Lockout/Tagout (LOTO): Automating the process

A clearly defined LOTO process is mandatory in all plants, be it manual or automated. Most people recognize time savings in accomplishing complex tasks as the real advantage in ‘automation’. Automation implies taking a complicated labor intensive manual process and making it more efficient and effective. However, for LOTO, the question is not merely ‘will it save time’ or ‘will it save money’? The real question is: can software make the process safer? There are lives at stake; there is no room for ‘bugs’ or ‘technical difficulties’. The good news is: the answer to both these questions is “yes”.