Dell to provide dedicated Yokogawa PC Models!

Yokogawa Electric Corporation has signed a contract with Dell Inc. for the global provision of PC models that are selected and customised for Yokogawa use. Under this contract, which was signed on August 20, Yokogawa will offer high-quality system solutions that utilise Dell PCs and Yokogawa industrial automation (IA) system-related products.

Background

High performance PCs that incorporate the latest technologies are being used more and more in the control systems field, for example, by replacing the dedicated terminals used as human machine interfaces and to connect with host systems. However, while a production control system usually remains in use for a period of one to two decades or even longer, new PC hardware, operating systems, and application software incorporating the latest technologies and offering ever higher levels of performance are continually being released. While incorporating this new PC hardware and software in a control system, the control system supplier must take care to ensure that the overall system continues to meet the highest quality standards. To satisfy this need and offer quality system solutions, Yokogawa has concluded this contract with Dell for the supply of dedicated Yokogawa PC models.

Scope of the contract and Yokogawa’s solution
Under the terms of the contract, Dell will supply PCs that have been tested to verify their compatibility with Yokogawa products. Yokogawa will globally distribute these PCs as Yokogawa certified models for use with its industrial automation system-related products, including the CENTUM(R) VP integrated production control system, ProSafe(R)-RS safety instrumented system, Plant Resource Manager (PRM(R)), and Exa series solution-based software. These PCs are “long-life” products that will remain available for twice as long as equivalent commercial off-the-shelf products. To meet a variety of operating conditions and installation requirements, they will be available in a rack-mount or desktop configuration with either a server or client operating system.

The provision of Dell PCs under the terms of this contract will enable Yokogawa to offer high quality system solutions. In addition, this will enable a reduction of maintenance costs. Key benefits are as follows:

1. Stable operation: As the PC hardware and OS to be used with the Yokogawa system-related products is set for a specified period of time, stable operation is ensured.
2. Fewer model changes: Because individual models are available for longer periods of time, model changes will be less of a concern when purchasing a new PC, either as an add-on or replacement.
3. One-stop maintenance service: Yokogawa’s maintenance service will cover both its system-related products and the PCs.

Regarding this contract, Chiaki Itoh, vice president and head of the IA Marketing Headquarters, comments, “How to combine IT and IA is an important management issue for manufacturers because they urgently need to strengthen their competitiveness in the global market and ensure that they are managed in a sustainable fashion. By making the best use of Yokogawa’s IA technologies and know-how accumulated over the years and Dell’s latest technologies and extensive supply chain, Yokogawa will continue to be able to offer its customers solutions that achieve the goals of our VigilantPlant initiative.”

“We are proud to partner with Yokogawa to help deliver next-generation industrial automation systems”, said Joyce Mullen, vice president and general manager OEM Solutions, Dell. “Yokogawa and Dell engineers are collaborating to deliver stable PC models tailored to the needs of control systems.”