Better Operations Begin with The Right Team Managing Your OT Network

Plant-level communications are what allow your machines to trade information and carry out production safely and efficiently. This real-time data exchange happens on an OT network, where machines come together for unified coordination. (For example, when a SCADA and MES see a filler machine complete a cycle, you have your OT network to thank.)

In consumer packaged goods (CPG) environments, OT networks need to be managed proactively to ensure efficient, reliable and secure operations and minimal downtime.

So, who’s running your CPG plant’s OT network—and who should be? It’s not a choice to be made lightly. This is a mission-critical role that supports operational reliability, cybersecurity posture, bandwidth availability, and safety and compliance. Decisions about who takes on OT network management can have lasting impacts. Mismanagement creates operational inefficiencies, disrupts production and even compromises safety.

What it takes to manage OT networks effectively

The team responsible for OT network performance and management often varies from plant to plant. Sometimes the IT department is in charge; other times, it’s a SCADA engineer or OT network administrator. But who you put in charge can make all the difference in terms of efficiency and reliability.

To ensure operational success in CPG environments, the team overseeing your OT network should be able to:

• Prioritize availability and real-time operation
• Understand the legacy systems, proprietary protocols and specialized equipment that interact with and rely on the network
  
  
• Recognize the unique vulnerabilities of OT systems and how to protect them from threats
  
  
• Carefully coordinate IT and OT networks, understanding the operational and security implications of bringing them together
  
  
• Abide by appropriate safety and operational regulations
  
  
• Ensure that network operations align with plant-level targets and objectives

Putting someone in charge of your OT network who doesn’t have these capabilities will likely introduce risks into your operations. Despite this, it’s still quite common to find the IT team managing the plant’s OT network using IT equipment.

Many leaders believe that no one in OT has the technical ability or network background to take on the task. (It’s a network, after all, and isn’t IT trained to oversee networks?) While it’s true that OT teams may lack traditional IT knowledge and education, this doesn’t mean they can’t handle the task. In fact, it’s something OT team members can easily manage on their own—if there are solutions in place to empower them to take on the job with confidence.

Your CPG plant likely wouldn’t put a SCADA or controls engineer in charge of the IT network because they lack the training to navigate IT systems and priorities. The same holds true here. In most cases, the professionals best suited for OT network management are OT personnel.

The benefits of OT-managed OT networks

Especially in CPG environments where IT has long managed the OT network, it can be challenging to transition to an OT-managed OT network.

By offering complete connection solutions tailored to industrial environments, Belden makes OT network management simpler for OT teams. We serve as your trusted advisor, making sure IT and OT find common ground and feel represented as their networks and departments work together and leverage their strengths.

With solutions that enable functionalities like automated device discovery, real-time network monitoring and streamlined configuration, we reduce the complexity of OT network management so you can take a more active role. Your OT team will be able to manage its network confidently, even if they don’t have a background in networking.

This presents all kinds of new opportunities for CPG plants, including:

• Faster changes and additions to the plant network so new and legacy equipment can work together and emerging technology can be introduced, such as IIoT and edge analytics 
  
  
• Reduced downtime to minimize production disruptions
  
  
• Quicker issue resolution since OT professionals are familiar with OT equipment and processes
  
  
• Better alignment with operational goals surrounding production efficiency, safety and compliance
  
  
• Adapting network operations to support shifts in demand due to new product launches or seasonal spikes
  
  
• Planning maintenance and updates during non-productive hours
  
  
• Making sure sensor and device data is accurate and used to improve production

Learn how we help CPG plants connect to what’s possible.

Related links:

• Why IT-OT Convergence Is Critical for CPG Transformation
• CPG Plant Data: Your Secret Weapon to Boost Customer Loyalty
• Why You Need to Know—and Reduce—Your CPG Plant’s True Downtime Costs