Whether you are looking to upgrade daily operations or want more efficient data management and communication, HMIs are often the primary solution to most of these problems.
"The most valuable aspect of HMI technology is the ability to closely monitor production and respond to changing production demands, resulting in increased efficiency and reduced downtime," says RBeilke, product specialist for industrial personal computers. "These benefits are the result of improved diagnostics and monitoring."
While it's self-evident why an HMI system is beneficial to any company, it's best to make sure you know the ins and outs of HMI, what it can do, and what you need from this type of software in order to choose the right one.
What is HMI Software?
Human Machine Interface (HMI) software is one of the most influential and evolving types of technology in the world. Currently a multi-billion dollar industry, HMI is constantly changing and evolving into more important and versatile products for businesses and users in a wide range of industries.
HMIs are interfaces that allow for human-computer interaction. While the average person uses them every day, they are also used in all types of industries such as healthcare, automotive, power plants, food service, and more. However, what makes an HMI work well are the following two basic components:
Input: Input is the way the human user tells the machine what they want it to do. Communication with the machine is where the user side of the HMI comes into play. You might use a keyboard, buttons, touch screen, joystick, mouse, or switches.
Output: The machine must keep the user informed of the progress of commands. Using the same HMI, the machine communicates with the user to display information through status lights, valves, or sounds.
HMIs are everywhere. In fact, you're using it right now: your computer screen or touchscreen phone are great examples of everyday interfaces. So when installing this software for your company, how do they actually work on your computer system?
How does it work?
Whether your company uses a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system or relies on their PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), the HMI must communicate with the internal computer system to help execute commands. This usually means that the HMI communicates directly with the PLC, which is essential and key to the day-to-day operations of most industries.
For example, when a human user sends a command through the HMI, the HMI then needs to send the same command to the PLC, which receives this information, processes it and executes the request. When the command is being executed or completed, the HMI signals the command status to the human user. A simple example might be pressing a button to turn on a system. the HMI communicates the request and the PLC executes it. In turn, the HMI indicates to the user that the system has been turned on, usually through some kind of visual or audible confirmation, such as text, lights, or sound.
Benefits of HMI for Your Company
When choosing an HMI system for your company, it's wise to take some time to evaluate whether or not these significant benefits will help improve your day-to-day productivity.
There are many reasons why HMI is beneficial to any business. Nonetheless, for many, the most appealing reasons are due to its secure communications, simple data management, and cost-effective features.
Benefit #1: Easy Communication
One of the most appealing aspects of HMIs is the ease of communication. Think of it this way: it wasn't until 1956 that researchers began experimenting with direct keyboard input on computers, which ultimately changed the way these machines evolved over the next few decades. Communicating with computers suddenly became incredibly easy - and ultimately life-changing.
In addition, HMIs were easy to use because they visualized data, easily reported progress, alerted to any problems or changes in the machine, and simplified every necessary element. Today, HMIs can communicate effectively with users, explaining any disruptions, costs, problems and their causes, leading to greater accuracy and reliable information.
Benefit #2: Data Management
HMI helps reduce the amount of manual work required for documentation and data retention.HMI helps optimize and automate virtually everything, thereby reducing unnecessary labor costs. For example, in healthcare environments, data quality assessments (DQA) are easily stored in a virtual data cloud accessible through HMI, resulting in accurate, consistent and timely reporting.
Benefit #3: Cost Effectiveness
Whether you run a small business or a large industrial company, switching to HMI software is one of the best decisions for your budget. While installation costs may be high at first, businesses will likely recoup their investment dollars within two years of being fully operational. This route allows your business to go paperless, eliminating the fear of losing pertinent data or paperwork.
Choosing the Best HMI for Your Company
Making sure you get the right HMI system for your needs is imperative. This short guide can help you narrow down the types of HMI your company may need, starting with choosing the right type, deciding how it will be used on a daily basis, and assessing your needs.
Step #1: Choosing a Type
HMIs come in all shapes and sizes, but ultimately, there are only three types of HMI systems. All serve the same purpose - effective communication and data management - but may be better used in specific environments and purposes.
Type #1: Button Replacement
Pushbutton replacements are probably the oldest and most common type of HMI. Because central control panels consist of multiple buttons with specific functions, many plants use button replacements to increase productivity.
The methodology is as follows: staff can execute various commands through a single interface, in other words, with the push of a button. This type of HMI simplifies the manufacturing process and increases efficiency. One of the most common examples is probably the "on" and "off" buttons on most machines.
Type #2: Data Handler
Data Handler HMIs are used in industries and companies that require consistent feedback from machines. These types of HMIs are primarily used for gathering and collecting data, and are especially important in information-rich environments.
For example, if a company needs to collect data from a machine or piece of equipment, it will most likely be through a Data Handler HMI. these HMIs allow the user to easily take control through features such as data trending, data logging, alarm handling, and more.
Type #3: Supervisor
HMIs are relatively new and are installed whenever SCADA or MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) are needed. They work together in large environments to monitor vast areas.
Supervisors usually run on a Windows operating system, which allows visualization between the human user and the machine using a graphical interface on an electronic display. It has several Ethernet ports for communication and can view the entire site.
Step #2: Decide how to use it
How and where your HMI will be used is one of the important pieces of the puzzle. While you have to make sure it matches your other systems, such as SCADA or PLC, most installers can integrate new or existing systems without a problem.
Beyond that, you must also consider the operating environment.
Food processing plants or outdoor HMIs may require special protection, such as a high Ingress Protection (IP) rating (pronounced "IPXX"), which determines whether an electrical product's enclosure can protect working parts from water or dust, thus allowing the product to work longer.
On the other hand, a noisy or vibration-heavy industrial environment such as an automobile manufacturer may require hardened industrial panels. In such a setup, you need a ruggedized HMI system so that it can last for years of use through a lot of heavy movement and action.
Step 3: Assess your needs
HMIs are designed to make your life easier. They should be easy to use and understand, which is why the learning curve is relatively low. Therefore, when choosing the right HMI for your company, you need to assess your needs, which may include:
- Screen size, type and resolution
- Internet access and technical support
- The types of tasks to be performed
- Other systems it will connect to, such as SCADA or MES
The good news is that most companies with installation capabilities know where to start and how to meet your needs. So when interviewing companies, make sure you address your needs as well as other important instructions such as how it will be used.
Conclusion
With these key steps in mind, you will have a better understanding of the type of HMI system you need. Ultimately, it's best to let an experienced, professional company customize your ideal HMI based on the type you need, how you'll use it, and other specifications.
With over years of experience, Knseal can turn ideas into reality so that you and your business can operate more efficiently in half the time and effort. Contact us today to learn more.