The HMI (Human Machine Interface) provides a textual or graphical view of system conditions and operations, vital information absent with simple pushbutton panels or switch banks. HMIs offer robust monitoring, control, status reporting and many other functions. Touch panels (including a headless version), message displays and text panels are available. The greatest advantage of an HMI is the user-friendliness of the graphical interface.

The graphical interface contains color coding that allows for easy identification (for example: red for trouble). Pictures and icons allow for fast recognition, easing the problems of illiteracy. HMI can reduce the cost of product manufacturing, and potentially increase profit margins and lower production costs.

• The HMI allows for supervisory control and data acquisition in the entire system, so parameter changes are feasible as the operator's choosing.
• The key advantage to an HMI is it functionality; an HMI can be used for simple tasks such as a coffee brewing controller, or a sophisticated control unit of a nuclear plant.
• HMI offers improved stock control and replenishment, so the fewer journeys are required out to the vendors. HMIs are used in bottling processes to control all aspects of the manufacturing line, such as speed, efficiency, error detection and error correction.