Global industry is facing a common set of challenges. End users are looking to automation vendors to deliver systems and technologies that will address these problems. Call them Connected Industries, Smart Factory, Industry 4.0[1] or the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT); regardless, these challenges broadly fall into the following key areas:
1. Ensure consistent quality and performance across global operations
2. Balance manufacturing with demand to optimize material usage and asset utilization
3. Improve and meet regulatory compliance
4. Implement more flexible and agile manufacturing operations to respond to rapidly changing market conditions
5. Meet demanding requirements and