IT in Manufacturing


The power of unified namespace in the digital era

July 2023 IT in Manufacturing

In the rapidly evolving landscape of South African manufacturing, staying competitive means embracing digitalisation. One crucial aspect of this transformation should be the adoption of a unified namespace architecture. But what exactly is a unified namespace, and why is it so important? If you’ve managed to focus on manufacturing IT this past year, you’ll have noticed an increased chatter about the unified namespace, which is nothing new, really. Made famous by Walker Reynolds, the unified namespace turned the manufacturing industry on its head. This month, I’ll explore the significance of a unified namespace in South African manufacturing, the challenges it poses, and the promising future it holds for the industry’s digitalisation efforts.

The key role of unified namespace in South African manufacturing

Unified namespaces could be the backbone of digitalisation in South African manufacturing, providing a standardised approach to managing and accessing data and resources. Distributed systems all house data that can be acquired, collectively, through a common access point. Let’s take a closer look at how unified namespaces benefit the industry:

Data integration: Manufacturing plants generate vast amounts of data from different sources, such as production lines, machines and supply chain systems. Unified namespaces make data integration a breeze by establishing consistent naming conventions and structures. This integration unlocks valuable insights, empowering manufacturers to make data-driven decisions and optimise their production processes.

Device and asset management: In the diverse landscape of manufacturing, managing various devices and assets can be challenging. Unified namespaces bring order to this complexity by providing a standardised approach to managing and monitoring assets. With consistent naming and monitoring mechanisms, manufacturers can easily locate, maintain and optimise the performance of their assets, resulting in improved productivity and reduced downtime.

Process and workflow orchestration: Efficiency is the name of the game in manufacturing, and unified namespaces play a vital role in streamlining processes and workflows. By acting as a common language and structure, they facilitate seamless communication and collaboration among software applications, systems and devices. This enables efficient coordination and synchronisation of manufacturing operations, enhancing overall efficiency.

Virtualisation and simulation: Unified namespaces unlock a world of possibilities when it comes to virtualisation and simulation. By creating standardised representations of physical resources, manufacturers can develop virtual models and simulations. This allows them to test and optimise processes, perform virtual commissioning, and simulate different scenarios, before making changes in the physical environment.

Digital twins: Digital twins hold great promise for South African manufacturing, and there are many success stories. Unified namespaces make their implementation smoother. By providing a common framework for managing digital twins, manufacturers can bridge the gap between physical assets and their virtual counterparts. Digital twins enable predictive maintenance, performance optimisation and real-time monitoring, enabling manufacturers to unlock new levels of operational efficiency.

Challenges on the path to implementing unified namespace in South African manufacturing

While the benefits are clear, implementing a unified namespace architecture is not without its challenges. Let’s explore some of the hurdles specific to the local context.

Skills gap: The South African manufacturing industry faces a skills gap in digital technologies and IT expertise. This gap can impede the successful implementation of a unified namespace architecture. Here, the divide between IT and OT must be bridged to get the best of what digitalisation has to offer. No longer can you have one skill; the unified namespace requires an understanding of digital technologies and how use them.

Cost considerations: Like any transformative initiative, implementing a unified namespace architecture requires investments in infrastructure upgrades, retrofitting legacy systems, and training employees. Watching podcasts and reading about unified namespace success stories certainly makes the implementation process seem easy and cost-effective. However, limited budgets and financial constraints can pose challenges for South African manufacturers who want to ‘try something new’.

Regulatory compliance: South African manufacturing operates within a regulatory framework that emphasises data privacy, security and compliance. Implementing a unified namespace architecture requires careful consideration of these regulations to ensure data integrity, protection and compliance throughout the digitalisation journey. The industry has evolved to allow many platforms to speak the same language to share data. Whether this has a bearing on accepted standards utilised in certain plant processes, time will tell.

Collaboration and knowledge sharing: Successful digitalisation in South African manufacturing depends on collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholders – my pet peeve: IT and OT integration. Establishing platforms for collaboration, sharing best practices, and fostering a culture of innovation can address implementation challenges and accelerate the adoption of unified namespaces. The IT guys don’t know manufacturing, the manufacturing guys think they know IT.

Unified namespaces should be a game-changer for South African manufacturing, unlocking new levels of efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. While challenges such as the skills gap, cost considerations, regulatory compliance, and the need for collaboration between IT and OT exist, the benefits of a unified namespace architecture outweigh these obstacles.

By embracing this standardised approach to data acquisition and resource management, South African manufacturers can finally navigate the digital era with confidence, but it will take some work to do so.


About Lance Turner


Lance Turner

Lance Turner is an MES/IIT/OT specialist employed at Sasol’s Secunda plant. He has an honours degree in Information Systems and an Adv. Diploma in Industrial Data Communications, Networks and IT. A certified MESA MES/MOM student, his passion is amalgamating general IT across the manufacturing spectrum. Lance’s vision is for a converged IT and manufacturing discipline that will become the reality of Industry 4.0. His team motto is MES services that are always available, always stable, and always dependable. For more information contact Lance Turner, [email protected], www.lanceturner.co.za




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Fortifying the state in a time of cyber siege
IT in Manufacturing
In an era where borders are no longer physical, South Africa is being drawn into a new kind of conflict, one fought not with tanks and missiles, but with lines of code and silent intrusions. The digital battlefield is here, and cyber space has become the next frontier of conflict.

Read more...
Levelling up workplace safety - how gamification is changing the rules of training
IT in Manufacturing
Despite the best intentions, traditional safety training often falls short, with curricula either being too generic, too passive, or ultimately unmemorable. Enter gamification, a shift in training that is redefining how businesses train for safety and live by those principles.

Read more...
Reinventing data centre design: critical changes to meet surging
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
AI technologies are pushing the boundaries of what is possible which, in turn, is presenting data centres with a whole new set of challenges. Fortunately, several options are emerging which include optimising design and infrastructure for efficiency, cooling and management systems

Read more...
Watts next - can IT save the planet
IT in Manufacturing
The digital age’s insatiable demand for computing power has collided with an urgent and pressing need for sustainability. As data centres and AI workloads consume unprecedented energy, IT providers are pivotal in redefining how technology intersects with environmental stewardship.

Read more...
South Africa’s digital revolution:
IT in Manufacturing
South Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its technological evolution, poised to redefine itself as Africa’s leading digital powerhouse. Over the past two years, political leaders and media narratives have painted a picture of rapid digital transformation, underscoring the government’s ambition to position South Africa at the forefront of innovation.

Read more...
Smart manufacturing, APC and the
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Manufacturers are prioritising the integration of smart technologies into their daily operations to stay one step ahead of the competition. In South Africa, some experts believe the country has the potential to leapfrog its global peers through the creation of smart factories.

Read more...
Schneider Electric’s Five-Pillar Strategy takes the guesswork out of equip
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric’s Field Service Cycle, otherwise known as the Five-Pillar Strategy, is a structured approach to managing the lifecycle of equipment to prolong asset lifespan while reducing the total cost of ownership for customers.

Read more...
Enhancing operational safety and efficiency through advanced risk-based modelling
IT in Manufacturing
Now, more than ever, capital and operational cost can be reduced while enhancing operational safety and increasing production uptime by applying transformative methods such as Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling.

Read more...
Laying the groundwork in IT/OT
IT in Manufacturing
In the realm of manufacturing, the core mandate is to deliver value to stakeholders. For many in the industry, this is best achieved through a risk-averse approach. Only upon establishing a robust foundation should a business consider venturing into advanced optimisation or cutting-edge technological innovations such as industrial AI.

Read more...
Looking into the future of machine vision
Omron Electronics IT in Manufacturing
Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving a significant transformation in all areas of industrial automation, and machine vision is no exception. Omron’s AI-powered machine vision systems seamlessly integrate state-of-the-art algorithms, enabling machines to analyse and interpret visual data meticulously.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved