LAUSR

One challenge for electrical system design engineers in the process industries is assuring real-time information is accessible to plant operators who need it to assure that mill processes run safely, reliably, and efficiently. Network-enabled process systems offer an abundance of available data, but most data rarely qualify as useful information. This article will present a case study outlining the experience of a global electrical power distribution and control manufacturer that recently made significant investments to upgrade the electrical systems at one of its existing circuit breaker manufacturing and assembly factories with a focus on leveraging emerging applications for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The article outlines the details of the capital investment, decisions on systems and processes selected in the planned facility upgrade, and technologies deployed in the manufacturing environment to assure that the systems were IIoT ready.