1. Version control is not required; our production plant has been operating well for years without this kind of software assistance.

You can never be certain that the software version managing your facility matches your most current shared version without contemporary version control and synchronized upload, download, and comparison processes. You'll also be operating your production largely in the dark without a comparison of the online (production facility) and offline (server) statuses or a detailed (graphical) representation of various versions!For this very reason, modern version control systems provide a secure backup method. They even function on other sites. You can also synchronize backup data from distributed production facilities through a central storage site, allowing you to compare changes between versions.

2. Version control system implementation is costly and hazardous.

The era of enormous servers and protracted software implementation is over. A version control system may now be set up with relatively little effort thanks to modern software; it can even be run directly from a USB stick. A central server and any number of installed clients are all that are required. Users can work offline and check in updated versions at a later time thanks to the server-client architecture. Additionally, the intelligent user management (automatic synchronization via Active Directory) guards against unauthorized access and automatically records who made what modifications when.

3. The main purpose of a version control system is to streamline the current workforce.

Qualified workers continue to be a crucial and essential resource, even in highly automated production operations. Auxiliary software programs can never be more clever than their users and programmers. The correct and diligent maintenance of data is especially important in the field of data management. The goal is to automate as many time-consuming and low-skill processes as possible, including manual backups, comparisons, and the tiresome search for data storage media and backup sites. This frees up personnel, particularly their expertise, to work on challenging, worthwhile, and forward-thinking projects in its place.

4. Our present version control method is effective; adding software would only require more training.

An in-depth (version) comparison of the control programs that are synchronized on the server is not possible with a basic comparison of file sizes and dates, which is not the same as effective version control. Not to mention the capability of distinctly identifying and marking the most recent release version. The project planning software and editors needed by non-homogeneous automation plants must be maintained and programmed by production and maintenance teams that are constantly expanding. The only way to lessen this specific burden is using software-based solutions. Leading version control solutions support you with a menu-driven lesson and automated backups while integrating your tried-and-true editors and project structures. As a result, there is little training required and the system is very usable.

5. It is necessary to have a uniform automation environment.

The makers of individual controllers also provide version management services. However, because they only support the manufacturer's own equipment, these solutions are essentially only useful in homogeneous manufacturing environments. But is there indeed such a thing in modern times?

Production facilities are becoming more complex as a result of the expanding automation market and the multiplicity of suppliers and manufacturers. Because of this, manufacturing plants now house a diverse range of industrial robots, field devices, control software, drive systems, programming languages, and file formats.

You are not reliant on a single manufacturer with a future-proof version control system. The version control system also continually adapts to the newest device versions so the user always has the necessary comparators in addition to supporting the most popular automation systems.

6. Only when there are no external suppliers involved can version control be made to function properly.

Today, it is challenging to envision a working environment without ideas like lean production and lean maintenance. Given the emphasis on boosting productivity and efficiency, it is generally uncommon for you to deal with absolutely no outside suppliers and service providers.The ability of a version control system to track, monitor, compare, and check changes made to control devices by system integrators and OEMs is therefore essential.When engaging with outside service providers in particular, the "why" question is also of utmost relevance. Only after the justifications for changes have been recorded are complete validation and traceability possible.

7. Version control and backup are analogous to apples and oranges.

It is crucial to remember that backups are not a replacement for version control, and that version control is even less of a replacement for backups. They are two distinct tools that perform best when used in tandem and guarantee that the necessary data is always accessible.

Version control and centralized backups can't completely guarantee the security of consistent data on their own. The regular (automatic) comparison of software versions is the only way to determine whether the centrally stored projects genuinely match the productive programs (offline-online-status). You can monitor changes this way and appropriately analyze them. On the other hand, automatically producing a backup data version serves no purpose.

In the end, not all backups are created equal. You will require a restorable backup of the most recent version for quick disaster recovery. This requires that symbols and comments be uploaded as well. In order to maximize plant and data availability, you should take into account the type and quality of data backups performed by an automated data management system.