Difference between SCADA and HMI

Many of you sometimes get confused about the differences between SCADA and HMI. In this article you will get a basic outline regarding the differences between SCADA and HMI.

Abbreveation:

SCADA : Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)

HMI : Human Machine Interface

Read Also : What is SCADA ? How does SCADA Works?

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Human Machine Interface (HMI) both are the part of a large industrial control system . Both are closely related, but each individual offers different functionality and opportunities.

Actually HMI provides a human -machine interaction which helps the user in supervising an industrial process, where as SCADA systems revolves around the gathering and analysis of the data generated. SCADA systems have a greater capacity for data collection and control-system operation.

The human machine interface consists of hardware and software that allow user inputs to be translated as signals for machines that, in turn, provide the required result to the user. Human-machine interfaces help in integrating humans into complex technological systems.

The below figure shows an example of Human Machine Interface (HMI).

There is no collection and record of data happens in HMI, this data collection or database facility is available in SCADA system. HMI provides a great communication tool that functions as part of, or alongside, a SCADA system ( Generally system placement is in the control room)

HMI monitoring device is local to machine; which means HMI remains mounted on a control panel placed near by the machines. But SCADA system can be placed far from the machine , which provides easy flexibility in operating.

SCADA provides you the facility of monitoring more than one machine databy sitting at one place which saves more time, improve efficiency in monitoring machines as a result less hindrance in production.

SCADA has got more memory than HMI that’s why more number of machines observance combined way is possible in it.

SCADA is more costilier than HMI.