The key is to increase efficiency by sending data from the lowest levels of the industrial field to the highest levels.
"When you need to think about gathering, collecting, and delivering large amounts of data, rather than just the data itself."

Hilscher's perspective on IIoT is to gather data from various edge locations and combine IT and OT to create meaningful information. He announced that he will present methods for elevating data from the lowest levels of the field to the highest levels, along with the pros and cons of doing so. He also explained that the focus should not be on how much data is being sent, but rather on how to collect the data and what information should be conveyed for efficiency.

Ahead of the seminar, we interviewed Wonilmin, CEO of Hillshire, to learn about IIoT strategies, technology plans, and solutions, and to discuss the company's focus on the IIoT sector.

Won Il-min, CEO of Hillshire Korea

- What is the concept of IIoT viewed by Hilscher, a German company that can be said to be the starting point of the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
Hilscher sees IIoT and Industry 4.0 as a combination of IT and OT technologies. In actual fields or factory semiconductor production lines, data has never been exchanged through a company's ERP system. However, with the advent of the Internet of Things, Hilscher sees IIoT as a process where data from the lowest levels of the industrial workplace, in any format, is received through ERP and used for maintenance and efficiency improvements, such as for new plant construction. He believes three key considerations are crucial in connecting IT and OT: ensuring seamless customer experience, ensuring information exchange without data loss, and addressing security concerns.

The key is to gather data from various edge locations and create meaningful information. What does Hillscher consider to be meaningful information?
I'd like to illustrate with two examples. First, the temperature of the CP of a robot controller on-site wasn't previously monitored by a PLC. However, by leveraging IoT, data such as temperature, operating rate, and downtime can be monitored and uploaded to a higher level. If the data were readily available, the CP temperature of 100 robot controllers would all be similar. However, if the temperature of one is high, maintenance personnel can determine that a component in that robot controller may be failing. Then, they can receive this data and focus on one of the 100 robots. Preemptive inspections using IoT can save time and money. Furthermore, Hilscher believes that this valuable information can serve as backbone data for future factory construction, reducing costs by reducing the number of robots and devices.

There are many security issues, such as DDoS attacks and IoT device malfunctions caused by hacking. What do you think are the requirements for IIoT security?
There are five core security requirements commonly recognized across the industry: Network communications, including between devices, edge devices, and devices and the cloud, must be secure. Data must not be manipulated. Devices and software must not be manipulated. ▲Data within the device must be encrypted. ▲Operational data on the device must be recorded and stored.

If these conditions are met, the security issue will be resolved. Most security companies offer systems and solutions to implement this. In the case of Hillshire, the security solution is being developed through collaboration with other companies.

- Hillscher makes PC cards and modules, as well as its own ASIC called netX. Is there a specific reason for this?
First, when developing field buses in the past, we purchased and used chips. However, we anticipated the arrival of the Ethernet market, and since Ethernet chips were unavailable at the time, we felt the need to develop multi-protocol chips. Therefore, we began developing netX in 1995 and released it in 2005. All of Hilscher's products are based on netX.

Second, PC cards, embedded systems, modules, and gateways are easily replaceable. However, ASICs offer the advantage of being irreplaceable. Creating an Ethernet board with a single netX allows you to implement various functions, such as master and sleeve, depending on the protocol.

- From a business perspective, what does Hillscher see as the future of industrial automation in Korea in 2018?
Investment is expected to be similar to last year's level. However, ironically, in a year of high investment, there is no equipment development. As demand for semiconductor equipment increases, everyone must focus on the field, leaving little room for development investment. Therefore, just like last year, we predict no companies will pursue IIoT-based development in 2018. Fortunately, efforts are being made in schools and government agencies to support IIoT. However, the direction of education remains unclear. Because IoT offers so many advantages and applications, it's impossible to provide clear training on its use beyond its functional aspects. This is something that even healers are concerned about.

CEO Won Il-min stated, "I question whether transmitting all information is truly a good idea." He added, "It's time to consider not just how much data to send to the cloud, but also how to go beyond data connectivity to real-time processing, data gathering, collection, and delivery methods." He also announced that he would convey the importance of this through a seminar.