Driving Industrial Transformation: How Rockwell Automation Leads with Digital Integration
CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Sriram Paramanand, Director of Partnering at Rockwell Automation
- How Rockwell Automation, as a pioneer in industrial automation, is focusing on integrating digital technologies?
Rockwell Automation is advancing the integration of digital technologies by focusing on several strategic areas. At the core, our approach is to enhancing connectivity and IT/OT convergence on the shop floor, where machines are made smarter and more connected to deliver improved results for individual companies and the industry overall. By bringing IT and operational technology together, Rockwell enables real-time data flow and control that empower more agile and informed decision-making.
In addition to this, Rockwell supports OEMs throughout their journey—from the initial design stage to application development, data analytics, commissioning, and machine upgrades. Our solutions include high-speed decision-making tools that drive key performance indicators, Independent Cart Technology for precise motion control, and Augmented Reality applications that help build skills for the next generation of operators and engineers. Furthermore, Smart Machines offer real-time information capabilities, remote access, and integrated safety and plant automation features. These machines enable real-time data processing, turning insights into actions, enhancing safety, and providing comprehensive performance data that optimizes productivity.
Rockwell Automation also partners with technology leaders such as Cisco, Endress+Hauser, FANUC, and Microsoft. These collaborations bridge system gaps, provide pre-engineered solutions, integrate discrete control systems with networks, and enable operational intelligence through advanced data collection and analysis. Through these initiatives, Rockwell is empowering industries to make smarter, data-driven decisions that drive operational efficiency and innovation.
- How the systems offered by Rockwell Automation, such as digital twin software and IoT technologies, are advancing digital transformation in manufacturing?
Rockwell Automation is driving digital transformation in manufacturing by leveraging advanced technologies like digital twin software and IoT solutions that optimize performance and enhance operational visibility. For OEMs, the offering is extended across the manufacturing lifecycle—from design and application development to data analytics, commissioning, and machine upgrades—providing a comprehensive toolkit for manufacturers to achieve a connected enterprise. By implementing shopfloor IoT systems, Rockwell enables machine and cell-level visibility, facilitating seamless data flow across the supply chain, from suppliers through to end customers. This connected infrastructure supports high-speed decision-making, helping companies achieve better KPIs and respond quickly to operational needs.
A key part of Rockwell’s digital strategy is the Emulate3D dynamic Digital Twin technology, which allows manufacturers to simulate and test processes in a virtual environment before deploying them in the real world. This reduces the costs and risks associated with physical testing and accelerates time-to-market by allowing for pre-implementation validation. Emulate3D is particularly effective in material handling, machine demonstration, and baggage handling, offering a cost-effective solution that supports efficient market deployment, support, and maintenance.
In addition, Rockwell’s augmented reality solutions help operators build critical skills and perform complex tasks with greater confidence. Smart Machines take this one step further by integrating real-time information, remote access, and plant automation into a single platform. These machines transform data into actionable insights instantly—moving from data contextualization to analytics and optimization—allowing for more reliable, efficient operations. By embedding safety features and providing diagnostics through Smart Motor Control, Rockwell’s solutions enable manufacturers to achieve higher Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), minimize unscheduled downtime, and enhance workplace safety, further advancing the goals of digital transformation in manufacturing.
- How is Rockwell Automation collaborating with industry players to create integrated automation solutions for MSMEs to address specific challenges?
Rockwell Automation is actively partnering with industry leaders to develop integrated automation solutions tailored to the needs of MSMEs, addressing their unique challenges in operational efficiency, connectivity, and scalability. A key partnership with Cisco focuses on bridging the gap between the plant floor and the broader enterprise by establishing a unified network infrastructure, supported by specialized training, network design, and product offerings. This collaboration enables MSMEs to adopt an advanced, secure, and streamlined network setup that enhances data flow and operational visibility.
In the process industry, Rockwell Automation’s collaboration with Endress+Hauser, a global leader in measurement instrumentation, brings pre-engineered and validated solutions that improve measurement accuracy and process reliability, directly benefiting smaller enterprises seeking efficient solutions. Similarly, Rockwell partners with FANUC, a world leader in robotics and CNC systems, to provide the resources and products needed to integrate discrete control systems with networked infrastructure, making automation more accessible and flexible for MSMEs.
In partnership with Microsoft, Rockwell Automation integrates operational intelligence collection and analysis with business systems, enhancing team collaboration and data-driven decision-making.
Additionally, Rockwell’s extensive network of trusted distributors and system integrators is crucial to building customized, industry-specific solutions for MSMEs. Through these partnerships, Rockwell Automation delivers comprehensive automation solutions that empower MSMEs to overcome their specific operational challenges, achieve greater productivity, and remain competitive in the digital age.
- What are the key use cases of new-age technologies such as AI, IoT, robotics, blockchain, and AR/VR? How are you leveraging these solutions?
Rockwell Automation is embracing new-age technologies like AI, IoT, robotics, blockchain, and AR/VR to drive significant advancements in manufacturing and industrial automation. These technologies are integrated into Rockwell’s solutions across various stages of the OEM journey, from design and application development to data analytics, commissioning, and machine upgrades, providing end-to-end support for a connected enterprise.
One of Rockwell’s innovations, Independent Cart Technology, uses magnetics to enable precise motion control with frictionless propulsion. This results in fewer parts, lower energy consumption, and the ability to manage load starts and stops efficiently without excess wear, reducing operational costs and downtime. Our augmented reality (AR) solutions further enhance workforce training by allowing operators to gain skills for complex tasks in a simulated environment. The Emulate3D software provides an interactive platform to demonstrate and optimize automated systems for material handling and other applications, helping companies deploy and maintain systems more effectively.
Smart Machines by Rockwell offer real-time connectivity, safety integration, and remote access, enabling manufacturers to turn data into actionable insights for enhanced performance. These machines provide an integrated approach to data analysis—from contextualization to optimization—improving Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), reducing unscheduled downtime, and increasing safety. Smart Motor Control adds diagnostic capabilities, offering real-time performance insights that minimize breakdowns.
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is also a critical component of Rockwell’s solutions, offering real-time monitoring of equipment health and performance. This proactive approach helps manufacturers address potential issues before they lead to disruptions. Additionally, IIoT systems provide enhanced visibility into inventory and supply chain processes, which helps manufacturers manage stock levels and reduce both stockouts and overstock.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are key tools in predictive maintenance, enabling Rockwell to forecast equipment needs accurately and reduce downtime. AI also supports autonomous machines, allowing them to make real-time adjustments and optimize performance with minimal human intervention. Augmented Reality (AR) aids in training, remote support, and troubleshooting, which shortens training periods and improves worker safety. Cloud computing complements these technologies by offering a scalable solution for storing and analyzing the vast amounts of data generated, providing insights that improve operational efficiency and lower costs.
Through these advanced technologies, Rockwell Automation is at the forefront of digital transformation, delivering solutions that address the evolving needs of the manufacturing industry, particularly in enhancing efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
