Digitisation has taken hold of the technology used in industrial applications, with physical operations increasingly linked to digital control systems. The link has been coined ‘Operational Technology’, or simply OT. It’s a crucial element in the modern industrial landscape and one with a symbiotic relationship with business IT.
As a managed technology services provider, Smile IT is involved in OT across a number of industries, from mining to manufacturing. Today we’d like to give you an introduction to the term, where you might find it applied and what some of its key components are.
What is Operational Technology?
Operational Technology (OT) refers to the hardware and software systems used to monitor and control physical processes, devices and infrastructure used in an industrial setting. It ensures these physical assets operate as intended, enhancing the efficiency, safety, and reliability of industrial processes by providing control options based on immediate feedback.
The evolution of OT has seen it become an important cog in minimising downtime and maximising productivity, gaining a foothold in industries as varied as car manufacturing, healthcare, mining and oil and gas.
The Difference Between OT and IT
While there is strong convergence and dependency between the two, IT and OT are two distinct entities. The main difference is in their primary focus – IT is concerned with the management and processing of data. It ensures information is accessible, while facilitating communications and keeping digital assets secure.
OT, as defined above, interacts directly with industrial equipment and machinery. The focus is on taking care of operational needs within a physical environment.
Convergence has increased recently as the Internet of Things (IoT) has connected OT systems to wider networks within an IT environment. This has seen significant leaps forward in the ability to collect and analyse data, which has multiple benefits including boosting operational efficiency and optimising service schedules.
Basic Components of OT
To get an understanding of how OT works, you need to have a grasp of the key components it employs in its management of physical industrial processes. These are some of them:
- Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs): PLCs are specialized computers used in industrial automation and designed to operate in harsh industrial environments. They receive input from sensors, process the data to pre-programmed instructions and send commands to process control actuators. You’ll often find them on assembly lines and conveyor belts.
- Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Systems: SCADA systems are higher-level control systems that provide operators with a comprehensive view of an entire process. They collect data from sensors monitoring equipment and send it to a server. It’s displayed on user-friendly interfaces, monitored by operators who can make a decision to intervene manually if necessary.
- Distributed Control Systems (DCS): DCSs are used in large-scale industrial settings to control complex elements spread across a plant or large area. DCS distribute control functions across multiple controllers, each responsible for a specific section of the process. They’re ideal in continuous process industries where real time control and monitoring is required.
- Human-Machine Interface (HMI): HMIs are the user interfaces that allow operators to interact with OT systems. They include displays of real-time data, control panels, alarms and notifications that make it easier for operators to manage industrial processes.
- Sensors: Sensors are the eyes and ears of OT systems. They gather data from physical processes like temperature, pressure, or flow rate, and convert it into signals that can be interpreted by control systems.
- Actuators: Actuators take the commands from control systems and convert them into physical actions. For example, an actuator might open a valve, start a motor, or adjust the position of a machine component.
Industries Where You’ll Find OT
Industrial operations are becoming evermore tech-reliant, so you’ll be hard-pressed to find a sector that hasn’t incorporated OT in some form. Those involving complex, machine-driven physical processes that require control and ongoing monitoring have largely benefited from it though.
Let’s look at some examples of sectors where operational technology is heavily used. What’s interesting about this (non-exhaustive) list is that it shines a light on how entwined operational technology is with our day-to-day lives, from the energy and water reaching our homes to the monitoring systems in our doctors’ rooms.
- Manufacturing: OT is integral to highly automated production processes in the manufacturing industry. It can control assembly lines and robots, while also keeping process parameters like temperature and humidity stable.
- Energy and Utilities: In the energy sector, OT is used to manage power generation, transmission, and distribution. It plays a crucial role in maintaining grid stability and keeping critical infrastructure running safely.
- Oil and Gas: Operational Technology is used in the oil and gas industry for monitoring and controlling drilling operations, pipeline management, and refining processes. It helps prevent accidents and reduce environmental impact, amongst other benefits.
- Transportation: OT systems can manage traffic lights, railways and toll gates. They can help monitor traffic conditions, while also monitoring fuel usage and navigation in maritime, aviation and road vehicles.
- Water and Waste Management: Water treatment plants and waste management facilities use operational technology to monitor and control processes and manage resources. The quality of water, air and other environmental factors can be closely monitored too.
- Healthcare: In healthcare, OT is used in hospital infrastructure, medical devices, and patient monitoring systems. It has boosted the reliability of life-critical systems, enhancing data collection and analysis that has improved patient safety and care quality.
OT Questions Answered
At Smile IT we’re excited about how OT and IT complement each other, and the massive benefits this relationship can have for companies who rely heavily on machine-centred processes. we have a team in place who specialises in industrial work involving OT. They have extensive experience in setting up robust networks that can support advanced OT, regardless of location. So no matter where you’re located, we can help you achieve improved productivity and safety.
If you have any questions about operational technology and how it applies to your sector, we’d love to chat. Get in touch and let‘s ride the next wave of industrial transformation together!
When he’s not writing tech articles or turning IT startups into established and consistent managed service providers, Peter Drummond can be found kitesurfing on the Gold Coast or hanging out with his family!