Helping industrial companies harness the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to transform their entire enterprise will be the lead topic for Honeywell Process Solutions’ (HPS) 41st annual Honeywell Users Group (HUG) for the Americas.

Vimal Kapur, president of HPS, said: “Honeywell’s invention of the distributed control system (DCS) more than 40 years ago allowed manufacturers to use data to operate their plants more safely and productively. The Industrial Internet of Things will allow manufacturers to more efficiently gather and analyse a broader range of data across multiple operations and plants to use data to transform entire enterprises.”

Hundreds of Honeywell technology users from across the oil and gas, chemical, pulp and paper and metals and mining sectors are expected at HUG, which began June 20 and runs through June 24.

The event will feature technology displays along with dozens of Honeywell- and customer-led sessions and technical discussions.

Showing how IIoT is working in real-world scenarios is especially critical this year, said Honeywell. A recent survey of North American manufacturing executives suggests that while investments in data analytics are rising, companies are still grappling to better understand its benefits.

The Honeywell-commissioned survey, conducted by KRC Research, found the majority of respondents (between 60 and 70 per cent) believe data analytics can help reduce equipment breakdowns and unplanned downtime, as well as reduce supply chain management issues. This is particularly noteworthy because around 40 per cent of the executives see unscheduled downtime and supply chain management issues as the top two threats to maximising revenue.

At the same time, though, nearly half of the respondents – representing a range of manufacturing industries – said they don’t fully understand the benefits of data analytics, and more than a quarter say more proof is needed to show that data analytics work.

Woven throughout the entire symposium will be numerous presentations and panel discussions focusing on how the IIoT by Honeywell can help transform manufacturing operations.

“HPS has been providing solutions and technologies to help manufacturers leverage critical operational data on a site by site basis for years,” said Andrew Hird, vice president and general manager of HPS’ Digital Transformation business. “Today, with the increased connectivity and the IIoT by Honeywell, they are able to gather and analyse data across multiple sites to find and implement best practices. The results of the IIoT survey of manufacturers reflect very closely the areas where Honeywell has been investing in solutions.”

The conference will feature three daily themes:

• What’s Next: The Right Technology, Right Now – Day 1 focussed on how new technologies that are available today can drive gains in operational efficiency, productivity and ultimately revenue growth.

• Find Opportunity: Win in a Volatile Marketplace – Day 2 will examine how to take advantage of technology and services to improve reliability, safety, compliance and productivity in a time of low oil prices, increasing globalisation and political instability.

• Embrace Change: Engage and Empower the Next Generation – Day 3 looks at how the right environment, training and tools can unleash the power of the smart, tech-savvy and collaborative millennial workforce. –TradeArabia News Service