Three Important Aspects of HPC for Machine and Equipment Manufacturers
While the technological landscape of edge computing is quite
broad, there are several key features that limit the types of features that
apply specifically to a machine or equipment manufacturer. As OEMs evaluate
advanced technologies to determine how they can reduce friction when developing
new machines, there are some important factors to consider that will help
ensure success.
Benefits of virtualization at the edge
Using virtualization, applications that typically run across
multiple IPCs can be integrated into a single edge computing platform. With
virtual machines built-in and pre-configured on the platform, much more
flexibility can now be easily added to the operation and monitoring of machines
and equipment. With thin client virtualization, hardware manufacturers can gain
more flexibility for their customers by allowing multiple people to remotely
access data and applications from a variety of mobile devices such as mobile
phones, tablets, and laptops. This stand-alone model is preferred, gives
customers more flexibility, and is easier to use for the field technician to
install, configure, deploy, and maintain onsite.
Preventing Downtime
Robust design and advanced features increase machine productivity, prevent interruption and improve OEE. Edge calculation platforms
in the OT world must be ready to operate autonomously for extended periods of
time, as communication with the outside world can often be unavailable. They need
to be installed flexibly in the control room, control panel, factory or
directly on the smart machine. Service and support should be simple, offer
remote monitoring and self-healing.
When evaluating edge computing platforms, look for a
redundancy option that supports fault tolerant and / or highly available
workloads, disaster recovery, CPU restart, self-test, machine diagnostics,
remote health monitoring - this simplifies maintenance and support and reduces
field operating costs.
Reduced costs and increased profits
Ultimately, the move to edge computing is only viable if it
meets the stringent cost constraints of the highly competitive markets in which
hardware manufacturers operate. When assessing edge computing platforms, it is
important to consider capital costs as well as development and recurrent costs.
Besides saving on things like virtualization, cost is a function of value. More
expensive platforms provide a much broader set of advantages and benefits than
simple devices or gateways with less processing power.
In addition to local storage, edge computing platforms must
provide remote cloud services and be able to store system settings and user
settings in the cloud to simplify system backups and restores and increase
profitability.
While there may be a prepayment to implement edge computing,
many of the features and new applications supported by edge computing platforms
create opportunities for new revenue generating services or streamlining
existing support services and resources. For example, there is a trend towards
machine as a service or equipment as a service, where the end customer pays on
a time or use basis rather than a traditional purchase of capital. To
positively implement and maintain such a model, a machine or equipment
manufacturer must understand the characteristics and service profile of their
equipment and be able to accurately collect and analyze the relevant data.
Edge Computing platforms will play an important role in extending traditional hardware control and automation capabilities. They will also provide hardware manufacturers with a bridge to embrace digital transformation initiatives for themselves and integrate with their customers' initiatives. To learn more about the rank of edge computing to machine and equipment manufacturers, download our white paper, Smart Factories Need Smarter Hardware.