Rockwell Automation

How do you know that a perfect storm is brewing? If your team is tasked with securing your organization’s operational technology and industrial control systems (OT/ICS), you may have a pretty good idea by now. In critical infrastructure industries, the warning signs have been hard to miss lately. They include the convergence of business IT and OT systems, now accelerated in the cloud; the proliferation of database-driven Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) and phishing campaigns, etc.

From understanding the latest security compliance mandates, to finding, hiring, and retaining high performing security talent, most organizations struggle to manage cyber risk. This is a problem for any organization, but managing cyber risk is especially difficult for companies operating in Critical Infrastructure sectors where specific OT cybersecurity and industrial operations expertise are needed for minimized downtime and reduced cybersecurity risk.

Artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) are disrupting industrial manufacturing. In this article, we will focus on key trends that help leaders navigate their digital transformation (DX) initiatives with clear foresight. Ten years ago, model creation was the realm of data scientists, but that space has now been disrupted due to availability of easy-to-use tools that empower even the non-data scientist to leverage ML libraries and build models.

Companies required to follow lockout/tagout procedures outlined by OSHA standard 1910.147 must also perform an annual inspection of their established policies and authorized employees. The primary goal of the annual lockout/tagout audit is to confirm that existing lockout/tagout procedures are still adequate and accurate. The audit will also confirm whether authorized employees understand the lockout/tagout procedures in place and that they are using them every time a machine is being serviced or undergoing maintenance.

This exciting technology is being enabled by advances in safety technology, including sensors, robots, and cell controllers. And it’s attracting manufacturers, OEMs and system integrators alike with promises of increased productivity, reliability and cost savings. For example, FANUC introduced its first-ever force-limited robot: CR-35iA. The robot has a soft outer shell and sophisticated sensing technology.

Fiix’s computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) helps maintenance and operations teams schedule, organize and track equipment maintenance digitally, connect to business systems and make data-driven decisions while leveraging the power of AI. There are over 3000 maintenance teams in 90+ countries using Fiix to improve efficiency, asset health and even sustainability.

No one should get hurt at work. Unfortunately, in 2019 there were 5,333 worker deaths in the U.S. – an average of 15 deaths every day. While many types of incidents result in worker injuries and fatalities, among the most frequently cited are lockout/tagout violations. As with most work-related incidents, lockout/tagout related accidents and deaths are avoidable.