Emerson Process Management is adding process analytical technology (PAT) to its PlantWeb digital plant architecture in an effort to help its life sciences customers ensure that they are delivering safe products amid competitive and cost pressures.

The new functionality is a result of an alliance with Optimal Industrial Automation Ltd., which will integrate its synTQ PAT data management application with Emerson’s DeltaV digital automation system and Syncade operations management suite.

The synTQ data management package, in concert with DeltaV, monitors the manufacturing process holistically and makes adjustments to continually optimize product quality. The synTQ software collects real-time instrument analytical data together with the control system’s data to derive the necessary critical-to-quality product information in real time. Trends in this critical-to-quality information can then be used by synTQ and the control system to improve product quality as well as timely manufacturing execution, Emerson said.

“Global trends, like changing disease profiles, the increasing aging population, and government-run healthcare will demand more-for-less manufacturing methods,” said Saroj Patnaik, director of life sciences in Emerson’s global industry solutions group, in a statement. “Producing more safe products in smaller quantities across the world in a cost-effective manner is a daunting task for our customers … The Emerson/synTQ alliance will help our customers meet these cost pressures by leveraging their existing automation investment.”