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The traditional approach to programming industrial automation systems, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and robots, has been devoid of modern software development best practices. Meanwhile, as the industrial landscape evolves towards greater factory automation, the management of automation software becomes crucial. Implementing DevOps methodology on cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) can significantly improve automation software development efficiencies and save lifecycle costs.
Unlike IT, the operational technology (OT) domain suffers from organizational as well as proprietary PLC vendor technology stack silos—for example, mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and control engineering teams as well as proprietary PLC vendor technology stacks—necessitating the centralization and abstraction of automation development across the silos to bring full DevOps functionality to users. While the DevOps cycle in IT is defined through stages like code, build, test, release, deploy, operate, monitor, and implement feedback, the challenges in OT are weighted by the link between coding and their associated physical assets—such as automated machines on a factory floor—that are remote and often inaccessible in real time to the automation coders. AWS and its system of partners provide a centralized platform and DevOps tools to overcome these challenges.