Repost, with comments: What did Gartner Say About the Cloud in 2013?

http://talkincloud.com/cloud-companies/what-did-gartner-say-about-cloud-2013?cl=article_5?utm_source=011514&utm_medium=TLK100&utm_campaign=NL

Gartner group is one of the premier analysts for the IT market space, so when they talk about a subject, it's good to understand their perspective.  One of the interesting statistics they undercovered is that only 38% of enteprises are now using the cloud.  Although that may not be true for mobile apps, for business applications, I think it's close.  Especially for those companies in industrial automation, they are necessarily wary of any solution that could compromise their security, and the cloud is one of those technologies that has to be deliberately and thoughtfully implemented. 

Certainly, the solutions that Invensys offers for the cloud have redundancy, encryption and supports high availability and disaster recovery. It is both necessary, and expected, and it meets our customer requirements for reliable operations.

See us at the ARC 2014 Forum next week in Orlando, FL!

Invensys| Schneider Electric will be at the ARC 2014 Industry Forum next week.  We are pleased to be on a number of panels that discuss the foremost trends and concerns of customers in industrial automation, including the cloud for manufacturing, Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence, Operator Training Simulation Systems and Cyber Security. We hope to see you there!

Microsoft Global Energy Forum 2014 – February 20, 2014

Join Invensys at the George R Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, Texas for this spectacular event!

Stop by the Invensys booth and speak with our Invensys energy experts to match the solutions to your requirements and to help achieve sustainable results at the Microsoft Global Energy Forum 2014 at the George R Brown Convention Center on Thursday, February 20^th, 2014!

Through our Wonderware portfolio solutions, we provide manufacturers with real-time visibility into their plant environments and supply chains. Based on Microsoft technology our Wonderware solutions are implemented in a variety of industries, including Hydrocarbon Processing, Power, Food & Beverage, Metals, Minerals & Mining, Water/ Wastewater, and Upstream Oil & Gas.

Meet with our Invensys experts to uncover the best Wonderware solution for your energy requirements:

• Real-time “energy management” – discover wasteful energy situations, saving money
• Real-time energy and financial measurement
• Real-time intelligence and empowerment
• Real-time energy conversion and distribution control
• Real-time energy optimization
• Lifecycle solution services

The Global Energy Forum is a prestigious annual technology-focused energy industry event welcoming business leaders in both Business Operations and Information Technology roles.

 

Visit the Invensys event website for more upcoming events.

Repost, with comments: Intel Axes McAfee Security Brand, Repositions as Key Mobile Player

http://thevarguy.com/network-security-and-data-protection-software-solutions/intel-axes-mcafee-security-brand-repositions?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=TVG&utm_campaign=NL&cl=article_3_b%3Futm_source%3D010914

This is an interesting article for a few reasons.  Not only is Intel planning to disassociate itself from the McAfee branding, but their play into the "internet of things" can theoretically shake up the industry, providing many more opportunities for connectivity of, well, everything through their Edison chip.

Connecting people and technology is not new for industrial automation, at least within the confines of the plant and enterprise.  What IS new is the extension outside of our domain, to the "real world" which provides additional context to the events.  It's all about being smarter and more informed.  This looks like a very interesting year ahead of us for progress.

Thank you, Automation Industry, for 30 years of employment

I gasp as I write this, but it's been 30 years since I was first employed by the automation industry.  I started out selling photoelectric controls (you know, same technology as garage door openers, with a light beam that you break, sending out an electrical signal) and from there progressing to vision and barcode systems, industrial controls, and finally, and thankfully, software.

MESA-International-Brings-the-Information-Technology-Experts-to-Milwaukee

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Press-Release--MESA-International-Brings-the-Information-Technology-Experts-to-Milwaukee.html?soid=1101863098727&aid=2t_XjeO1gZ0

As a Keystone Sponsor, Invensys has long supported MESA's educational efforts to promote the benefits of using manufacturing execution solutions.  Their annual conference brings together practioners, vendors, and industry consultants for a three day best practice sharing and networking event.  Please support this effort and join us next year in Milwaukee, WI for IndustryWeek's Best Plants conference.

PODCAST: Mobility for Industrial Workers Enabled by the Cloud

http://themanufacturingconnection.com/2013/10/mobility-for-industrial-workers-enbled-by-the-cloud/

Invensys' Saadi Kermani

How can mobility, coupled with the cloud, help mobile workers?  Question no more--simply listen to this brief podcast from the Manufacturing Connection, where Invensys' @SaadiKermani explains the benefits of using mobility with cloud hosting.  Gain productivity, access at any time to tools that boost operational efficiencies.

SATORP Jubail refinery project enters commissioning phase

During the #Invensys Software User Group and Technical Support Symposium, Dr. Ravi Gopinath, President, Invensys Software Business, discussed the expansive greenfield project Invensys has undertaken to provide SATORP with a full, comprehensive manufacturing infrastructure.

This link will take you to a video.
http://www.controleng.com/single-article/satorp-jubail-refinery-project-enters-commissioning-phase/c7110c49172e0c9847d4f7efc2aa43f8.html

Repost: Enabling Operational Excellence with Manufacturing Metrics

http://www.lnsresearch.com/research-library/research-articles/enabling-operational-excellence-with-manufacturing-metrics

Let your voice be heard--the MESA Metrics That Matter Survey will assemble feedback from a variety of manufacturers, to show you best practices, results, and trends cross-industry.  You'll also have access to LNS's research library, free, for a year.  So don't delay, take the survey today.  It closes November 15th so there's still time.

Quote: "Invensys Wonderware has been on the leading edge of mobility for several years" Gary Mintchell

Thank you, @GaryMintchell, for the recognition and quote!  You can read Gary's post here on the Invensys Software Conference and our mobility offerings.

For over 5 years, Invensys has invested in mobile technology, both from a software and hardware perspective, to provide our customers with tools that help them to make better, more informed decisions, collaborate more effectively, and manage workforces more efficiently.

It's great to be recognized for our vision, as well as our execution.  And, there's much more to come!

Repost: 3 Technology Trends Shaping Manufacturing Performance Management--AND Take the METRICS THAT MATTER SURVEY!

http://blog.lnsresearch.com/blog/bid/189885/3-Technology-Trends-Shaping-Manufacturing-Performance-Management

MESA is sponsoring the Metrics That Matter Survey

Invensys sees a similar pattern--mobility, big data, and the cloud being positive impacts on manufacturing productivity, visibility, uptime and affordability of new operations applications. Now is your chance to tell us--how are you using these technologies, what do you need from the vendors to make your enterprise more responsive, adaptable and competitive?  Take the survey now!

Your Voice Matters! Take The Metrics that Matter Survey from MESA.

LNS RESEARCH AND MESA INTERNATIONAL INVITE MANUFACTURING PROFESSIONALS TO TAKE THE NEW ‘METRICS THAT MATTER’ MANUFACTURING RESEARCH SURVEY.  

 

 

 

Manufacturing executives and managers face many challenges today in improving and optimizing business performance. But with so many metrics available to measure production, it can be difficult to know which are really driving the most value, along with how to best put in place metrics programs and supporting technologies that can accelerate results.

In conjunction with MESA International, LNS Research has launched the biennial ‘Metrics that Matter’ research survey. The 2013-2014 survey and research report is focusing on the trends and correlations between specific operational metric improvements, the use of Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) software applications, role-based metrics reporting, and the effect of emerging technologies such as mobility, big data, and cloud computing on metrics programs.

Click here to take the survey by November 15, 2013 - and receive access to LNS Research’s Performance Management Research Library for one year.

How China is connecting a billion-plus citizens with the world’s longest high-speed rail line

http://www.microsoft.com/government/ww/public-services/blog/Pages/post.aspx?postID=380&aID=115

by Lane Swensen, Senior Product Marketing Specialist, Software, Invensys

Great article detailing the partnership of Microsoft and Invensys to meet the needs of the China Rail project.

Free seminar: The Cloud for Industry

Hosted by Microsoft and Invensys, featuring Saugatuck Technology. Chicago, Nov 12 or Boston, Nov 14. Join us for a deep-dive into technology and solutions to help you gain scalability, productivity in your operations!

 

 

This seminar series has proved to be popular with customers who want more than just a passing discussion on why they should consider the cloud.  Experts from Microsoft and Invensys discuss the practicalities of the cloud--from security through device management, to applications that you can use now to gain efficiencies in your enterprise. 

 

We've added Saugatuck Technologies, a leading cloud industry analyst, to give you an impartial view of the momentum, and impact, the cloud is making on industry.

 

Lastly, there will be time for hands-on experiences with our cloud-based SmartGlance smart device-enabled reporting application, to see how you can put the power of the cloud to use for you.  

 

So register now--it's free, and it's local.  We'll see you in Boston or Chicago!

Invensys and Microsoft, Together Again at the LATAM CIO Leadership Forum 2013

From Sept 30 through October 3, 2013 Invensys joined Microsoft’s Latin America CIO Leadership Forum in Miami, FL.  This event was created for CIO’s from government, industry and education, and offered a full program for both peer networking and deep-dive presentations.

Covering key IT topics as the cloud, devices and apps, mobility, big data, the forum also featured a case study from HP, and product updates from their CRM, Office and ERP teams.

Building on the interest for big data, the cloud, and mobility, Invensys showed solutions for food and beverage and CPG, water/wastewater and oil and gas.

Invensys Solutions for Food and Beverage, CPG were shown at the CIO Summit, based on Microsoft's technology stack

Bill Schiel and Marcelo Zaremba discussed with attendees scalable solutions based on Wonderware MES, SCADA as well as Consulting and Services offerings.

Invensys' Marcelo Zaremba discusses manufacturing operations solutions with CIO

For CIO’s, key care-abouts are keeping up with the pace of technology that is occurring today.  The cloud offers opportunities for cost savings, scalability, and ubiquitous access to applications enterprise-wide, but it also brings with it needed policies for security and standardization.   Mobility and the “Bring Your Own Device” momentum challenge CIOs with creating policies for compliance and multi-platform support. And Big Data feeds the needs for better analysis, knowledge management and decision making, but CIO’s must face multiple data source consolidation/acquisition and visualization.

Microsoft and Invensys, together have created solutions that build on the base technologies of big data, mobility and cloud.  For more information, please visit http://iom.invensys.com/EN/Pages/IOM_PartnersMicrosoft.aspx and for our cloud solutions based on Azure,  http://global.wonderware.com/EN/Pages/InvensysCloudforManufacturing.aspx

Repost: 10 Cloud Solutions For Common Business Challenges, with comments

https://www.openforum.com/articles/10-cloud-solutions-for-common-business-challenges/?extlink=of-syndication-sb-p

Eye Opener Seminars

The cloud is becoming a pervasive delivery mechanism for software.  It offers cost-effective, easy to use, on-demand capabilities for scalability and usability.  The industrial automation industry has been slowly introduced to the cloud (Invensys was a leader in bringing cloud-based apps to market, partnering with Microsoft for their Azure platform) and after two years we are seeing not only interest, but demand, in solutions hosted on the cloud.

Why the cloud?  Firstly, because it's scalable.  You can start with one user, or a plant, and then scale on a cost-per-use basis.  Secondly, it's portable.  You bring your application with you, so productivity and uptime are enhanced.  Thirdly, it's light.  A browser is all you need.  And lastly, it's adaptable--it adjusts to your needs, you pay for only what you use, so access and performance are ensured.

Invensys now offers multiple cloud-based apps. Some are client-based, such as the Wonderware Workflow Mobile Client, others are fully cloud-enabled, such as the smart-device enabled reporting capabilities of SmartGlance.  Both offer as-you-need-it capabilities to bring either work tasks (Workflow) or reporting (SmartGlance) to users in an easy-to-use format.  Historian in the cloud and other applications will follow, as will services capabilities for application monitoring.

The cloud is now "real" and offers value to both the office worker, as well as the industrial worker.  More applications will leverage the cloud's "elasticity" and scalability, and it's the users that are the beneficiaries of this technology, as well as it should be.

Repost: Bring Your Own Software (BYOS), Not BYOD, Is Real Challenge (with comments)

http://mspmentor.net/managed-services/bring-your-own-software-byos-not-byod-real-challenge?utm_source=090313&utm_medium=DAP&utm_campaign=NL&elq=%7E%7Eeloqua..type--emailfield..syntax--recipientid%7E%7E&elqCampaignId=%7E%7Eeloqua..type--campaign..campaignid--0..fieldname--id%7E%7E

An interesting article on new concerns for the CIO--it's not only Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), but BYOS (Bring Your Own Software) that enterprises must now address.  Think of the device as a Trojan horse--since once a user brings it inside, it carries not only authorized, but unauthorized access to the network.  On the other hand, it does allow a certain level of independence, and innovation, in bringing new technologies and applications into play that may not have had the visibility in the past.

Wonderware's SmartGlance offers smart device-enabled reporting (the BYOD aspect) with rich, intuitive, on-demand information management (the BYOS aspect).  It allows users to view real-time data on a tablet or smart phone, to make decisions based on current process status and conditions.  SmartGlance brings the best of BYOD and BYOS to users.

Repost: 14 Product Launches That Rocked And Why, with comments

http://adage.com/article/news/14-product-launches-rocked/243273/

as marketers, it's always interesting to understand why some product launches succeed, while others fail.  It's not just product--but reaching the unmet needs of your audience. 

For the industrial market, we see daily the need for better reporting, analysis, visualization.  There are a plethora of products available from your favorite industrial vendor, and for some, that may be enough.  Other customers may want "best of breed" to ensure that their needs are met.

We at Invensys have viewed our real-time platform as a cornerstone of our offerings, building out that framework for visualization, analysis and execution.  It's a way of managing not only initial needs, but growth and expansion.  And it works.

Call for Presentations now Open for Invensys Software Conference!

http://ourevents.invensys.com/SoftwareCustomerConf/Pages/Call-For-Presentations.aspx

Do you have a story you'd like to share with your peers?  Join us on October 15-17, 2013 in Dallas, TX for the Invensys Software Conference.  Customers, partners, and consultants are all eligible to submit success stories, whether they are for Wonderware, Avantis, IntelaTrac or SimSci.

Stories chosen will be presented during the conference, and you'll also receive a free conference registration as a thank you.

So don't hesitate to participate in one of the best overall industry conferences of the year! 

Early Bird Announcement: Invensys Software Customer Conference - North America

Save the date!  Registration site is forthcoming:
Invensys Software Customer Conference - North America Dates: 10/15/2013 - 10/16/2013 Venue: Hilton Anatole Hotel | Dallas, Texas

Invensys Software Customer Conference - North America
Dates: 10/15/2013 - 10/16/2013
Venue: Hilton Anatole Hotel | Dallas, Texas
Visit the event website: http://iom.invensys.com/EN/Pages/CustomerConferenceSeries.aspx


This conference will provide in-depth coverage of our capabilities across Process Design, Training Simulation, Optimization, Trading, Planning and Scheduling, Manufacturing Operations Management (MES), Asset Management, Production Information Management and HMI & Supervisory. We’ll also cover the solutions enabled by these software components, as well as insight to how our partners are creating innovative solutions to provide outstanding value across many industries.  Featuring the brands you know & use: Avantis for Enterprise Asset Management; SimSci for optimization, training & simulation needs; and Wonderware, the world's leading HMI and operations management products.