Cloud-based industrial controller

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a virtualized industrial controller that executes on a cloud platform system comprising a processor, via at least one communication network, data from one or more devices of an industrial automation system within an industrial plant and from a local industrial controller that is located in the industrial plant and that controls a first portion of the industrial automation system based on execution of a control program executed on the local industrial controller;
• controlling, by the virtualized industrial controller, a second portion of the industrial automation system;
• determining, by the virtualized industrial controller based on a first analysis of the data, a first correlation between the data and a production goal to be achieved by the industrial automation system, wherein the production goal is at least one a level of product output by the industrial automation system or a reduction of maintenance downtime for the industrial automation system;
• determining, based on a second analysis of the data and attention data that tracks focuses of attention of employees in connection with operation of the industrial automation system, a second correlation between the focuses of attention and the production goal;
• generating, by the virtualized industrial controller based on the first correlation and the second correlation, a first control instruction and a second control instruction that are configured to, in response to execution on the virtualized industrial controller and the local industrial controller, respectively, cause the virtualized industrial controller and the local industrial controller to perform coordinated control of the first portion and the second portion of industrial automation system to move a performance metric of the industrial automation system within a defined baseline indicative of the production goal;
• and
• sending, by the virtualized industrial controller, the second control instruction to the local industrial controller.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a cloud-based industrial controller comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:

• obtaining, via at least one communication network, data from one or more devices of an industrial automation system located in an industrial facility and from a local industrial controller, located in the industrial facility, that controls a first portion of the industrial automation system in accordance with a control program executed on the local industrial controller;
• controlling a second portion of the industrial automation system;
• determining, based on a first analysis of the data, a first correlation between the data and a defined production goal of the industrial automation system, wherein the production goal is at least one a level of product output by the industrial automation system or a reduction of maintenance downtime for the industrial automation system;
• determining, based on a second analysis of the data and attention data that tracks focuses of attention of employees in connection with operation of the industrial automation system, a second correlation between the focuses of attention and the production goal;
• generating, based on the first correlation and the second correlation, a first control instruction configured for execution on the cloud-based industrial controller and a second control instruction configured for execution on the local industrial controller, wherein the first control instruction and the second control instruction are configured to, in response to execution, cause the cloud-based industrial controller and the local industrial controller to perform coordinated control of the first portion and the second portion of industrial automation system to bring a performance metric of the industrial automation system within a defined baseline associated with the production goal;
• and
• sending the second control instruction to the local industrial controller.