While some vendors pitch one-technology-fits-all approaches to computing in industrial settings, most manufacturers are taking a buffet-table approach to their tech setups – taking the best-fitting solutions to each challenge rather than sticking to one framework.
That practice really shows up in the evolution of edge computing. While cloud-based software-as-a-services (SaaS) companies may pitch systems that can cover most client needs, many manufacturers prefer the local control and data management benefits that line-side computing offers. In our increasingly connected industrial world, the role that edge computing plays and the systems have changed considerably. However, local computing resources remain vital to smart manufacturing operations.