are two terms that must be understood before
discussing the convergence of IT/OT:
• Information Technology (IT) – Using computers, hardware/software, and other
telecommunications devices to complete business operations. IT is mainly
linked with the back-end functions required to handle operations including
billing, resource planning, asset monitoring, accounts receivable/payable, and
maintaining client information.
• Operational Technology (OT) – The foundation of modern smart factories.
Manages infrastructures powering manufacturing plants and ensures factory lines
keep running. The value of OT is amplified as additional machines or components
are connected.
IT/OT convergence means operational technologies such as meters, sensors,
programmable logic controllers, and SCADA are integrated to work together in near
real time or real time with IT systems. The fields of OT and IT have existed side by
side since the beginning of modern manufacturing. However, they have been siloed,
with minimal interaction, resulting in a lack of understanding about how individual
departments fit into the manufacturing process. Before IT/OT convergence, data
sharing among departments was guided by the calendar, but the birth of the IIoT
has vastly reduced the gap between IT and OT. Therefore, in a post-integration
era, both IT and OT can share data in real time. There are several main benefits to
IT/OT convergence, including agility, performance, productivity, cost, and agility.
Combining IT and OT generates a complete picture of operational improvement
opportunities and challenges facing manufacturers. This increased transparency
helps IT and OT teams to better define their roles in light of a clearer team goal
or purpose.
• Cost: The benefit that most often overlies both IT and OT departments is cost.
In the area of IT, the cost is tied to predicting or illustrating profitability while
the cost is generally linked to reducing production expenses in the area of OT. In
both departments, reducing costs is good for the organization’s profit margin.
• Performance and productivity: The benefits of improved performance and productivity are connected. Businesses can enable IT and OT to collaborate through
a common platform to create accurate key performance indicators (KPIs) that
F. Firouzi et al.
Services such as these will allow for 100% uptime and zero-touch deployment, two
desirable goals for manufacturers.
IT/OT Convergence Since the 1970s, there has been an increase in automation
in the manufacturing sector. This trend continues as operational technology (OT)
and information technology (IT) converge with programmable logic controllers,
computers, networking, and connected devices and sensors. IoT brings manufacturing technology and enterprise networks together, eliminating technological silos.
These improvements will lower costs with scaled, automated, and platform-based
machine connectivity that will increase monitoring and optimization. It can be
claimed that the main driving factor in IIoT and IoT in the manufacturing industry
is the convergence of IT/OT. There are two terms that must be understood before
discussing the convergence of IT/OT:
• Information Technology (IT) – Using computers, hardware/software, and other
telecommunications devices to complete business operations. IT is mainly
linked with the back-end functions required to handle operations including
billing, resource planning, asset monitoring, accounts receivable/payable, and
maintaining client information.
• Operational Technology (OT) – The foundation of modern smart factories.
Manages infrastructures powering manufacturing plants and ensures factory lines
keep running. The value of OT is amplified as additional machines or components
are connected.
IT/OT convergence means operational technologies such as meters, sensors,
programmable logic controllers, and SCADA are integrated to work together in near
real time or real time with IT systems. The fields of OT and IT have existed side by
side since the beginning of modern manufacturing. However, they have been siloed,
with minimal interaction, resulting in a lack of understanding about how individual
departments fit into the manufacturing process. Before IT/OT convergence, data
sharing among departments was guided by the calendar, but the birth of the IIoT
has vastly reduced the gap between IT and OT. Therefore, in a post-integration
era, both IT and OT can share data in real time. There are several main benefits to
IT/OT convergence, including agility, performance, productivity, cost, and agility.
Combining IT and OT generates a complete picture of operational improvement
opportunities and challenges facing manufacturers. This increased transparency
helps IT and OT teams to better define their roles in light of a clearer team goal
or purpose.
• Cost: The benefit that most often overlies both IT and OT departments is cost.
In the area of IT, the cost is tied to predicting or illustrating profitability while
the cost is generally linked to reducing production expenses in the area of OT. In
both departments, reducing costs is good for the organization’s profit margin.
• Performance and productivity: The benefits of improved performance and productivity are connected. Businesses can enable IT and OT to collaborate through
a common platform to create accurate key performance indicators (KPIs) that