Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1493443
FEBRUARY 2023 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 73 interact with the equipment really start to pay off. Integration is a big challenge because there's not just one standard out there on how to communicate with a piece of equipment. Every supplier has their own method, and in some cases, we're having to interact directly with the PLCs of the equipment itself to be able to automate the process. Frank, as you know, so much of what we do is transitioning to a digital model. Digital twin and the like are moving data around digitally, which must make security more important than ever. Frank Harrill: One of the nice things about this project is that it's a greenfield effort. We can instantiate every control that we need from the ground up, and we've done that here. Both John and Jessi worked very hard to make that happen. One technology that we are apply- ing is soware-defined networking, which is a technology SEL developed and refined specifically for operational technology envi- ronments. We're able to use that technology to ensure that all flows are visible, and only expected communication with the appropri- ate permissions are permitted across our net- works. Hall: We're in a somewhat r ural loca- tion, so in addition to having the r ight par tner, we want to ensure that we have employees who are ready to suppor t our equipment and facil- ities from star t-up to obsolescence. Our maintenance and engineering teams are extremely involved in all aspects of equipment selection and installation. Our first step is ensuring we have the right folks in place who are eager to learn and teach and that they have the training they need to succeed. at's an area where John's team really shines. Hendrickson: I completely agree. A lot of shops in the United States today don't have the resources or strong maintenance teams, so that's another benefit we have. Our teams have shown that they're capable of doing things right. ere have been plenty of struggles in this process, but our team has been very resil- ient and flexible. Our maintenance team's main job is to focus on equipment; to be successful in this project, they've had to be plumbers, electricians—you name it, they've stepped up and done it. e level of integration that we want poses the biggest challenge, and that's where our resources and the security we put in place to Jessi Hall Technician working in the wet laboratory. Another technician working in the wet laboratory.