HMI or SCADA

Human Machine Interface (HMI)

The Human Machine Interface (HMI) systems usually run on industrial touch screen or keypad panels. The HMI serves as an interface between the operator and the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). This allows the operator to easily moitor your process and control your process equipment. Most HMI's can use limited graphics to help the operator understand how your process is presently running. Some HMI systems can also print alarms, print reports, and provide limited trending.

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)

The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) is based on an HMI, but with more functionality and flexibility. The SCADA system can print alarms, print Daily, Weekly, and/or Monthly reports, database electronic copies of reports, database historical data, retrieve historical data in a trending format, access other non-proprietary programs (MS Word, MS Excel, etc.), etc. Most SCADA systems are run on desktop computers or servers. This also gives them the capability of using non-proprietary communications, like Ethernet.

This enables more flexibility in storing historical databases on other machines or backup devices.