HMI/SCADA. Who Uses HMI?

1.

HMI/SCADA

2.

HMI
• A Human-Machine Interface (HMI) is a user interface or
dashboard that connects a person to a machine, system, or
device. While the term can technically be applied to any
screen that allows a user to interact with a device, HMI is most
commonly used in the context of an industrial process.
• HMIs are similar in some ways to Graphical User Interfaces
(GUI) but they are not synonymous; GUIs are often leveraged
within HMIs for visualization capabilities.
• In industrial settings, HMIs can be used to:
• Visually display data
• Track production time, trends, and tags
• Oversee KPIs
• Monitor machine inputs and outputs
• And more

3.

HMI
• Similar to how you would interact with your airconditioning system to check and control the
temperature in your house, a plant-floor operator might
use an HMI to check and control the temperature of an
industrial water tank, or to see if a certain pump in the
facility is currently running.
• Basic HMI examples include built-in screens on
machines, computer monitors, and tablets, but
regardless of their format or which term you use to refer
to them, their purpose is to provide insight into
mechanical performance and progress.

4.

Who Uses HMI?
HMI technology is used by almost all industrial organizations, as well
as a wide range of other companies, to interact with their machines
and optimize their industrial processes.
Industries using HMI include:
• Energy
• Food and beverage
• Manufacturing
• Oil and gas
• Power
• Recycling
• Transportation
• Water and waste water
• And many more
The most common roles that interact with HMIs are operators, system
integrators, and engineers, particularly control system engineers. HMIs
are essential resources for these professionals, who use them to
review and monitor processes, diagnose problems, and visualize data.

5.

Common Uses of HMI
• HMIs communicate with Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and
input/output sensors to get and display information for users to
view. HMI screens can be used for a single function, like monitoring
and tracking, or for performing more sophisticated operations, like
switching machines off or increasing production speed, depending
on how they are implemented.
• HMIs are used to optimize an industrial process by digitizing and
centralizing data for a viewer. By leveraging HMI, operators can see
important information displayed in graphs, charts, or digital
dashboards, view and manage alarms, and connect with SCADA, ERP,
and MES systems, all through one console.
• Previously, operators would need to walk the floor constantly to
review mechanical progress and record it on a piece of paper or a
whiteboard. By allowing PLCs to communicate real-time information
straight to an HMI display, HMI technology eliminates the need for
this outdated practice and thereby reduces many costly problems
caused by lack of information or human error.

6.

What is the Difference
Between HMI and SCADA?
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and HMI
are closely related, and often referred to in the same context
since they are both part of a larger industrial control system,
but they each offer different functionality and opportunities.
While HMIs are focused on visually conveying information to
help the user supervise an industrial process, SCADA systems
have a greater capacity for data collection and control-system
operation. Unlike SCADA systems, HMIs do not collect and
record information or connect to databases.

7.

Developing Trends in HMI
Technology
• In the past decade, changing operational and business needs
have instigated interesting developments in HMI technology.
Now, it’s becoming more common to see evolved forms of
HMI. More advanced HMI examples include high-performance
HMIs, touch screens, and mobile devices, along with more
traditional models. These modernized interfaces are creating
more opportunities for equipment interaction and analysis.

8.

High-Performance HMIs
• Operators and users are increasingly moving toward highperformance HMI, a method of HMI design that helps ensure
fast, effective interaction. By only drawing attention to the
most necessary or critical indicators on the interface, this
design technique helps the viewer to see and respond to
problems more efficiently, as well as make better-informed
decisions. Indicators on high-performance HMIs are simple,
clean, and purposely cleared of any extraneous graphics or
controls. Other design elements, like color, size, and
placement, are used with discretion to optimize the user
experience.

9.

Touch Screens and Mobile
Devices
• Touch screens and mobile devices are two HMI examples of
technological advances that have emerged with the advent of
smartphones. Instead of buttons and switches, modernized
HMIs allow operators to tap or touch the physical screen to
access controls. Touch screens are especially important when
used with mobile HMI, which is either deployed through webbased HMI/SCADA or via an application. Mobile HMI offers a
variety of advantages to operators, including instant access to
HMI information and remote monitoring.

10.

Remote Monitoring
• Mobile-friendly remote monitoring allows greater flexibility
and accessibility for operators and managers alike. With this
feature, an offsite control system engineer can, for example,
confirm the temperature of a warehouse on a portable device,
eliminating the need for onsite supervision after working
hours. Soon, checking in on a process on your factory floor
while being miles away from the facility won’t seem like
anything out of the ordinary.

11.

Edge-of-Network and Cloud
HMIs
• Edge-of-network HMIs are also in high demand because they
allow operators to access data and visualization from field
devices. Additionally, it is becoming more common to send
data from local HMIs to the cloud, where it can be accessed
and analyzed remotely, while keeping control capabilities
local.

12.

Supervisory Control and
Data Acquisition (SCADA)
• SCADA is a system of software and hardware elements that allows
organizations to control and monitor industrial processes by directly
interfacing with plant-floor machinery and viewing real-time data.
• Using a SCADA system, industrial organizations can:
• Control industrial processes and critical infrastructure locally or at
remote locations
• Monitor, gather, and process real-time data
• Directly interact with devices such as sensors, valves, pumps,
motors, and more through human-machine interface (HMI) software
• Record events into a log file
• SCADA systems are crucial for industrial organizations since they
help to maintain efficiency, process data for smarter decisions, and
communicate system issues to help mitigate downtime.

13.

SCADA
• The basic SCADA architecture begins with programmable logic
controllers (PLCs) or remote terminal units (RTUs). PLCs and RTUs
are microcomputers that communicate with an array of objects such
as factory machines, HMIs, sensors, and end devices, and then route
the information from those objects to computers with SCADA
software. The SCADA software processes, distributes, and displays
the data, helping operators and other employees analyze the data
and make important decisions.
• For example, the SCADA system quickly notifies an operator that a
batch of product is showing a high incidence of errors. The operator
pauses the operation and views the SCADA system data via an HMI
to determine the cause of the issue. The operator reviews the data
and discovers that Machine 4 is malfunctioning. The SCADA system’s
ability to notify the operator of an issue helps him to resolve it and
prevent further loss of product.

14.

Who Uses SCADA?
• SCADA systems are used by industrial organizations and
companies in the public and private sectors to control and
maintain efficiency, distribute data for smarter decisions, and
communicate system issues to help mitigate downtime. SCADA
systems work well in many different types of enterprises
because they can range from simple configurations to large,
complex installations. SCADA systems are the backbone of
many modern industries, including:
•Energy
•Food and beverage
•Manufacturing
•Oil and gas
•Power
•Recycling
•Transportation
•Water and waste
water
•And many more

15.

IGNITION
• Effective SCADA systems can result in significant savings of
time and money. Numerous case studies have been published
highlighting the benefits and savings of using a modern SCADA
solution such as Ignition.

16.

Ignition HMI/SCADA
Software
• Ignition has been installed in thousands of locations in over
100 countries since 2010. Its powerful and robust nature
allows SCADA system integrators to reach the demands of
their customers while costing less than other SCADA software
solutions.
• Ignition by Inductive Automation® is an industrial automation
software platform that many businesses and organizations
have switched to for their HMI/SCADA needs.

17.

IGNITION
Here are a few reasons why more enterprises are choosing
Ignition:
• Ignition uses modern IT practices that make it compatible
with current SCADA system components.
• Its unique licensing model lets users pay a flat fee based on
the number of servers. Other SCADA vendors typically charge
per client or per tag, but Ignition offers unlimited clients and
tags.
• Ignition is web-deployable: it can be downloaded and
installed in a few minutes, and clients can be launched or
updated instantly.

18.

SYSTEM INTEGRATOR
• Whether you call them “control system integrators,” “systems
integrators,” “system integrators,” or just “integrators,” these
technology professionals combine different hardware,
software, and communication protocols to create an
automation system for their customers, and they are
becoming increasingly important with the rising adoption of
new automation technologies. Integrators serve as an
essential guide for Digital Transformation, helping you
leverage the latest advancements to optimize your
production, reduce costs, enhance overall efficiency, and
improve customer experiences.

19.

What Do System Integrators
Do?
• A system integrator's most important responsibilities include finding
and implementing the best automation platform and technologies
for a system and replacing or updating a legacy system to facilitate
Digital Transformation. Also, integrators often manage the project
from start to finish, which includes coordinating with various
vendors, managing timelines, and ensuring that the project stays
within budget.
• System integrators start by analyzing your existing systems and
processes to identify areas for improvement and helping you choose
a system design and architecture to ensure the new solutions align
with your business goals and comply with local regulations.
• Integrators will also customize solutions to fit your industry. This
includes configuring hardware and software to optimize
performance and functionality, and ensuring that the new systems
adhere to security standards and protocols to protect data and
prevent unauthorized access.

20.

SYSTEM INTEGRATOR
When building your system, integrators implement multiple
technologies, including:
• Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)
• Human-machine interfaces (HMI)
• Manufacturing execution systems (MES)
• Enterprise resource planning (ERP)
• The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
With these technologies, integrators can build on-premise,
hybrid, and remote systems, connect your customer relationship
management (CRM) system to inventory and transportation,
increase overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and more.

21.

How System Integrators Give
Your Projects An Edge
• System integrators streamline complex projects by allowing
you to outsource all of the complicated integration to an
expert. Integrators are outside contractors, which allows your
team to continue working on production. Also, if you need to
hire a new integrator, you always have the option to switch to
one that better fits your needs.
• Integrators are not only the easiest and most flexible choice —
they also add value to businesses by enabling you to build
systems that minimize inefficiencies. While many
organizations are capable of making their own automation
systems, system integrators bring many years of experience
optimizing automation systems so that their customers can
focus on their core business activities.