Cargill
Cargill connects its industrial sites with AVEVA Edge Data Store
Cargill was already using AVEVA PI System in more than 200 plants worldwide, but also had more than 400 specialized facilities (grain elevators, protein processing plants, vessels, shipping ports) that could not justify the infrastructure investments of large sites. These facilities do not always have on-site technical resources to host an AVEVA PI Server, and sometimes only need to track a few hundred streams from a wide variety of PLCs. The agrifood group deployed AVEVA Edge Data Store, complemented by AVEVA Adapter for Modbus, to collect data and send it up to the central AVEVA PI System server. The benefits materialize on several levels: a standardized, small-footprint architecture that is easy to operate and replicate across many types of sites, identification and resolution of bottlenecks, easier root cause analysis, remote experts able to view contextualized data, and operators managing quality in real time.
Testimonials
FAQ
How does AVEVA Edge Data Store collect data from remote sites with a minimal footprint?
AVEVA Edge Data Store is designed for facilities without on-site technical resources: Cargill's grain silos, vessels and port terminals. The solution locally collects a few hundred data streams from heterogeneous PLCs, caches them and forwards them to the central AVEVA PI System server as soon as connectivity allows. This minimal-footprint distributed architecture bridges the digital gap between Cargill's 200 large plants and its 400 small specialized facilities, democratizing digital transformation in the agri-food industry.
Why deploy AVEVA Adapter for Modbus across distributed food processing sites?
AVEVA Adapter for Modbus allows Cargill to connect a wide variety of PLCs and equipment via the standard Modbus protocol, which is ubiquitous in smaller industrial facilities. This native interoperability avoids developing custom connectors for each site and speeds up large-scale deployment. For a multinational food group, it is the key to a standardized architecture that can adapt to local specificities while ensuring the overall consistency of data sent to the central PI System.
How does AVEVA help identify bottlenecks at processing sites?
With AVEVA PI System and Edge Data Store, Cargill identifies and resolves bottlenecks downstream of processing operations. Contextualized visualization of flows and cycle times reveals where delays build up: weighing, transfers, quality checks. Root cause analyses become possible at sites that previously lacked the tools. For a food manufacturer handling perishable raw materials, this analytical capability directly transforms performance and overall profitability.
How can remote experts suggest improvements thanks to AVEVA?
AVEVA PI System and Edge Data Store make contextualized data from Cargill facilities available to remote experts, wherever they are in the world. Rather than traveling to diagnose a problem, engineers analyze the data from their office and propose targeted improvements. This centralized-expertise, distributed-service model multiplies the value of scarce skills, speeds up problem resolution and democratizes access to know-how in a multi-site group.
How can quality be managed in real time at a food processing plant?
AVEVA PI System allows Cargill plant operators to monitor product quality in real time and adjust parameters before deviations become critical. Previously dependent on lab results delayed by several hours, they now have an immediate view of key indicators. For a food company subject to strict traceability and compliance requirements, this instant control capability turns quality management from after-the-fact inspection into a proactive continuous improvement approach.