Digital transformation that is revolutionising the process industries
Digital transformation isn ’ t just about software and systems . It ’ s also about people . A people-centred approach to digital transformation will help process industries maximise the benefits of Industry 4.0 … and get ready for Industry 5.0 .
Text by Andreas Eschbach
“ Industry 4.0 ” is on everyone ’ s mind these days . Driven by rapid growth in automation , artificial intelligence ( AI ), and the Industrial Internet of Things ( IIoT ), the Industry 4.0 model promises to enhance productivity , improve information flows , and facilitate better decision-making driven by real-time data . And yet , many process industries , such as chemical manufacturing , have been slower to embrace the digital transformation necessary to achieve these benefits . Currently many chemical processing plants still rely on spreadsheets , word processing documents , and oral transfer of information during shift handovers . Digitalisation strategies and software systems designed for general business or more standardised industries , such as the automotive industry , tend to have low levels of acceptance and success in process industries because they do not meet the needs
People and Process
User-centric software Control Tower concepts Tribal knowledge support Change management
Components of Digital Transformation
of the people on the front lines of chemical manufacturing . And because change comes with heavy risks in this industry , people are naturally reluctant to implement systems that are not proven or fully customised for the needs of the process . But process industries stand to benefit from digital transformation in many ways if they can overcome the barriers . What is needed is a thoughtful approach to digitalisation that reduces risks enables customisation and localisation , and fully meets the needs of the 24 / 7 process .
A people-centred approach to digital transformation
How can chemical manufacturers and other process industries gain the benefits of Industry 4.0 while mitigating the risks ? By recognising the great role of people in the process industry .
DATA
ACCESS
Automated sensors IIOT devices Contextualized data
Cloud-based systems Collaborative software for dispersed / remote people & teams Human to human communication processes
DECISION MAKING
Shared , centralized systems , actionable information Ongoing monitoring of KPI such as OEE Use of data for optimization and process improvement system
PREDICTIVE DECISION MAKING
Smart systems that adjust in response to real-time or historical data Predictive maintenance , inventory management and operations
42 Valve World February 2023 www . valve-world . net