Edge computing devices are generally devices that provide entry points into enterprise networks. This means the average router or switch used in white-collar offices is actually an edge computing device. While popular hardware may work excellently in controlled environments, it will struggle to...

As far as computing within industrial ecosystems is concerned, enterprises deploy one of the three available options, or a mix of them. These computing options are on-premise IT architecture, cloud computing, and on-premise cloud ecosystems. Although the location of data centers differentiates...

The complete automation of industrial processes relies on connectivity. For the Internet of Things (IoT) to function without downtime, low latency communications must be achievable to ensure that interconnected networks function both online and offline. This is why 5G, edge computing, edge...

Early in the third quarter of 2019, Gartner published its first-ever report on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) niche which provided a picture into the IIoT market, cloud computing, edge computing, and their industrial applications. While the Gartner Magic Quadrant for IIoT showed an...

Recent articles covering the cloud computing trends for 2020 prominently feature edge computing as a concept that can revolutionize industrial operations. This is due to its ability to enable non-connected equipment, manufacturing tools, IIoT devices, and workstations to capture and process data...

Growth within the industrial sector has always been spearheaded by the introduction of new concepts that enhanced shop floor productivity. In the late 80s and early 90s, productivity was enhanced by Toyota’s introduction of Lean manufacturing concepts which are still being used today. The...

Supply chains send out inventory requests. Machines autonomously request spare parts while manufacturing systems autonomously manage production life cycles. These are now common scenarios due to the adoption of Industrie 4.0 business models. Today, component manufacturers are integrating...

The entrance of the Open Platform Communications (OPC) Foundation into the industrial automation space brought order into the chaotic automation scene ruled by individual fiefdoms offering proprietary solutions tied to their hardware. Early OPC standards such as the OPC Unified Architecture (UA)...

Software is renowned for going in cycles, and every 20 years or so we get a significant paradigm shift. For example, forty years ago, if you wanted computers to do something for you, you went to a mainframe which consisted of computing equipment that filled up entire rooms. Programs were fed to...