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Revolutionizing Automation: A Conversation with Davy Demeyer
In this episode of The IT/OT Insider Podcast, we spoke with Davy Demeyer, a seasoned automation expert and advocate for bridging traditional practices with Industry 4.0 innovations. With decades of hands-on experience in automation projects, Davy sheds light on the challenges, gaps, and opportunities in transforming automation for the digital age.
Automation’s Foundations: PLCs and DCS Explained
Davy started by explaining two cornerstone technologies in industrial automation:
PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers):
Often called the backbone of automation, PLCs are industrial computers programmed to control machinery and processes. Despite their critical role, Davy highlighted their reliance on outdated programming methods like Ladder Logic or Structured Text, which have seen minimal evolution over the decades.
DCS (Distributed Control Systems):
Used for large-scale, continuous operations in industries like chemicals and refineries, DCS offers centralized control and integration of multiple PLCs and devices. While robust, DCS solutions also suffer from aging programming methodologies that fail to align with modern development practices.
The Programming Gap in Automation
Davy emphasized the growing disparity between traditional automation programming and modern software development practices. While the software industry has embraced Agile, DevOps, and cloud-native design, automation engineering remains constrained by:
- Vendor-specific programming tools.
- Proprietary languages.
- Manual workflows that hinder collaboration and scalability.
This programming gap results in bottlenecks that slow digital transformation efforts, leaving the industry struggling to keep pace with the demands of Industry 4.0.
The Bottleneck in Industry 4.0 Adoption
Why does this gap matter? Davy explained how outdated programming approaches directly impact three key pillars of Industry 4.0:
- Scalability: Pilot projects often stall, unable to transition into fully integrated solutions due to siloed designs.
- Integration: Bridging automation systems (like PLCs) with IT platforms, cloud environments, or analytics tools frequently requires expensive and time-consuming custom solutions.
- Innovation: Emerging technologies, such as AI and machine learning, are underutilized as automation remains tethered to legacy practices.
The Future: DesignOps for Automation
Davy envisions a transformative shift through DesignOps for Automation Engineers, borrowing principles from the software industry to foster collaboration, efficiency, and scalability. His vision centers on automating repetitive workflows for automation engineers, creating streamlined, integrated environments that enable developers and engineers to innovate together.
“It’s about automating the automation engineer,” Davy shared, highlighting the potential for DesignOps to revolutionize how automation teams work and deliver value.
Introducing SASE: Society of Automation Software Engineers
To bring this vision to life, Davy co-founded the Society of Automation Software Engineers (SASE). This community-driven initiative is dedicated to modernizing automation through shared best practices, collaborative standards, and collective innovation. SASE aims to:
- Bridge the gap between automation and software development.
- Foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Advocate for the adoption of modern programming methodologies in automation.
Learn more about SASE at sase.space.
Closing Thoughts
As Davy illustrated, rethinking automation for Industry 4.0 requires not only technological advancements but also a cultural and procedural shift. By embracing initiatives like DesignOps and SASE, the industry can overcome its programming bottlenecks and unlock the full potential of digital transformation.
Want to learn more?
Find Davy Demeyer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demeyerdavy/
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