Enterprise to Edge: How to create truly effective IoT infrastructure
Tue 16 Feb 2021
Corporate Networks must Link Enterprise and Plant Floor Environments
Today’s networks must span corporate environments providing robust and reliable end-to-end network physical layer infrastructure from the enterprise to the edge. This is essential in order to maximise the understanding and benefit of increased data flows and optimise the business’ processes. Corporate management increasingly relies on technology to advance safety and provide maximise management information to improve productivity.
As more industrial operations are linked to corporate networks, connectivity is pushed to devices at the edge, increasing the number of network access points. Factories need solutions that manage and strengthen the facility’s infrastructure by implementing lockout/tagout products and tools to protect employees and infrastructure from hazards created by energised systems.
Implementing optimised industrial communication and linkage from enterprise throughout the plant floor enhances network uptime, allows segregated networks, and manages network security. Additionally, it provides network asset visualisation and proactively reports network information in real time or as directed by the management systems in place.
Industries such as food and beverage manufacture require reliable network infrastructure for end point devices and network connections. Structured cabling utilising fibre or copper is installed into zone enclosures which are engineered to accommodate the correct connection. The zone enclosure provides secure downlinks to control panels, OEM skids and end devices. A consistent network infrastructure that distributes Ethernet beyond the control room and across the plant floor improves Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), increases network visibility and resiliency. Active and passive equipment architecture provides localised network traffic and reduces network redundancy and saves cost.
Connecting systems across the plant floor results in consistent Ethernet node growth and utilising best practice guidelines to deploy Ethernet networks in a control panel environment ensures increased uptime and data sharing. This results in higher performance, less susceptibility to EMI noise and enhanced network security, together with space optimisation. Additional benefits include noise mitigation and increased safety. Data access ports for example prevent unintentional control panel disruption or access by unauthorised personnel.
Standard network cable is not designed to be near high voltages. However, in industrial environments cables in control panels or near manufacturing machines are often in close contact. Panduit offers high voltage rated solutions to ensure the integrity of the network from associated energy interference.
Implementing the appropriate cabling infrastructure from control panel to machine addresses effective cable routing, strain relief and environmental protection, which again helps maximise plant uptime, ensures reliability and extends the machine life.
Industrial reference drawings are the concepts that provide control and network services for mixed environment Operational Technology and Information Technology and are the essential platform to designing and implementing an efficient and effective Enterprise to Plant Floor network infrastructure.
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More information on food and drink processing networking infrastructure solutions is available at www.panduit.com or contact Panduit on 02086017319