The Singapore Industrial Automation Association (SIAA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with OPC Hub ASEAN for Industry 4.0 solutions. Witnessed by Enterprise Singapore and the Singapore Standards Council; the agreement aims to expand the Industry 4.0 connectivity capabilities of SIAA members. Within the scope of the memorandum agreement, OPC Hub ASEAN will provide technical advisory services to SIAA member companies, based on the Singapore Standard (SS) IEC 62541; and will also offer training to improve the system integrators’ capabilities in industrial control systems.
Enterprise Singapore and the Singapore Standards Council facilitated this partnership to drive the growth of industry-led initiatives in leading standards promotion efforts. Enterprise Singapore will support this initiative by providing SIAA members with affordable access to a library of Industry 4.0 standards. Thus, members will have the opportunity to apply to this library and benefit from it in their solutions. Thanks to this initiative, local SMEs using Industry 4.0 solutions will face fewer difficulties in deploying more advanced automation systems at lower integration costs and processes in the future. In addition, it meets the local and international requirements of Singapore’s automation, robotics and system integration companies; and will also help it develop interoperable, secure and scalable products.
“Manufacturers demand new Industry 4.0 solutions”
SIAA President Terence Teo stated that manufacturers demand new Industry 4.0 solutions that are cost effective, safe from cyber-attacks; and compatible with existing systems. SS IEC 626541, known as Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA); is a nationally adopted standard of the widely accepted international communication standards of the IEC 62541 series. Saying that standards contain industry best practices that help businesses build up their capabilities to develop innovative products and services; Teo commented; “This will in turn earn the trust and confidence of their customers that they are providing solutions meeting their requirements for today and tomorrow. In addition, using standards will help improve the branding of their products and services; so that they can capture new opportunities in overseas markets”.
Using common standards provides many advantages
Head of OPC Hub ASEAN David Chia explained that a key obstacle in realising the full benefit of Industry 4.0 technologies is the challenge of integrating equipment, such as machines, robots and control systems from different vendors. Relaying that SS IEC 62541 or OPC UA helps to bridge the gap for secure, reliable and interoperable industrial communication protocols, Chia noted; “Using common standards will reduce integration costs for both system integrators and businesses; and ensure the Industry 4.0 solutions are future-ready and scalable”. Chia added that this also enables companies to focus more on their core business of developing innovative products and solutions; to serve their clients.