Reducing chaos and mitigating risk with FactoryTalk AssetCentre

The scenario

An automotive supply company with manufacturing facilities across Ontario faced a common but often overlooked problem with their approach to asset management. Due to the lack of a unified tool and centralized system, their current assets were not held to the level of security or organization required for such high value and sensitive materials.

Specifically, they had multiple copies of control system programs, support documents, and other assets located on various devices with limited backups and no version history. As a result, users were frequently unsure if they were using the most up-to-date version and had little ability to view changes or revert to previous versions if they ran into issues.

The company was vulnerable to disaster or asset loss and required an asset management system that organized everything into a single, unified location, made it easy to see version history and changes to assets, and increased security through permission-based privileges and controls.

The requirements

The automotive supplier had several requirements which were identified by JAE Automation over the course of the project.

  • –   Automatically ensuring equipment was using the most up-to-date assets
  • –   Organizing all assets into a single, accessible location
  • –   Enforcing version control so that users could go back and identify changes
  • –   Implementing a vendor agnostic solution that worked with third-party assets
  • –   Increasing security through permission-based privileges
  • –   Enabling disaster recovery through automatic and secure backups

The engagement

JAE Automation was working with the automotive supplier at one of its facilities when JAE identified the need for a better approach to asset management. Up until then, the company did not fully understand the risks and potential vulnerabilities of their current system and did not realize the shortcomings they had in the way they managed their assets.

JAE Automation worked closely with the facility to determine their requirements and develop a proposal, which was then delivered to the head office with the goal of having it adopted and deployed across all facilities.

The IT department was closely involved throughout the project to help ensure the solution not only met their current needs but would also be able to evolve and grow alongside the company as their needs changed.

The solution

As a Recognized System Integrator for Rockwell Automation, JAE Automation recommended that the automotive supplier implement Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk AssetCentre across their manufacturing environment. FactoryTalk AssetCentre provides companies with a centralized tool for automatically securing, managing, versioning, tracking, and reporting automation related asset information across the facility, with limited additional management, oversight, or input required from employees.

The solution provides secure access to the system and makes it possible to track users’ actions, automatically track firmware versions, automatically create backups, and manage historical versions of the asset. It is vendor agnostic and supports third-party assets not produced by Rockwell Automation, making it flexible and suitable for the customer’s current assets.

The results

FactoryTalk AssetCentre allowed the automotive supplier to have all their programs in one place. The system would monitor the controller for changes, perform a backup so that AssetCentre had the most recent version, and provide a notification that changes existed and were backed up. Users were able to view version history, see how changes impacted the performance of the asset, and revert to previous versions if required. Automatic backups mitigated the risk of a disaster or other loss of critical and valuable assets, and the introduction of permissions and privileges increased security.

The solution was deployed at all the company’s manufacturing facilities. It simplified the asset management process, reduced the risk of loss, and ensured equipment was using the latest programs.

Source

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • Andreas Sobotta to Assume Role of Vice President North and South America for Pilz Automation

    Andreas Sobotta to Assume Role of Vice President North and South America for Pilz Automation

    Pilz Automation Safety Canada L.P. announces that their long-term CEO and GM, Andreas Sobotta, will assume the role of Vice President North and South America, effective immediately. He will still work from the Canadian office in Mississauga and visit all other subsidiaries in North and South America. Pilz will take their time to find a… Read More…

  • SEW-Eurodrive: MAXOLUTION System Solutions

    SEW-Eurodrive: MAXOLUTION System Solutions

    Whether in production or logistics operations, MAXOLUTION is synonymous with innovation in factory automation – across all industries and worldwide – helping you achieve your vision of an adaptable and resilient lean smart factory. Under the MAXOLUTION brand, SEW-EURODRIVE creates customized solutions for cutting-edge materials handling technology – from the shop floor through to IT.… Read More…


Sponsored Content
The Easy Way to the Industrial IoT

The way to the Industrial IoT does not have to be complicated. Whether access to valuable data is required or new, data-driven services are to be generated, Weidmuller enables its customers to go from data to value the easy way. Weidmuller’s comprehensive and cutting-edge IIoT portfolio applies to greenfield and brownfield applications. Weidmuller offers components and solutions from data acquisition, data pre-processing, data communication and data analysis.

Visit Weidmuller’s Industrial IoT Portfolio.


ADVANCED Motion Controls Takes Servo Drives to New Heights (and Depths) with FlexPro Extended Environment Product Line

Advanced Motion Controls is proud to announce the addition of six new CANopen servo drives with Extended Environment capabilities to their FlexPro line. These new drives join AMC’s existing EtherCAT Extended Environment FlexPro drives, making the FlexPro line the go-to solution for motion control applications in harsh environments.

Many motion control applications take place in conditions that are less than ideal, such as extreme temperatures, high and low pressures, shocks and vibrations, and contamination. Electronics, including servo drives, can malfunction or sustain permanent damage in these conditions.

Read More


Service Wire Co. Announces New Titles for Key Executives

Bruce Kesler and Mark Gatewood have been given new titles and responsibilities for Service Wire Co.

Bruce Kesler has assumed the role of Senior Director – Business Development. Bruce will be responsible for Service Wire’s largest strategic accounts and our growing Strategic Accounts Team.

Mark Gatewood has been promoted to the role of Vice President – Sales & Marketing. In this role, Gatewood will lead the efforts of Service Wire Company’s entire sales and marketing organization in all market verticals.

Read More


Tri-Mach Announces the Purchase of an Additional 45,000 sq ft. Facility

Tri-Mach Elmira Facility

Recently, Tri-Mach Inc. was thrilled to announce the addition of a new 45,000 sq ft. facility. Located at 285 Union St., Elmira, ON, this facility expands Tri-Mach’s capabilities, allowing them to better serve the growing needs of their customers.

Positioning for growth, this additional facility will allow Tri-Mach to continue taking on large-scale projects, enhance product performance testing, and provide equipment storage for their customers. The building will also be the new home to their Skilled Trades Centre of Excellence.

Read More


JMP Parent Company, CONVERGIX Acquires AGR Automation, Expanding Global Reach

Convergix Automation Solutions has completed the acquisition of AGR Automation (“AGR”), a UK-based provider of custom, high-performance automation design and systems integration primarily to the life sciences industry.

Following Convergix’s acquisitions of JMP Solutions in August 2021 and Classic Design in February 2022, AGR marks the third investment in Crestview’s strategy to build Convergix into a diversified automation solutions provider targeting the global $500+ billion market, with a particular focus on the $70 billion global systems integration and connectivity segments. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Read More


Latest Articles

  • Making the Sustainable Transformation of the Process Industry a Success

    Making the Sustainable Transformation of the Process Industry a Success

    By Krystie Johnston and Dr. Manfred Jagiella – Sustainability facilitates opportunity when approached with a mindset to preserve resources and promote circularity. We share one Earth, and it is our global responsibility to care for it for the next generation. Endress+Hauser is one global company that understands this responsibility – and practices it as well.… Read More…

  • Why NOARK’s 12VDC Shunt Trip Coils for MCCBs Make Power Systems Reliable and Safer

    Why NOARK’s 12VDC Shunt Trip Coils for MCCBs Make Power Systems Reliable and Safer

    Circuit breakers are an essential component of any modern electrical system. Designed to protect your home or business from potential overloads or short circuits, these devices are your first line of defense against electrical fires. There are, however, situations where remote tripping of the circuit breaker may be required. It could be for operational reasons,… Read More…