Industrial automation systems are at a crossroads

So says analyst Frost & Sullivan, which detects a "major trend" as "the narrowing product definition between ACS [automation and control solutions] products – in particular PLCs and DCSs [distributed control systems]. Senior research analyst Karthik Sundaram now suggests that, on optimistic estimates, the European DCS and PLC markets will reach €6.45 billion in 2017. "Vendors have currently emerged with hybrid products that combine PLC and DCS functionality as a means to counter high competition and gain end-user recognition," states Sundaram. "[But] despite economic advantages, the emergence of such products has clouded end-user perception to a large extent, and it remains to be seen if this technical strategy yields expected results," he continues. Sundaram also asserts that the control system game is continuing to change, moving away from software functionality as the key determinant of uptake, towards geographical support. "In the coming years, the emphasis on the IA product portfolio is likely to diminish," he says. "In contrast, the need for globalised service support, coupled with cost factors, is expected to gain significant momentum." However, for him, both software vendors and system users need to be aware that issues likely to matter most in the factory of the future include: cyber security, mobile and wireless technology, enterprise ecosystems, cloud computing and sustainability. "These mega trends will influence all aspects of an industrial enterprise," insists Sundaram. And he cites the likelihood that operating personnel in future factories are unlikely to be confined to workstations inside control rooms as proof of his argument. "The advent of tablets and mobile platforms will enable them to track production lines, perform maintenance operations and monitor process issues from their tablets – all while on the move," he explains. And he adds that the adoption of secure cloud computing technology will enable factories to gain access to data from the Internet to improve operational efficiency and agility. "In essence, future factories will have secure wireless networks supporting a highly automated production process, seamlessly interlinked with enterprise software working through the clouds," states Sundaram. "A high-end factory will also involve collaborative manufacturing promoting operational excellence and aiding sustainability," he adds.