SCADA & HMI systems

Make the process easier to see

RS Automation’s published SCADA experience spans recycling, water and wastewater, materials handling, magazine sortation, warehousing and batching. Our Rockwell background includes RSView, PanelView and FactoryTalk applications.

Information that supports the operator

An operator interface should explain the current state of the plant and make the next action clear. We discuss the equipment layout, operating modes and information your team needs during normal running and when something changes.

• Process overview and equipment status screens
• Operator controls and clear operating modes
• Alarm displays and useful fault information
• Trends for process variables and equipment behaviour
• Plant and equipment navigation
• Reporting requirements and data availability

From live displays to useful history

The existing portfolio describes work with Rockwell reporting and historian tools. Historical data can help a team understand what happened during a shift or process event. The reporting scope should begin with the questions you need answered, then consider the available data and software.

What to bring to the conversation

Tell us about your current HMI or SCADA software, the screens operators use most and the information that is difficult to find. Screenshots, an alarm list and examples of the reports you want are useful starting points.

Give each screen a clear purpose

Start with the operator’s tasks: understand plant status, locate a stopped section, review an alarm or change a permitted setting. Keep the overview readable and make detailed information available where it is needed. Use consistent equipment names, status indication and navigation across the application.

• Plant overview and equipment-level detail
• Clear running, stopped, idle and unavailable states
• Consistent units and equipment identifiers
• Navigation that follows the plant and operator tasks

Review alarms and settings together

An alarm should point to the relevant equipment and information. Operator settings need understandable units, limits and feedback. Consider who can change a value and how the change is recorded. These decisions should match the process and existing platform rather than adding controls simply because the software permits them.

• Alarm message, priority and acknowledgement behaviour
• Nearby status values for investigation
• Input limits and user access requirements
• Change records and confirmation where appropriate

Plan for the installed workstation and network

Identify the HMI or SCADA version, client stations, servers and communications path. Screen resolution, input devices and network availability affect the experience. Test the pages on the actual operator hardware and define what should be shown when data or communications are unavailable.

• Software versions and licence arrangements
• Display resolution and operator input method
• Controller communications and unavailable-data indication
• Backup, deployment and rollback arrangements