In recent years, thanks to further advances in digitalization, the ongoing convergence of OT and IT, and the overall digital transformation of industry and infrastructure, the process industries are gradually moving from “automated” to “autonomous” operations in selected areas. This may also be referred to as "Autonomation". This move presents the opportunity to further advance safe operations and improve overall business value. Furthermore, in addition to minimizing the inevitable human errors, autonomous operations could go a long way toward helping solve the growing issue of finding qualified personnel to run these facilities, many that operate continuously, 24/7. With artificial intelligence (AI)-driven autonomous systems making decisions related to both normal and abnormal operations, this burden could potentially be removed from humans.
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