whether machine-to-machine, machine-to-operator or machine-to-plant. Technology now allows systems to exchange information openly.”

Whittenton feels it is important to take a holistic view of how a machine and its operator interface with production. “Ability to tie into network topologies is more and more critical,” he points out. “Time-critical motion control is just one part of the equation, and rack-mounted programmable logic controllers roll up everything into one box—human-machine interface, motion control, OEE data, production profiles, and so on.”

“If adoption is slow,” he adds, “it’s because manufacturing evolves in micro-steps, not macro-steps. But the micro-steps are adding up, and the need now is to consider every machine as part of an overall system. Production is as much about transferring products into and out of work cells as it is about motion control in each cell. The wider the view, the more approaches are blended into the mainstream.”

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