Simatic HMI

The interface between human and machine the human machine interface or HMI for short connects the world of automation with the individual requirements of the operator.
Operator control and monitoring is about managing the process, about optimizing machine and system operation, about availability and productivity.

Everything from a single source

With SIMATIC HMI, Siemens A&D offers a complete spectrum of innovative and low-cost products and systems for the multi-faceted tasks of operator control and monitoring: Ranging from operator panels and visualization software for operator control and monitoring at the machine through to SCADA systems for widely differing requirements in process visualization. Products are available which are specifically adapted to the needs of special industrial sectors, such as operator panels with stainless steel fronts especially designed for use in the food and beverages industry. Of course, individual, customer-specific requirements can also be implemented.

Perfectly equipped for integration in the world of automation

With their open, standardized interfaces in hardware and software, SIMATIC HMI products can be integrated at any time in the production and automation level as well as in the company management level. Connectability to almost every controller on the market as well as multiple language capability of the configuring and visualization software - including Asian ideographic languages, of course facilitate operation worldwide.

Increased production transparency through Plant Intelligence

Plant Intelligence is based on the rational use of information to improve processes within the company. It is designed to lower plant costs, consolidate and improve quality, avoid wastage, utilize production facilities better and ultimately ensure greater efficiency and cost effectiveness within the company. WinCC provides the best requirements for achieving this since WinCC features an integrated Historian for acquiring important production data. Using intelligent functions and tools, these process data can be edited into information necessary for making decisions and can be made available throughout the company whenever and wherever it is required for operators as well as production managers or anyone else within the company. Even the WinCC basic system provides a wealth of display and evaluation functions, such as the statistics function for the message and measured value logs. WinCC options for IT & business integration make additional "smart" tools available for optimizing production using Plant Intelligence.

Integrated into the World Wide Web

SIMATIC HMI makes the Internet into a control desk within a plant as well as in the worldwide network. Using the WinCC/Web Navigator, you can monitor and operate plants over the Internet or over the internal corporate intranet. Thin client solutions can be used to integrate rugged, local devices which simultaneously establish the connection between the automation level and the control center. And over a wireless LAN or cell phone connection, you can use mobile thin clients such as laptop computers, PDAs (personal digital assistants) or WebPads. In this way, process, service or management information can be made individually available to users. At the machine level, many control units support remote operation, e.g. as a link between the automation level and the control room through to service and diagnostics over the Internet.

With WinCC flexible, concepts with so-called Sm@rtClients and servers facilitate plant-wide access to variables and graphics, distributed operator stations as well as remote operation and diagnostics via the Internet also in conjunction with SIMATIC Panels.

Traceability and simple validation

WinCC flexible and WinCC with "FDA options" provide a high degree of support to machine and plant manufacturers who must fulfill high quality requirements, both with respect to the products to be manufactured as well as to the manufacturing processes themselves. These options simplify plant validation enormously and thus provide the most convincing and comprehensive solution for the requirements of these sectors. They support the user in fulfilling high quality requirements asp specified by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) 21 CFR Part 11 for the food, beverages and pharmaceutical industries.

Increased plant availability

All operator panels and Panel PCs are designed for harsh industrial use. Redundant WinCC process visualization systems ensure a high degree of plant availability during normal operation. The ProAgent process diagnostics of SIMATIC HMI supports you effectively with error locating and elimination and significantly reduces downtimes.

More than just operator control and monitoring

The Multi Panels under Windows CE combine the advantages of two worlds: On the one hand, the ruggedness of an operator panel and on the other hand the flexibility typical of a PC. Apart from classical operator control and monitoring, other automation functions such as control functions can execute simultaneously. And for PC-based automation, the SIMATIC Panel PCs are available as a compact automation platform the embedded versions being especially compact and rugged as well as maintenance-free.

All the advantages of Totally Integrated Automation

With Totally Integrated Automation (TIA), Siemens is the only supplier who offers a system-wide, integrated product and system range for automating the complete production workflow. The distinguishing feature of TIA is that it is completely integrated. The reduced number of interfaces results in very clear structures. This reduces time and costs required for engineering the automation solution and increases the availability of the plant.

SIMATIC WinCC flexible, the system-wide engineering tool for the SIMATIC HMI operator panels, is part of TIA and uses the same database as STEP 7, the programming software for the SIMATIC Controllers. This saves input overhead and ensures data consistency at all times.

In conjunction with other SIMATIC components, SIMATIC HMI also supports system diagnostics and process diagnostics during normal operation. You can start STEP 7 diagnostics directly from WinCC for comprehensive error diagnostics from the circuit diagram through to the PLC program. And with SIMATIC ProAgent, process error diagnostic messages from the controller can be displayed on the operator panels or visualization systems without any extra project costs for the HMI system and without additional diagnostic instruments.

A competent partner for automation solutions

With SIMATIC HMI, you not only get excellent products to suit your requirements, we will also support you with selecting a partner for your automation solution. In our worldwide network of Siemens Automation Solution Partners, you will find competent contact partners in your area who are always up-to-date with SIMATIC HMI technology. The Siemens-internal WinCC Competence Centers implement technology-specific products as well as customer and sector-specific solutions on the basis of WinCC. WinCC specialists are external system integrators who combine their WinCC expertise with their sector and technology know-how to create tailor-made, cost-effective solutions. Numerous products from our partners that perfectly interact with WinCC are available as WinCC Add-ons.

Investment protection is included

Our many years of experience in the automation engineering sector are to your advantage. The same applies to our global service network with its expert support. Further services, such as a software update service, training, ordering over the Internet, etc. round off what we have to offer.