Arvind kakru, sales director of Rockwell Automation India, has deeply studied digital technology and opened up a new way for the merger of operational technology (OT) and information technology (it). With real-time data, chemical manufacturers optimize plant operations, manufacture and keep pace with global competition. He also proposed the correct approach that manufacturers should take to turn their factories into interconnected factories.

Global trends have an impact on chemical manufacturers.

The epidemic has exposed the severe challenges faced by global manufacturers. At the same time, we see that the global demand for chemical products is growing, which also brings new business challenges, including rising input costs, supply chain disruption and shortage of skilled workers. Chemical manufacturers also have to operate in a complex regulatory environment and are under pressure to improve sustainability and use aging infrastructure to increase productivity.

Digital solutions and innovation have had a significant impact on many areas of the chemical industry – improving supply chain efficiency, productivity, sustainability, and innovation.

Digital technology has opened up a new way for the integration of business technology (OT) and information technology (it). By using real-time data available to all personnel, chemical manufacturers can optimize plant operations.

Another focus area is energy. It is expensive, and you want to use it as little as possible without affecting your operations. This is also useful if you have an energy management project or a broader sustainable development effort. In any case, using technology to help save energy is equivalent to reducing operating costs and improving plant efficiency.

Chemical manufacturers can also benefit from consulting, implementation and management services, from evaluating digital preparation and building business cases to implementing and integrating technologies.

We see that more and more companies use advanced analysis technology to transfer business impact from a large amount of unstructured data of production equipment. Augmented reality and virtual reality, digital twins, artificial intelligence and network security improvement of OT system have also appeared and will be popularized in the future.

Automation, industrial Internet of things and software development in Asia Pacific and India.

Building an interconnected factory is a good start and platform for digital transformation. This is beneficial to all manufacturing industries, but especially to the process heavy industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and oil and gas. It can help address some industry challenges, including technology led innovation and compliance with regulations, whether related to statutory, quality, compliance or manufacturing standards.

Environmental, social and Governance (ESG) factors have a great impact on how enterprises are perceived. Digitally connected work units or locations can bring significant benefits in this critical area. Supply chain disruption is another key challenge that can be addressed.

Some of the key opportunities for these industries will be to reduce safety, security and compliance risks, maximize the use of assets, improve maintenance and support, and increase operational flexibility. Although these are global trends, they also apply to India and the Asia Pacific region.

Potential of chemical automation, industrial Internet of things and software.

Most chemical producers are eager to build a networked factory, but the question is where to start. Modern automatic process control system, intelligent motor control and information system have laid a foundation for seamless connection and real-time information sharing.

They allow chemical manufacturers to use other information support technologies, such as process and maintenance analysis, integrated power control connected with intelligent electronic equipment and intelligent instruments. Therefore, analysis can further improve asset performance.

Organizations can use artificial intelligence to analyze the impact of the life cycle, while connected operations can provide the best impact through the use of industrial Internet of things, OEE, remote monitoring, tracking and tracking extended to warehousing and coordination. In the chemical industry, the areas that will benefit most from the deployment of digital technology will be supply chain, manufacturing, R & D, labor, quality and marketing. In these organizations, greater sustainability benefits are very high.

Adopt automation, industry and Internet of things to support sustainable development strategy.

Everyone recognizes the importance of reducing carbon emissions. When individuals change their way of life for the benefit of the environment, they hope that industry can do the same. When it comes to promoting sustainable development as a core business driver, the latest developments in automation and digitization can realize innovative methods that were not possible before.

By deploying automated digital technology, companies can improve efficiency and reduce consumption in three key areas:

- energy: industrial energy management software and services to reduce consumption.

- water: intelligent water application to improve the quality and efficiency of water intensive industries

- waste: waste management and recycling solutions and partnerships to promote circular economy.

The government and the industrial sector ensure the appropriate growth of the automation, industrial IOT solutions sector.

The good news is that the government and the industry have paid great attention to this issue, and in the past few years, this issue has been significantly developed. However, improving the skills of the workforce is still an area requiring efforts. This can be promoted through industry university cooperation, public-private partnerships and government incentives.

Recently, more and more quality problems have emerged in Indian manufacturing industry, which has affected its reputation as a high-quality and reliable supplier. Digital transformation and automation can eliminate or reduce production failures. The production linked incentive (PLI) program for the chemical industry will greatly promote domestic production and reduce our dependence on expensive imported products. There will also be incentives to encourage companies to adopt these new technologies.