In the current difficult economic environment, most manufacturers are focused on reducing costs and increasing operational efficiency. It’s not surprising, then, that technology providers excelling at helping manufacturers to increase plant and asset utilization, improve production efficiency, achieve sustainability, and find quick ROI on their technology investments were among those recently receiving Excellence in Industrial Technology Awards from research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.
Frost & Sullivan Awards are given annually to technology and service providers in 12 industrial markets, including Industrial Automation & Process Control. Other categories include Automatic Identification & Security, Automotive & Transportation, Building Management, and Sensors & Instrumentation.
A Best Practices team of Frost & Sullivan analysts compiles the list of winning companies after interviewing industry participants, customers, and suppliers. Industry participants are ranked based on criteria specific to each category, with the top-ranked in each category receiving the award.
Among winning companies in the Industrial Automation & Process Control category were:
- Omnitrol Networks, which received the North American Excellence in Product Value Award. Omnitrol was recognized for its Real-Time Omnitrol Services Network, a plant automation and visibility suite that, unlike many other MES and EMI systems, “provides…customers with a unified control platform to integrate multiple field devices, experience real-time operational intelligence, and achieve rapid time-to-value,” Frost & Sullivan judges reported. The judges also noted that the Omnitrol suite helps manufacturers reduce plant downtime by providing real-time shop floor visibility.
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- Wonderware. The Invensys business unit received the Excellence in Customer Value Award for its end-to-end Wonderware System Platform, including SCADA, HMI, MES, data historian, product quality management, mobile, and EMI components. Wonderware was also commended for its strategic partnership with a diverse range of systems integrators.
“Wonderware has critically differentiated itself from its peers by developing a manufacturing industry ecosystem which consists of a mix of channel partners, systems integrators, and end users with the added benefits of a unified platform,” reported Frost & Sullivan judges.
- Glenmount Global Solutions. The privately owned consulting and systems integration company, which has grown by way of three mergers over the past few years, received Frost & Sullivan’s Competitive Strategy and Delivery Excellence Award. The Frost & Sullivan analysts said Glenmount’s software implementation methodology lends itself to “maximum uptime and system maintainability delivered through proven technologies.”
Frost & Sullivan also praised Glenmount for its expertise and experience in implementing cyber-security for manufacturing IT systems. Glenmount focuses primarily on oil and gas, food and beverage, metals and mining, and waste water processing industries, said Vice President Troy Miller in an interview with Managing Automation.