b'Partner News Winter 2021 37CorporateInControl Systems helped compose a teamas the supervisors eyes and ears, analysingBetter management and integrationof expert technology providers, includingdata and providing recommendations to theThe centralised nature of the control Rockwell Automation, PTC and InVMA, toremote locations. centre has supported the projects bring the vision to reality. overarching objective of establishing Integrated working better levels of visibility and joined-up Transforming from the centre In the time since the control centre becamedecision making across site operations.Beginning the installation phase in Mayoperational, the new capabilities have 2019, it took eight weeks to build thebecome an important part of SingletonSales and revenue generationcontrol room. The process involved installingBirchs plant operations. At a technical level,The new system allows Singleton more than 40 large screens, redundantthe centres impact has aligned well withBirch to gain better control over the servers and support applications, connectedthe boards strategic intent. Key benefitsvarious aspects of its supply chain, to PLCs using control logic gateways onhave included: supported by enhanced logistics. This an Ethernet network. These screens giveapproach has helped to differentiate the operators the flexibility to monitor acrossImproved availability companys business model and boost its operations using single log on, with minimalAvailability has improved by more thancompetitiveness.maintenance. 20% due to system efficiencies, massively decreasing instances and impacts ofCultural improvementTo support the new control centresystem faults. The control operation staff have been capabilities, Singleton Birch created anengaged in the process from day one. adjacent data centre with the objectives ofReduction in energy consumption They now work in a more comfortable creating greater redundancy and improvedThe system includes submetering soenvironment with better equipment. They data quality. In this data centre it installedthat operators have granular insight andhave also benefitted from an improved two Rockwell Automation FactoryTalkgreater control over manufacturing andflow of decision- making and efficiency, View SE unlimited redundant client serverenergy consumption across the plant. meaning they can act in real-time to architectures, one for quarry operationsemerging issues.and one for process operations, whichImproved cost and flexibilityhelped to significantly minimise downtime. AThe cost of operation has been reducedLooking to the next two centuriesredundant ThinManager configuration wasby around 13%, taking into account theThe projects success epitomises the ethos also implemented to ease the process ofprice competitiveness of the solution andthat has supported Singleton Birchs strong managing such a large array of screens andthe reduction in personnel required tostanding over its 200-year history. The simplify the associated maintenance. Finally,maintain operations. strategic process of identifying an area FactoryTalk AssetCentre was installed tofor improvement, piloting solutions and provide total audit capabilities and improveImproved safety executing on the plan lays the blueprint for the traceability of software modifications. Supervisors are now remote fromongoing organisational improvement. The physical operations, meaning they areintegrated control centre project has not The data centre also included PTCable to identify issues earlier and benefitonly helped the company to run its plant ThingWorx and Kepware solutions, whichfrom having engineers in closer proximityin a much more efficient and cost-effective allowed operators to stitch together datafor proactive maintenance. manner, but is also producing cultural from multiple sources, including the controlbenefits that, it anticipates, will translate systems, energy monitoring, CRM andinto greater staff engagement and career planning systems. This provided operatorsadvancement.with important insight into stock and production data in order to enable moreThis transformation has been made possible accurate forecasting of manufacturing andby the support of its partners, including delivery requirements. Rockwell Automation, which has shown a keen understanding of the companys By August 2019 the new system wasprinciples and ambitions. Lending its completely functional; the quick projectSingleton Birch delivers products and services to more thanadvice on the portfolio of advanced, turnaround was aided by the flexibility and300 customers, across the energy, utilities, water treatmentcomplementary systems available, the scalability of the ThingWorx platform. Withand steel sectors project team has worked together to apply their new-found capabilities, operatorsthese tools in practice.gained clear visibility of equipment effectiveness, maintenance managementStaying true to its roots, while displaying systems and financial information. Thethe courage to transform, puts Singleton integrated system brought operators andBirch in control of its future.engineers closer together, meaning that maintenance tasks could be operationalised.Elena Gardiner Channel & Field MarketingThe setup also functionally separatedLead for Rockwell Automation UK, control operators from on-the-groundOperators now have clearer visibility of equipmentIreland and Nordic Regioneffectiveness, maintenance management systems and supervisors. The control operators would actfinancial information epopova@rockwellautomation.com'