Introducing The OT Crowd

Show notes

In the inaugural episode of The OT Crowd, hosts Jarie Bolander, David DeBari, and Andrew explore how Open Process Automation could reduce vendor lock-in, address obsolescence, and bring modern IT capabilities to operational technology — while accounting for the safety needs of industrial environments.

The conversation traces the origins of Open Process Automation, discusses the role of industry standards, and considers the challenges facing OT today, including cybersecurity, usability, and the retirement of experienced practitioners.

Watch on YouTube.

In this episode

• David DeBari shares his experience across nearly four decades in process control and 21 major control-system projects.
• Andrew introduces his work in industrial control systems and Open Process Automation.
• The hosts discuss how obsolescence, proprietary platforms, and limited interoperability helped motivate the Open Process Automation movement.
• David describes the development of the Open Process Automation Forum through collaboration among end users and vendors.
• The group compares industrial automation standards with familiar technologies such as USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet.
• The hosts consider how OT can benefit from modern IT capabilities while respecting the safety requirements of industrial operations.
• They discuss cybersecurity, usability, and the loss of experienced practitioners as important challenges for the industry.
• The episode closes with the show’s mission: to help people understand what open automation makes possible and why it matters.

Timestamps

• 00:00 — Introducing The OT Crowd
• 00:34 — David’s process-control experience
• 02:47 — Andrew’s work in industrial control systems
• 04:01 — Why the industry is embracing open systems
• 05:27 — Proprietary systems and the innovation gap
• 07:24 — The obsolescence problem behind Open Process Automation
• 08:24 — The Open Process Automation Forum takes shape
• 09:53 — Open automation moves from idea to production
• 11:56 — The challenge of developing standards
• 13:27 — What USB and Bluetooth teach us about interoperability
• 15:57 — The business case for standardization
• 17:15 — OT and IT: different paths of progress
• 18:38 — Cybersecurity and usability challenges
• 19:08 — Passing on knowledge as experienced practitioners retire
• 20:06 — Why open automation is practical today
• 20:40 — What’s ahead for The OT Crowd

Next: What Is OPA? Part 1.