How 4th Generation HMI / SCADA Improves Manufacturing and Industrial Operations
Author Sticky
Prasad Pai
GE Vernova’s Proficy® Software & Services
Feb 07, 2025
3 Minute Read
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Introduction
Have you ever been to World of Coke in Atlanta? It is a big treat to visit the World of Coke and try more than 100 flavors of soda from around the globe. And, wow! There are beverages from every part of the world—Bibo Candy Pine-Nut from Africa, the non-alcoholic aperitif Beverly from Italy, Fanta Melon Frosty from Thailand, Inca Kola from Peru, and much more. Yes, you really can try every single soda in the tasting room!
“Bottling” Automation
Improve business outcomes
In addition to the tastings, you can enjoy the Bottling Works—which includes GE Vernova’s Proficy HMI/SCADA software. Visitors at the center can easily see how an automation screen relates to bottling. That’s the beauty of traditional HMI/SCADA screens–they look like what they represent.
But what if those screens could have even more impact? On the operators who have to utilize them, and on the business overall. As an HMI/SCADA leader, GE Vernova provides fourth generation HMI/SCADA software with designs that look different, and studies show that they can improve business outcomes.
In addition to the tastings, you can enjoy the Bottling Works—which includes GE Vernova’s Proficy HMI/SCADA software. Visitors at the center can easily see how an automation screen relates to bottling. That’s the beauty of traditional HMI/SCADA screens–they look like what they represent.
But what if those screens could have even more impact? On the operators who have to utilize them, and on the business overall. As an HMI/SCADA leader, GE Vernova provides fourth generation HMI/SCADA software with designs that look different, and studies show that they can improve business outcomes.
"As an HMI/SCADA leader, GE Vernova has released its fourth generation HMI/SCADA software with designs that look different, and studies show that they can improve business outcomes."
According to GE Vernova’s research tracking eye movements and operator response, the fourth generation, high performance HMI/SCADA technology can provide the following results:
- less time spent navigating
- faster finding critical data
- improvement in alarm resolution success
- faster to identify relevant screen for an alarm
- increase in usability
- faster build/deployment
The new look may not make as much sense to a visitor who doesn’t know the process, but it has obvious advantages for operators and technicians to support decisions and speed the right response.
As Sergio Chavez, Automation Engineer with the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power, observed. “With high performance HMI/SCADA, operators are able to quickly determine an abnormal situation and get to the root causes of many issues. We help operators visualize a process and make alarms very visible. We’re shaving the time it takes for operators to act on a situation.”
As Sergio Chavez, Automation Engineer with the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power, observed. “With high performance HMI/SCADA, operators are able to quickly determine an abnormal situation and get to the root causes of many issues. We help operators visualize a process and make alarms very visible. We’re shaving the time it takes for operators to act on a situation.”
High Performance Visualization
High performance visualization: It’s the real thing
Instead of HMI/SCADA screens with many objects and lots of color, high performance or efficient HMI screens are simple, with less color. This helps operators quickly identify problems and causes for fastest resolution.
Instead of HMI/SCADA screens with many objects and lots of color, high performance or efficient HMI screens are simple, with less color. This helps operators quickly identify problems and causes for fastest resolution.
In earlier generation HMI/SCADA systems, users took advantage of object libraries and extensive color palettes. Those are still important today, but we also know that well-designed visualization and intelligent warnings are critical.
This fourth generation version still provides the much-loved iFIX and CIMPLICITY that has been automating and improving operations for decades – but it delivers a new look and other powerful features available too.
This fourth generation version still provides the much-loved iFIX and CIMPLICITY that has been automating and improving operations for decades – but it delivers a new look and other powerful features available too.
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