HMI/SCADA in the Cloud: some Figures...

Operations control professionals confront numerous challenges, many of which have persisted since the inception of HMI and SCADA systems over thirty years ago. Although specific companies and industries have slightly different requirements, they often share more commonalities than they realize.

To clarify this discussion, Control Engineering conducted a survey targeting operations control decision-makers, 70% of whom were engineers specializing in process, control, or related fields. The survey results provide a fresh perspective on the challenges these decision-makers face and the tools they believe are most effective for addressing these issues.

For example, the survey revealed significant difficulties with knowledge retention: an astonishing 70% of HMI/SCADA decision-makers reported that their companies experience up to 30% staff turnover each quarter. Despite this concerning statistic, respondents identified a clear solution to workforce shortages: 62% recognized the importance of having a knowledge base of operator-accessible videos and documents when selecting an HMI/SCADA vendor.

Supervisory and operations control in the Cloud: HMI/SCADA-as-a-service

Decision-makers in HMI/SCADA at discrete manufacturing, food and beverage, and other process production companies, as well as utilities, are leading the adoption of HMI/SCADA-as-a-service solutions. While 59% of these decision-makers currently use or plan to use HMI/SCADA in the cloud within the next 2-5 years, many are not fully satisfied with their existing operations control solutions.

Despite utilizing cloud-connected HMI/SCADA, respondents expressed a strong interest in improving information analysis (59%), anomaly detection and resolution (51%), and operational visualization (40%). These statistics highlight a significant theme from the survey results—the potential of HMI/SCADA-as-a-service to address challenges in building operational resilience.

Operational Resilience and Bridging the Labor Gap

The survey results highlight the significant challenges in building operational resilience. According to 60% of respondents, it can take their organization days or even weeks to return to normal operations after a major disruption. This emphasizes the need to enhance operational resilience through advanced monitoring, predictive maintenance, and rapid response mechanisms offered by cloud-based operations control solutions.

With an impending shortage of skilled labor and the disruptions to continuous improvement caused by frequent workforce turnover, HMI/SCADA-as-a-service serves as a crucial support against declining efficiency metrics. It also provides a vital resource for knowledge retention and seamless onboarding of new hires, thus mitigating the impact of workforce churn on operational continuity.

HMI/SCADA’s bright future

Overall, the survey results indicate that, despite ongoing challenges, operations control decision-makers remain optimistic. They recognize the necessity of adapting to recent computing trends and upskilling their workforce to meet future demands. However, they are confident that cloud-based solutions offer a beacon of hope, providing scalability, agility, and resilience in an increasingly dynamic environment.

The journey toward the next frontier of HMI/SCADA is well underway, driven by a collective resolve to overcome challenges and seize opportunities. Operations control decision-makers have charted a course for the future, where the vision of efficiency, innovation, and adaptability from yesterday becomes a reality.