Automate the Automation Engineer with Davy Demeyer

In this episode of the IT OT Insider podcast, host David interviews Davy Demeyer, an expert in industrial automation. Davy shares his extensive background in automation engineering, discussing the challenges faced in programming PLCs and the divide between IT and OT. He emphasizes the need for modern software development practices, such as DevOps and DesignOps, to improve automation workflows. Davy also explores the potential of generative AI in automation engineering and introduces the Society of Automation and Software Engineers, a community focused on combining automation and software principles. The conversation highlights the importance of evolving engineering practices to meet the demands of Industry 4.0. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Davy de Meijer and His Journey 04:50 Understanding the Control Layer in Automation 09:55 Programming PLCs: Standards and Challenges 14:59 Bridging the Gap: Learning from Software Development 19:49 The Future of Automation: DesignOps and Generative AI 27:54 The Society of Automation and Software Engineers 32:58 The Importance of Design in Automation Engineering Want to know more? Find Davy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demeyerdavy/ More about SASE: https://sase.space/


Davy Demeyer has spent his career bridging the gap between traditional automation and the rapidly advancing world of digital technology. With decades of experience working on automation projects, he’s a passionate advocate for rethinking how we approach automation in the age of Industry 4.0.
Understanding the Basics: What Are PLCs and DCS?
Davy broke down two cornerstone technologies in automation:
* PLCs: Often referred to as the backbone of automation, PLCs are specialized computers designed to control machinery and industrial processes. They are programmed using proprietary languages like Ladder Logic or Structured Text, a method that hasn’t evolved significantly during the last decades.
* DCS (Distributed Control Systems): These are more complex systems, typically used for large-scale, continuous processes such as in chemical plants or refineries. They offer a centralized view and control of entire plants, integrating with various PLCs and other devices.
Despite their importance, Davy highlighted how their programming methodologies remain rooted in the past, limiting their adaptability to modern software development practices.

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The Programming Gap
We talked about the differences between traditional automation programming and modern software development. While the software industry has embraced Agile, DevOps, and cloud-native design, automation engineering often remains tied to rigid, manual workflows. This divergence creates a bottleneck for scalability and innovation in automation, which is essential for Industry 4.0. Even Excel plays a critical role in ‘modern’ software development… 😣
Davy emphasized how automation programming’s reliance on vendor-specific tools and proprietary languages makes collaboration difficult and slows down the pace of digital transformation.
Digital Transformation and Industry 4.0: The Bottleneck
Why does this gap matter for Industry 4.0? Digital transformation initiatives rely on seamless data flow, agile responses to changing conditions, and scalable solutions. However, the slow evolution of automation practices hinders:
* Scalability: New solutions remain siloed, with pilot projects often stuck in proof-of-concept stages.
* Integration: Connecting PLCs to IT systems, cloud platforms, or advanced analytics often requires costly custom solutions.
* Innovation: Without adopting modern practices, the automation industry risks falling behind in leveraging emerging technologies like AI or machine learning.
The Future: DesignOps for Automation
Davy proposed a vision for the future of automation: DesignOps for Automation Engineers. Borrowing from the software industry, DesignOps would focus on creating collaborative, integrated environments where engineers and developers work in harmony. He wants to Automate the Automation Engineer. This vision isn’t just theoretical—it’s already being championed in forward-thinking organizations.
SASE: Society of Automation Software Engineers
In line with this future, Davy introduced the Society of Automation Software Engineers (SASE), a community-driven initiative aimed at fostering collaboration and innovation in automation. SASE provides a platform for professionals to share best practices, develop new standards, and advocate for modernizing the industry.
Make sure to listen to this very interesting episode! (And subscribe to get our weekly new content 🙂)
Want to know more? Find Davy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demeyerdavy/ More about SASE: https://sase.space/


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