Industrial Automation
HMIs that match how people actually run the machine — clear screens, sensible navigation, and PLC-aware integration with PanelView, Ignition, and peers.
Why we do this
HMIs sit between operators, technicians, and the control system. When screen architecture, alarming, and panel choice are an afterthought, people hunt for status, miss critical faults, and work around the interface instead of with it.
We consult on HMI and SCADA design so navigation, tagging, and workflows fit the process — including how EtherNet/IP or similar networks expose PLC tags to PanelView, Ignition, and other HMIs — and so the interface stays maintainable as the machine and the plant evolve.
How we do this
Consultation grounded in operator UX, panel selection, and real PLC / control-system integration — not screen mockups in isolation.
Clarify who uses the interface (operators, maintenance, supervisors), which decisions they make, and what “normal” vs. fault looks like on the floor.
Define overview, equipment, recipe/mode, and diagnostic views so navigation follows the machine — not a flat menu of every tag.
Discuss tag structures, modes, interlocks, and handshakes so the HMI reflects control reality — drives, zones, scanners, safety status — and stays consistent with ladder or structured logic.
Prioritize alarms, reduce noise, and make recovery paths visible so stoppages are diagnosable without tribal knowledge.
When needed, plan for remote clients, role-based views, and how operators collaborate across local panels and plant-level SCADA.
What we do
Representative ways we can help. Exact scope is defined with you for each engagement. Soft claims only — we consult around common HMI/SCADA ecosystems; we do not claim vendor certifications unless separately confirmed.
Hierarchy, naming, navigation patterns, and layout guidance that keep critical status visible and reduce hunting through nested screens.
Practical guidance choosing local HMI hardware (including PanelView-class panels) vs. plant SCADA clients such as Ignition — sizing, environment, networking, and lifecycle considerations.
How screens should bind to PLC tags, modes, and sequences so the HMI stays synchronized with the control program and commissioning stays orderly.
Alarm strategy, acknowledgment patterns, and remote/operator workflows that support shift handoff and faster recovery.
Consultation experience spans common HMI and SCADA hardware and software. Engagements often touch:
We help you choose and shape interfaces around the platform you already run — or evaluate options when you are still deciding — without forcing a single-vendor path.
Standards
A good HMI reduces mistakes under pressure. We draw on operator-centered HMI and alarm practices so screens stay readable, alarms stay meaningful, and navigation stays consistent across your line.
ISA-101 promotes situational awareness — clear hierarchy, restrained color, and displays that help operators see process state instead of fighting flashy graphics.
How we follow it: We structure screens by task, keep color meaningful (not decorative), and prioritize the information operators need during normal run and upset conditions.
Alarm management guidance that treats alarms as a designed system: rationalized priorities, clear response expectations, and fewer nuisance floods.
How we follow it: We help define alarm intent, priority bands, and wording so operators get actionable signals instead of a wall of noise — and document assumptions for your team to own long-term.
International alarm-system concepts that reinforce management of change, performance monitoring, and lifecycle ownership of alarms.
How we follow it: At a practical level we encourage measurable alarm performance, documented changes, and HMI presentation that matches your site’s alarm philosophy.
Plant floors are bright, dusty, and rushed — contrast, type size, and touch targets matter as much as the underlying PLC tags.
How we follow it: We specify contrast-friendly palettes, readable fonts, and navigation that works with gloves and glare, and we review screens with real operator workflows in mind.
Operators move faster when every machine and area follows the same wayfinding — overview → area → detail — with predictable controls.
How we follow it: We establish shared navigation patterns, faceplate conventions, and alarm acknowledgment behavior so training transfers across equipment.
Tell us about the operators, the PLC/control stack, and the pain points on today’s screens — we can outline a practical consultation path.
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