New benefits through HMI choice

In this article, Andy Graham, solutions manager, SolutionsPT, focuses on how in any industrial setting the vital connection between assets and the all-important human operator is the Human Machine Interface (HMI). 

“In the digital transformation era, the HMI is becoming an integral part of the smart factory and a new opportunity for OEMs is presenting itself. However, in the context of the competitive world of machine building, where there is constant pressure to innovate, should OEMs really be focused on the HMI?”

What’s important for OEMs

“For any machine builder looking at HMI options, two words should be firmly kept in mind: flexibility and scalability. With the right expertise, it is possible to engineer the device to complete any desired control or data function, but only with sufficient in-built flexibility. Scalability, meanwhile, can be achieved through ‘templatisation’. 

“Through templatisation, it is possible to offer a standardised look, feel and functionality across all products, regardless of end use, be it an automotive assembly line or dairy packaging plant. The benefits of this kind of standardisation are twofold: a vast reduction in design time for the OEM and training time for the customer. 

“Machine builders already have a long job list when it comes to fulfilling complex orders for machinery to perform equally complex processes, so why make that harder than it needs to be? Standardising the approach to HMIs means an easier time delivering to a repeat customer; it’s a win-win situation. Both the customer and the OEM can rest easy, knowing any new product will be compatible with everything on the factory floor. This removes those common issues like item addressing within PLCs; there’s no need for the OEM to go into each and every HMI to build in compatibility. 

“A standardisation approach goes one step further than just machine compatibility. It ensures compatibility with the most important element of the plant: the people. As the OEM’s visualisation is the same across all products, operators know the information they are receiving is exactly what is needed and they already have the skills to interact with the machine, even if it is brand-new.”

How to reach standardisation within HMIs

“For OEMs that want to reach this level of standardisation, the best place to start is by talking to digital transformation experts. Vendor choice will make all the difference for HMI choice. OEMs should be looking to receive graphical representations straight out of the box that they can build upon. This is another tool to minimise the design time for machine builders and increases the speed to market, while meeting both industry standards (such as ISA101) and the specific needs of the end user. 

“With the right vendor, OEMs can take time-consuming design tasks and turn them into easy configurations. For example, if a customer needed a new orientation or differing alarm limits, the OEM could reconfigure at the press of a button, avoiding the costly re-design.”

Is your HMI choice software-agnostic?

“A strong unique selling point for machine builders is the ability to offer tailored solutions. This is what keeps customers coming back to the same OEM time and time again. Therefore, it’s important for OEMs to ask: is this HMI software-agnostic? If so, this software can communicate with hardware from a wide selection of automation vendors, creating true agility. The same can be said for vendors that will lock you into their hardware ecosystem. OEMs need the flexibility to work with best-in-class hardware to create the customer’s desired solution. 

“Bridging the gap between operator and asset, human and machine, the HMI choice an OEM makes can set them apart in the highly competitive sector. While the HMI may seem a relatively small element of a factory operation, it has a big impact on both machine builder and end user, in terms of capability and integration. Reduced time to market and less pressure on time-stretched design teams is just the start. By offering a standardised and software-agnostic approach, end users receive the valuable insight into their machines needed, while comfortable in the knowledge that their OEM can support their future needs, no matter what they might be.”