HOW FAR IS TOO FAR? FOR FACTORIES AND FOREMEN

Why are suddenly remote plants and operations coming closer, becoming proactive and getting light-weight?

- Pratima H

We have been hearing a lot about digital twins, fog computing, remote ops and Allstream digitization, but the current crisis may have proved to be the last nudge that enterprises needed to make all that iron lose chains and gain proximity. So how does an intelligent and just-a-button-away factory look like? We let Jason Urso, CTO, Honeywell Process Solutions walk us through one in this interview. He also gives a peek into some latest quantum computing strides and the plans for strengthening pharma vertical during this crisis.

What is a factory going to look like two years from now? How different would it be from what we had till 2019 and how much would have been spurred by the crisis that enterprises just went through?

Two years, generally, is not a very long time in the world of industrial process control. However, the current environment has inspired the rapid adoption of digital technologies that have driven substantial change in just two months. Most of the advancements occurred out of necessity to assist with business continuity. But, in deploying the new digital methods, it’s clear that technologies in remote operations, remote service, and remote project execution will have a long-lasting benefit beyond today’s current challenges. We see the rapid adoption of digital technology in these three areas.

Can you share something about what Remote Operations will entail?