SCADA
SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is the system that monitors and controls industrial processes in real time, gathering data from sensors and PLCs and presenting it to operators. It is the operational backbone many analytics and AI tools build on.
SCADA systems collect data from field devices (sensors, PLCs, RTUs), display it via HMIs, and let operators supervise and control processes such as power distribution, water treatment or manufacturing lines. Modern analytics, historians and AI platforms typically sit on top of SCADA/historian data rather than replacing it.
Related reading
- Proficy
- AVEVA Predictive Analytics
- Industrial IoT (IIoT)
- MES (Manufacturing Execution System)
- Process Historian
Related terms
Industrial IoT (IIoT) · MES (Manufacturing Execution System) · Process Historian · PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) · Remote Terminal Unit (RTU)
Software
Proficy
MES, historian and digital-twin tooling for manufacturing; divested by GE Vernova in 2026.
AVEVA Predictive Analytics
Early-warning analytics for critical process and power assets.
Where this applies
Digital Twin vs Simulation · On-Premise vs Cloud Industrial Software · Edge AI vs Cloud AI for Industrial Plants · Schneider Harmony HMI vs Honeywell Experion Station · State of Industrial IoT & Connectivity 2026 · Autonomous AI cyberattacks and manufacturers