SCADA suggested by HSIT

The potential applications of SCADA technology are diverse, because many industries require the comprehensive monitoring and control capabilities that SCADA offers. In most applications, SCADA is used to manage a physical process (manufacturing and water processing are common). In other uses of the word "SCADA", a telecom or IT system

of communications is being managed instead.

Here are a few of the most common applications for SCADA systems that we in HSIT suggests:
Manufacturing

In manufacturing environments, SCADA is used to make sure that productivity targets are met and all systems run smoothly. The SCADA system in place on a production line tracks how many units have been produced and how many are in various stages of completion. Analog values like temperature at various production stages are also measured. Imagine how important it is to know the temperature of molten metal that must be formed into usable products.

Food Production

Very similar to manufacturing, food production is a major SCADA application. If temperature is important for equipment manufacturing, it is absolutely critical for the mass production of delicate foods. If temperature
varies more than a few degrees, entire batches can fall out of acceptable specifications. This generates a lot of wasteful expense, which makes deployment of a SCADA system absolutely critical. The movement of liquid and solid ingredients and mixtures through the production process is also tracked by SCADA.

Electric and Gas Utilities

Utility companies, particularly gas utilities, suffer the combined headaches of manufacturing and telecom companies. They have to move a physical product (electricity isn't considered very physical, but it creates many more concerns than data transmission) through their systems, and they are spread out across gigantic territories. This makes utility environments a natural application for SCADA devices. They need to control the movement of electricity and gas through the distribution chain and also keep the supporting telecom infrastructure online.

Wastewater Treatment

The conversion of wastewater back into potable drinking water can really be thought of as another type of
manufacturing process that delivers the world's most critical commodity. Flow rate sensors are extremely common in wastewater processing centers, as are contaminant sensors.

Telecom and Information Technology (IT)

Although not generally known as "SCADA" in telecommunications environments, a large number of professional do use this term to describe remote monitoring and control systems in these industries. Realistically, telecom is simply a near-instantaneous production environment, with bits of data instead of parts or food products. Monitoring temperature of servers and other delicate equipment is common when SCADA is used in this particular application. Monitoring the dedicated alarm contact closures of various equipment is also popular, as is monitoring against physical intrusions into remote sites using magnetic door sensors and passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors.