Rockwell Automation recently introduced the FactoryTalk AssetCentre, a software tool that streamlines change management and helps manufacturers better leverage their automation assets.
Built on the FactoryTalk Services Platform, FactoryTalk AssetCentre provides manufacturers with a centralized tool for gathering, managing and securing data on automation assets such as control systems, drives and human-machine interface devices. The new application helps manufacturers quickly and efficiently respond to new opportunities, production changes or problems through a set of asset-centric tools designed to help improve production system security, minimize risk, maximize uptime and improve operational efficiency.
The FactoryTalk suite of plant-wide information software offers a solution to help manufacturers reduce costs and extend the life cycle of existing investments.
FactoryTalk AssetCentre expands that objective by helping manufacturers securely and centrally manage factory and process automation production environments by securing access to the control system, tracking users' actions, managing asset configuration files, configuring process instruments, and providing backup and recovery of operating asset configurations.
FactoryTalk AssetCentre provides many of the same capabilities included in the companys previous asset management software RSMACC, but is built from a framework designed to add support for additional devices and grow to better meet a users needs. Its evolving set of add-on capabilities helps manufacturers optimize and leverage factory automation and process device investments.
By using FactoryTalk AssetCentre, manufacturers can centrally track and manage changes through four key areas of functionality:
- Security Helps reduce unauthorized system access and controls authorized user actions using the security functionality within the FactoryTalk Services Platform.
- Audit Trail Records users actions within Rockwell Automation software applications and generates an audit trail that tracks user, device, computer, time and action taken. This record can help provide faster troubleshooting of system problems, improve user training, and improve regulatory compliance with laws such as 21 CFR Part 11.
- Archive Tracks versions of binary files and provides check-out and check-in capabilities. This helps manufacturers better manage version control and, ultimately, their applications.
- Disaster Recovery Provides automatic backup or backup and compare of an assets configuration to help the user view and analyze all changes that have been made to equipment on the plant floor.
FactoryTalk AssetCentre is part of the Asset Management production discipline in the FactoryTalk suite, which helps deliver distinct business benefits across six production disciplines common to most manufacturing operations.
