Connected Industry: Addressing Technical Challenges with Concrete Solutions
Thomas Peyron
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The Challenge: Connectivity and Security in Industry
In an industrial context with increasing operational challenges, data management and security have become priorities. Companies face system fragmentation, legacy equipment, and a growing need for energy optimization. The objective is not only to collect data, but to integrate it effectively for decision-making and action.
DATIVE: Catalyst for Industrial Innovation
DATIVE is an entity of the Gérard Perrier Industrie (GPI) group, specializing in Cloud computing, Industrial IoT, and Cybersecurity.
With an approach centered on actual customer needs, we offer concrete solutions to collect, analyze, and act on data in real time, while integrating seamlessly with existing infrastructures.
Addressed Issues
Fragmented Data: Industrial systems often use diverse, isolated protocols, making aggregation complex. Furthermore, manufacturers frequently try to impose proprietary, closed solutions, limiting interoperability and forcing industrial operators to adapt to siloed systems.
Energy Monitoring: Industrial operators face increasing pressure to optimize energy performance and strengthen market competitiveness. The challenge often lies in managing resources and consumption related to complex processes. Additionally, they must comply with standards such as ISO 50001 and tertiary decree obligations, which mandate precise, regular consumption tracking. Finally, these challenges fall within corporate social responsibility (CSR) frameworks, with increasing expectations for sustainable resource management and carbon emission reductions.
Infrastructure Security: Legacy systems are vulnerable, particularly to targeted attacks on automation and networks. Many industrial sites still rely on obsolete systems, such as computers running Windows XP, which are essential for production line operation but cannot support security updates. Simultaneously, growing equipment connectivity increases the exposure of these vulnerable systems, raising the risk of intrusion or targeted attacks. This evolution requires a reinforced approach to protect critical infrastructures while maintaining their operability.
Our Solutions: Practical Responses
1. DAT'Acquisition: Collecting and Centralizing Data
DAT’Acquisition is a middleware capable of retrieving data from various sources, whether from industrial protocols (energy, SCADA, PLCs) or radio technologies such as LoRaWAN. This solution enables multi-source integration without over-instrumentation, using virtual meters and configurations tailored to requirements.
2. DAT'Power: Monitoring Energy Assets and Controlling Consumers
Designed specifically for energy monitoring, DAT'Power provides a detailed visualization of consumption at different levels (station, machine, site). It tracks energy KPIs in real time and calculates associated costs and emissions (electricity, steam, gas consumption, CO2 emissions, etc.). This tool facilitates the implementation of cost-reduction strategies while meeting environmental commitments.
Furthermore, DAT’Power can be integrated with third-party systems, such as ERP or MES, and enriched with external data like heating degree days (HDD) or production data. It also allows the control of equipment such as heating and lighting for optimized energy management.
Case Study: Ninkasi
During an energy monitoring deployment at the Ninkasi site, a brewery and distillery based in Lyon, DAT'Power enabled the tracking of energy consumption, cross-referencing with production data, and the generation of relevant indicators to reduce production costs.
3. DAT'Process: Optimizing and Connecting with CMMS
DAT'Process is an advanced solution for equipment control and industrial performance improvement. Relying on mathematical models and behavioral equations, this tool simulates various operational scenarios. Users can identify the impact of each modification on the production process and establish custom workflows.
DAT’Process also features seamless integration with CMMS systems, such as the one from DIMO Software. This synergy connects maintenance data with equipment performance, providing a comprehensive view of operations. Additionally, DAT’Process automatically detects equipment anomalies using predictive analysis. These anomalies can generate work orders directly in the CMMS, ensuring optimal responsiveness and simplified maintenance priority management.
This solution is designed for industrial companies aiming to reduce downtime, optimize resource utilization, or streamline maintenance activities through failure prevention.
Do you have a project and wish to discuss it with our team?
Cybersecurity: A Prerequisite
Industrial systems frequently present significant vulnerabilities (unencrypted protocols like Modbus, legacy PLCs). At DATIVE, we support our clients through audits, risk analyses, and the deployment of diverse, tailored solutions. This includes installing IDS (Intrusion Detection Systems) sensors to monitor network anomalies, securing critical workstations to prevent unauthorized modifications, and segmenting networks to isolate sensitive zones. The objective is to ensure production continuity even during an attack, while strengthening the overall resilience of industrial infrastructures.
Why Choose DATIVE?
Tailored Approach: Our solutions adapt to the specifics of each site. As industrial specialists, we understand the challenges of performance, production continuity, and risk management that our clients face. This industry expertise allows us to provide pragmatic, directly applicable solutions on the ground.
Interoperability: We consolidate data and equipment within a unified architecture while securing the connection between IT and OT environments. The implemented infrastructures allow for the seamless integration of any future equipment, ensuring a long-term, open solution.
Technical Expertise: Our tools combine innovation with pragmatism to address industrial needs. We integrate advanced technologies like AI in a targeted, functional manner: each deployed solution meets a concrete need, avoiding technology for the sake of novelty. Our approach ensures measurable results adapted to operational realities.
