Digital Transformation: The Growing Role of Advanced Instrumentation in DCS/PLC

Digital transformation fundamentally changes how companies do business with their customers around the globe and pushes firms to operate in new ways through the implementation of smarter technologies, faster processes, and more reliable systems. The central role of Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) in this shift towards modern-day technology in process automation and industrial control is well established. Advanced instrumentation integration into DCS and PLC has resulted in increased productivity due to improved efficiency and higher-quality decisions made through the use of technology-driven insights in both the planning stage and during operations. 

Smarter Sensors Deliver Real-Time Insights

Advanced instrumentation has intelligent sensors that give real-time data to operators on everything from temperature to flow to pressure to level and from vibration to movement, etc. These sensors are capable of diagnosing themselves and reporting their conditions to DCS and PLC systems. They provide operators with data in real time to make decisions based on current conditions instead of historical data, allowing for immediate responses to changes in order to optimize business processes. Most importantly, the ability for advanced sensors to self-calibrate is beneficial because it reduces the need for operators to be involved in calibration procedures and allows them to focus on their core responsibilities instead of performing routine maintenance on their instrumentation.

Seamless Connectivity Improves System Integration

The use of these communication protocols has facilitated faster, easier access to data through improved interoperability with Distributed Control System (DCS)/Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Systems; With increased digital communication capabilities, remote monitoring and diagnostic services for operators* can now be performed from virtually anywhere in the world, providing real-time access to valuable operational data and enabling faster identification of critical issues within an operation. The increased visibility made possible by connected instrumentation also allows for greater use of predictive analytics/automated operations and continued transformation toward more industry-standard practices.

Combined with robust DCS and PLC instrumentation in NC, the implementation of advanced field devices also empowers the industrial sector with smarter, safer, and more efficient means of operation. As technology continues to advance and develop, so too will the necessity for connected, intelligently networked, and accurately functioning instrumentation—and in turn connected instrumentation establishes a foundation from which future industrial processes will be developed.