The situation today is different than it has been before, and here is why. In the past, most devices and equipment in industrial control systems where largely based on embedded programming.
Then some things happened......the maturing of web stacks and applications, and IP networking. This brought in an additional layer "above" the PLC and HMI. From there an appetite for data started developing, and hasn't stopped growing since.
This then brought in a new group of people into the environment that are software engineering oriented. Both groups began learning from each other. By the way, this made automation cool, where before almost no one knew about it.
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Our company, Controlling Automation, has created a program called "Operating Intelligence",
...and it is the premier development program for what today's plants need.
Everything has change, and it changed fast. You need strong people who know a lot, can do a lot and can adapt to what is still coming.
I write posts and articles to teach everything I can, as fast as I can.
If you want focused and managed delivery, contact me through DM and we can setup a meeting to discuss what you need done.