I/O Modules for Process Automation

The Process I/O Module Market Research Study delivers current market analysis plus a five year market and technology forecast. The study is available in multiple editions including worldwide and all regions.

Digital Transformation Strategy for DCSs Impacts Process I/O Market

ARC’s research on the market for I/O modules in the process industries shows that the market is benefiting from a long-term modernization trend. I/O modules used in the process industries are an integral part of distributed control systems (DCSs), which are used invariably in every major process manufacturing application. The most recent DCS systems have evolved along with technological advancements, and more DCS users are thinking about updating and upgrading their systems to improve performance.

Process I/O Module Strategic Issues

Process I/O Modules Market TrendsIn addition to providing a five-year market forecast, the IO modules process market research report provides detailed quantitative current market data and addresses key strategic issues as follows.

Take Advantage of the Benefits Offered through Virtualization

Industrial control system (ICS) virtualization offers clear benefits for end users. These include lower TCO, longer ICS life, fewer disruptive changes, and improved ability to manage change and implement continuous improvement. The largest payoff comes from improved operations. End user organizations should study the virtualization strategies of their potential future ICS suppliers, paying special attention to supplier plans for migrating existing installations to a future virtualized environment.

Consider Characterizable or Configurable IO

End users should consider adopting next-generation IOs. Automation suppliers offer new IO that is either characterizable, configurable, or a combination of the two. Characterizable IO includes hardware modules that plug into a rack and can represent analog input, analog output, digital input, digital output, etc. The type of module plugged into the rack determines the type of signal. Modules can be plugged anywhere in the rack and are location independent. Configurable IO solutions take a similar approach in terms of point independence and flexibility, but the points are configured through software rather than hardware modules. Some vendor solutions offer a combination of characterizable and configurable IO points, depending on the type of signal. 

The benefits of characterizable and configurable IOs go beyond simply reduced hardware, footprint, and wiring. Specifically, they allow end users to separate the hardware- and software-related aspects of the system. With fully adaptable and standard IO and control hardware, end users can theoretically design and test all the software aspects of the system before it is deployed into the physical system hardware. This allows the software to be deployed into the hardware infrastructure at the very late stages of the project. This is often referred to as "late binding".

Go Beyond Technology in Supplier Evaluations

Technology is one of the important considerations when selecting and evaluating a process IO supplier, but it is only one of many. When selecting a supplier, end users should employ a weighted multi-factor analysis. Some additional factors to consider include:

  • Local sales expertise and type of sales channel
  • Local service capabilities and relationship with supplier services
  • Expertise in the industry
  • Financial strength and company stability
  • Project team for implementation
  • Project engineering experience
  • Total cost of ownership

Each of these considerations has many subsidiary criteria to evaluate. A cross-functional evaluation team consisting of plant engineering, operations, IT, maintenance, and management should develop the detailed evaluation criteria and weighting factors. This maximizes transparency and communication during the selection process.

Formats and Editions Available

This market study may be purchased as an Excel Workbook and/or as a PDF File.  The Workbook has some unique features such as the ability to view data in local currency.  Regional studies include country and industry market data.  Country studies include market trends and industry data.  Studies and formats available are listed below:  

MIRA Workbook PDF File
Worldwide (includes regional data) Yes Yes
North America (includes country data) Yes No
Latin America (includes country data) Yes No
Europe, Middle East, Africa (includes country data) Yes No
Asia (includes country data) Yes No
Annual Subscription Yes Yes

Countries included in each region.

Table of contents for these studies is shown in the following paragraphs.

Worldwide Research Focus Areas

Strategic Analysis

  • Executive Summary
  • Market Trends
  • Buyer Strategies
  • Supplier Strategies
  • Growth Contributors and Inhibitors

Competitive Analysis

  • Market Shares of the Leading Suppliers
  • Market Shares by Region
    • North America
    • Europe, Middle East, Africa
    • Asia
    • Latin America
  • Market Shares by Industry
    • Cement & Glass
    • Chemical
    • Electric Power Generation
    • Electric Power T&D
    • Food & Beverage
    • Metals
    • Mining
    • Oil & Gas
    • Pharmaceutical & Biotech
    • Pulp & Paper
    • Refining
    • Semiconductors
    • Water & Wastewater
  • Market Shares by Environment
    • Intrinsically Safe
    • Non-Intrinsically Safe
  • Market Shares by Type
    • Analog Channels (Input & Output)
    • Digital Channels (Input & Output)
    • Intelligent I/O
    • Network Adaptor
    • Power Supply & Chassis
  • Market Shares by Number of Channels
    • 4 and Below
    • 8 Channels
    • 12 Channels
    • 16 Channels
    • 32 Channels
    • Above 32
  • Market Shares by Form Factor
    • Block IO Module (IP20)
    • Modular IO (IP20)
    • Slice IO (IP20)
  • Market Shares by Sales Channel
  • Market Shares by Customer Type

Market Forecasts and Histories

  • Total Shipments of Process I/O Modules
  • Shipments by Region
    • North America
    • Europe, Middle East, Africa
    • Asia
    • Latin America
  • Shipments by Industry
    • Cement & Glass
    • Chemical
    • Electric Power Generation
    • Electric Power T&D
    • Food & Beverage
    • Metals
    • Mining
    • Oil & Gas
    • Pharmaceutical & Biotech
    • Pulp & Paper
    • Refining
    • Semiconductors
    • Water & Wastewater
  • Shipments by Environment
    • Intrinsically Safe
    • Non-Intrinsically Safe
  • Shipments by Type
    • Analog Channels (Input & Output)
    • Digital Channels (Input & Output)
    • Intelligent I/O
    • Network Adaptor
    • Power Supply & Chassis
  • Shipments by Number of Channels
    • 4 and Below
    • 8 Channels
    • 12 Channels
    • 16 Channels
    • 32 Channels
    • Above 32
  • Shipments by Form Factor
    • Block IO Module (IP20)
    • Modular IO (IP20)
    • Slice IO (IP20)
  • Shipments by Sales Channel
  • Shipments by Customer Type

Industry Participants

The research identifies all relevant suppliers serving this market.

Regional Research Focus Areas

Strategic Analysis

Competitive Analysis

  • Leading Suppliers in Region
  • Industry Shares in Region
  • Country Shares in Region
  • Leading Suppliers by Industry

Market History and Forecast Analysis 

  • Market History and Forecast by Country
  • Market History and Forecast by Industry

Industry Participants

List of countries included in each region: MIRA-Country

For More Information

For more information or to purchase I/O Modules for Process Automation study, please contact us.

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