44 the IIoT system must automatically collect and merge time-stamped, standardized data from all sources into its single, central database and be able to create merged variables on the fly. It should be foundry-proven and extremely flexible to support any foundry process or equipment, regardless of whether you’re casting iron or melting aluminum. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications that host your software and data in the public cloud rather than on-premise has many advantages. They minimize the hardware required to bring together process data from multiple sites or lines, and let any user access their data and tools remotely from anywhere. Security is stringent while implementations are quicker and lower risk, creating systems that can easily expand to serve more users, machines, and sites. Adding IIoT gateways to foundry machines is how data is extracted. The gateways (or "edge devices") your system employs must be able to collect data from any machine, PLC or other data source and stream it securely to your central database. Look for gateways with banking-grade encryption to store data locally thereby preventing data loss if your foundry’s network connection is interrupted. VISUALIZE DATA Digital system’s real value for foundries lies in enabling faster, more effective decision-making based on trustworthy data. That demands live data for process monitoring and an agile response to problems, plus historical data to compare current performance against and drill into, for example, to find the root cause(s) of intractable issues. Prioritize data collection from the most important sub-processes and equipment from the start. To support decision making, any IIoT solution must communicate exactly the information each user needs in a personalized dashboard view. For example, supervisors
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