Data + Infrastructure = Fuel for Bioeconomy Solutions
Recently the National Science and Technology Council released a forward-looking report called Vision, Needs, and Proposed Actions for Data for the Bioeconomy Initiative that presents the groundwork for seamless data access and use across experiments and platforms.
At Next Rung Technology we’ve seen planning and design through to the construction of commercial-size plants, and we work with our clients daily to share best practices around data management to create value and avoid missed learnings, so we thought we’d share so we thought we'd share some context and our insights on how to fuel the bold goals put forth by the Council.
Image courtesy of Biotree
Bioprocessing firms are being driven toward the interconnection, integration, synthesis, analysis, and use of a wide range of data, including those produced by the domains of omics, imaging, engineering production, environmental sciences, and automated bio analytics. More and more startups are starting to see the value in having 24/7 access to real-time and historical process and operations data that has been normalized and contextualized so it is ready for immediate analysis.
User-configurable dashboards with KPIs such as Overall Production Efficiency (OPE) and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) are typically used to quickly identify the root-cause of production issues to ensure production targets are met or exceeded.
Image from Evocon
Industry 4.0, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or i4.0, is the current trend of automation and business data exchange in manufacturing. It's a modern approach that combines physical production data with smart digital technology, machine learning, and business data. Novel I4.0 hardware and software agnostic products have emerged that enable data visibility for virtually any application.
Technology development firms need cost-effective methods of getting Operational Technology (OT) production data out from PLCs, VFDs and smart lab instruments into an easy-to-use platform that serves as a single point of data access and analysis. This platform is commonly referred to as a Unified Namespace (UNS).
A UNS will typically meet the following requirements:
UNS is the hub that connects all process automation, smart devices and IT infrastructure.
UNS is the single source of truth for all data and information in business.
UNS is the foundation for generating value from existing data without additional spend.
UNS is where the current state of business lives, enabling real-time snapshots of business and its relation to production.
Image from Opto22
With a UNS architecture, everyone across the company can access the data. A UNS can typically replace the functions being done in a Scientific Data Management System (SDMS).
UNS data can be both pushed-to and pulled-from private and public websites as desired. UNS data can be anomomized and then shared across cloud platforms, enabling unlimted data analysys options.
Next Rung Technology can help end users choose the current-best on-premises or cloud-based platform to support a data-driven R&D and manufacturing operations environment. Options here include scalable products from market leaders and disruptors such as Ignition from Inductive Automation, HighByte, and Canary Labs. Cloud-based data solution offerings from AWS and Azure offer additional options including AI/ML capabilities.
Next Rung concurs that data, coupled with a computational infrastructure, is indeed the fuel that will allow solutions for the bioeconomy’s challenges and bold goals – and we’re excited to be part of the solution with our clients!
Don’t hesitate to contact us with any inquiries or comments on this topic, we look forward to hearing from you.