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Industrial Automation: The Role of Industrial Control Systems
How sensors, controllers and actuators form a control loop, and how operator screens, supervisory software, networks and business systems build on that loop.
Automation and Operations
Automation Technologies
PLCs, SCADA, networks, robots and smart factory building blocks.
Industrial Automation: How to Implement a Predictive Maintenance Program
A step-by-step planning guide for a predictive maintenance program: choosing assets, selecting sensors, setting baselines, writing alert rules and assigning roles.
Industrial Automation: How to Implement a Smart Factory
What a smart factory is, why connected and data-driven operations appeal, and the general stages a company usually goes through when moving toward one.
Industrial Automation: How to Implement a Smart Factory Network
A general guide to factory network design: layout, device connectivity, security zones and data flow for the network side of a smart factory.
Industrial Automation: The Benefits of Implementing PLCs
What programmable logic controllers do, how they replaced relay wiring, and the practical benefits and limits of using them to run machines and processes.
Industrial Automation: The Role of HMI Systems
How operator interface screens show process status and accept commands, and what makes an industrial display clear, safe and easy to use.
Industrial Automation: The Role of Industrial Networking
An overview of the wired and wireless networks linking controllers, drives and sensors, and why reliability, determinism and segmentation matter on the plant floor.
Industrial Automation: The Role of Industrial Robotics
The common types of industrial robot arms, such as articulated, SCARA and delta, and the welding, handling and assembly tasks they perform on production lines.
Industrial Automation: The Role of SCADA Systems
How supervisory control and data acquisition collects data from many remote sites, handles alarms and differs from a single machine screen.
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT): A New Era for Industry
How IIoT sensors and gateways bring machine data online, which kinds of data are collected, and what a plant can realistically do with it.
Industrial Software Solutions for Improved Efficiency
What scheduling, maintenance management and monitoring software each do in a plant, how they differ, and how to choose and introduce them sensibly.
Recent Advances in Industrial Robotics and Automation
A general look at where robotics has progressed: machine vision, easier programming, mobile robots and safer human-robot cooperation, with realistic limits.
The Role of Cybersecurity in Industrial Automation
Why connected control systems need network segmentation, access control and patching, and how plants approach industrial cybersecurity in general terms.
The Role of Industrial Control Systems in Modern Industry
A cross-industry view of what control systems do, from continuous process plants to discrete assembly lines and the many sectors in between, in plain terms.
The Role of Industrial Control Systems in Modern Manufacturing
A factory-floor view of the layers of control, from field devices and machine controllers up to supervisory software, and how they coordinate production.
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Automation and Robotics Control systems, robots, IIoT and conveyors. Maintenance and Repair Keeping equipment running and fixing common faults. Safety and Compliance Safer workspaces, equipment features and regulations. Choosing Equipment Matching equipment to budget, business size and industry. Equipment Performance Efficiency, monitoring and lifespan of running equipment. Automation Approaches Reviews, guides and example scenarios for adopting automation. Automation in Process Sectors How automation is applied in chemicals, food, energy and water. Automation in Manufacturing Sectors How automation is applied in vehicles, metals, textiles and other built products. Safety Equipment Protective gear and safety equipment for different industrial hazards. Regulations and Training General guidance on safety rules, chemical handling and worker training. Lean and Quality Lean manufacturing ideas and quality control in production. Predictive Maintenance Condition data and sensing used to predict equipment failures. Maintenance Strategies Preventive, total productive and mixed approaches to keeping plant running. IIoT and AI Connected sensors and artificial intelligence in industrial operations. Automation Fundamentals Core concepts, parts and measurements behind industrial automation. Automation for Efficiency Using automation to streamline plants and raise productivity. Small Business Automation Automation options sized for small workshops and businesses. Equipment and the Business How owning, renting or leasing equipment shapes growth and output. Automation Outlook Where industrial automation came from and where it may be heading. Automation Benefits What automation and connected systems change for processes, energy use and jobs. Robots and Drones How robots and inspection drones have developed and what they do on site. Workplace Health How equipment, noise and layout affect the people who work around them. Industrial Data Analytics Using plant data to support business decisions. Electrical Safety Safety equipment, installation, training and panel repair for industrial electrical systems. Fire and Emergency Readiness Fire suppression and recovery equipment for facilities. Maintenance by Equipment Type Upkeep practices for machinery, pumps, generators, conveyors and harsh conditions. Supply Chain Operations How supply chain management and automation connect plants, suppliers and customers. Quality Control and Automation Equipment, automation and AI used to keep product quality consistent. Equipment Trends Review A look back at equipment, machinery and automation trends around 2023. Industrial Sensors How sensors support process control, quality checks and maintenance. Reliability and Maintenance Management How teams plan, measure and improve equipment reliability. Installation and Commissioning Getting new equipment installed, tested and handed over. Motion Control and Actuators The parts that make machines move precisely: servos, steppers, encoders and actuators.