Facing the Global Health Emergency: How Automation Aids in Maintaining Our Fundamental Life Requirements

The surge of digitalization has been ongoing for years and has further been accelerated by the recent pandemic outbreak, as individuals are compelled to adopt a more digital lifestyle (internet-based shopping, remote work, and virtual classes). However, ensuring the provision of essential life prerequisites hinges on the uninterrupted supply and manufacture of materials and timely distribution. In the initial stages of the pandemic, individuals worldwide began hoarding essential products out of fear of scarcities, due to reduced labor force and supply chain disturbances in the manufacturing sector. Consequently, while people were confined to their homes, factories globally underwent rapid digitalization to adapt to the new circumstances.

The pandemic exacerbated the challenges for manufacturers

At the dawn of 2020, amidst the shadow of COVID-19, people around the globe rushed to clear stores of vital supplies like flour, canned goods, and cooking oil. This, coupled with stringent export restrictions enforced by governments, placed immense strain on manufacturers, testing their capability to maintain a healthy supply-demand equilibrium, hold safety stocks, and sustain production processes. The situation was especially tough for food producers who traditionally depended on foreign specialists to uphold their operations. With travel restrictions in place, where could they find experts to service and calibrate their production machinery?

Besides the food sector, the pandemic also compelled precision component and semiconductor manufacturers to reassess their operational strategies. To safeguard confidential data, manufacturers have typically relied on isolated networks and avoided interconnected devices to minimize security vulnerabilities. However, this setup necessitates on-location calibration and servicing of production equipment by specialized technicians dispatched by the equipment suppliers. This approach is both costly and inefficient. On average, it could take at least two days from the service request to the technicians’ arrival on-site. Additionally, factories often have to bear the travel expenses of these specialists, adding to the already substantial downtime costs.

Can remote maintenance be the solution? And what about data security?

While equipment malfunctions may occur due to various reasons, more than half of them can be rectified remotely. Only a few complex issues mandate physical inspection and maintenance by onsite personnel. Implementing remote troubleshooting can significantly reduce the maintenance expenses for factories. Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, remote maintenance has emerged as a viable solution for many enterprises, prompting equipment providers to enhance their support services.

Despite the theoretical benefits of remote maintenance, many factory owners remain hesitant to adopt this technology. The primary concern is not the initial investment but rather data security. Factory operators are eager to shield their networks from external cyber threats. To enable remote support, factory owners would need to expose their equipment to external networks. Without adequate cybersecurity measures, two possible scenarios may unfold: 1) Sensitive production data is pilfered during transmission over external networks; 2) Cybercriminals disrupt factory operations through malware or viruses, plunging the production process into disarray. Both scenarios could lead to severe damages and financial losses for the factory owners.

Industrial cybersecurity is evolving and imperative for any network

For instance, consider YNY Technology, the 4th fastest-growing company in Malaysia. Their core operations revolve around digitalizing manufacturing plants, such as MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) and CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems). With a diverse client base worldwide, the technical team must offer sustained maintenance support across different countries and time zones. Well before the pandemic, YNY acknowledged the potential of remote services in catering to clients and was actively advocating for it as a viable solution. According to Jeffery Wong, senior business unit manager at YNY Technology, “Customer apprehensions about cybersecurity posed the most significant obstacle.”

Traditionally, remote maintenance has been facilitated through software solutions like remote desktop connections (RDC) and virtual private networks (VPN), each with its own drawbacks. In the case of RDC, if whitelist permissions are not configured properly, malicious actors could potentially access all equipment-related information within the compromised network, including sensitive production data. Additionally, apart from basic IP configurations, managing remote connections entails dedicated IT resources for planning and maintaining the network segment to ensure optimal security. Most factories lack specialized IT staff, and manufacturing engineers are generally not adept at information security protocols.

Beyond a mere tool, digital technology enriches our lives

In the aftermath of the pandemic outbreak, remote maintenance emerged as a lifeline for the manufacturing landscape. Manufacturing entities and equipment suppliers have been exploring ways to overcome the hurdles introduced by the pandemic. For example, some vendors leverage mixed reality (MR) technology to offer remote installation and maintenance services. YNY recognized the advantages of remote maintenance for manufacturers at an early stage, enabling clients to address other challenges or opportunities arising from the pandemic.

For instance, one of YNY’s clients in Kenya, a major producer of edible oils in the region, faced disruptions in oil imports due to the pandemic. This supply chain disturbance posed a severe challenge, as Kenya’s reliance on imported oils significantly hampered local production. This placed immense pressure on domestic edible oil manufacturers like YNY’s client. However, it also presented a unique growth opportunity for the local manufacturer. This made sustainable long-term maintenance and support a critical aspect of their operations. In this scenario, YNY implemented Moxa Remote Connect (MRC), an integrated cloud-based maintenance solution, to deliver secure remote maintenance services efficiently.

MRC grants users real-time access to machine calibration and maintenance services, particularly useful in situations with inadequate on-site support personnel. MRC addresses concerns where companies require secure remote maintenance but fear potential security risks. The MRC framework offers numerous benefits, such as encrypted VPN technology, resolving the perpetual dilemma between internet exposure and solid cybersecurity. For YNY’s client, the plug-and-play functionality allowed on-site staff and remote engineers to seamlessly use the solution without any extensive VPN knowledge. Moreover, MRC alleviated the burden on IT personnel, with a robust embedded firewall incorporating whitelist controls to maintain a secure environment without disrupting the network. To streamline remote servicing further, engineers could simultaneously connect to multiple field devices through a virtual IP mapping system. Previously, where flying in overseas engineers would take more than two days, now onsite problems can be resolved in just two hours, showcasing how remote maintenance transcends the geographical constraints of conventional support services. Coupled with robust cybersecurity measures, MRC enabled the edible oil producer to sustain consistent production of such a critical commodity during these testing times.

The landscape of industrial digitalization bears dual facets. When managed effectively, it can elevate the standard of living and revolutionize established work methodologies, as demonstrated by the Kenyan edible oil manufacturer case. Nonetheless, if mishandled or undertaken without due deliberation, it can pose risks, especially to security. By centering on imbuing cybersecurity as an indispensable layer of digital transformation, we can enhance our work and life experiences with a sense of assurance.

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