| Dear %%if(%%firstname%% is empty,Colleague,%%firstname%%)%%: Read the online version or scroll down for this issue of Automation.com's e-News.  Forward to a colleague - Subscribe to future issues - Read past issues April 18, 2007 |
Search...
|
Innovation in Automation Tour
Too busy to visit trade shows but still need to keep up on the latest automation technology? Schedule a visit from the WAGO - Innovation in Automation Tour. The tour will feature product applications, hands-on displays, free literature/samples/software tools, and much more (all at your door step).
Click here for more details, the schedule, and registration page.
From One Techie to Another:
Building a stronger (more meaningful) automation foundation
Featured Article:
Control System Asset Management
Product Announcements:
ProcessApex software, PlantTriage 7.0, UNO-3072 Front Access Computer, JRBS-57 junction box for DeviceNet, and much more
Resources & Literature:
ODVA Publishes EtherNet/IP Document, and more
Events, Seminars & Training:
Oil and Gas Industry Symposium in 13 cities, and more
Company News:
ISA submits electrical safety standard to ANSI, Cyco Software changes name to BlueCielo ECM Solutions, and much more
| Sponsor: ProSoft Technology | |
From One Techie to Another | |||||||
|
Building a stronger (more meaningful) automation foundation It’s time for automation engineers to get financial It’s all about results…financial results. One of the biggest problems facing manufacturers today is the extraction of meaningful data from automation systems…data that can help companies improve asset performance, and subsequently the bottom line. This important topic is being discussed (again) this week at the Expertune/TiPs Users Conference in Austin, TX. Plants and factories have invested millions of dollars in automation systems, but many executives are not satisfied with the visibility they have of the actual business (manufacturing) process. According to keynote speaker Peter Martin, VP of Strategic Ventures for Invensys, CEOs are responsible for two things: business measurement (by CFO) and business operations (by COO). The problem is the financial side of the business is dependent on data from the enterprise level of the operations side, which is typically a month old. For most companies, there is a huge real-time disconnect between finance and operations. Fortunately, companies like Expertune, TiPs, Software Toolbox, Matrikon, Invensys and others can help bridge that gap. Typical automation systems have hundreds if not thousands of sensors and instruments, which provide meaningful data about a process. But very few companies have made the real-time correlation between that data and how it relates to the economics for the process. George Buckbee, P.E. of Expertune, puts it in very simple terms. Can you measure the right things? Can you make decisions based on that data? Can you take actions to make changes? If the answer to all of these questions is "yes", then you can improve your process. It's a matter of picking a few key loops in the process and putting them in economic terms. If you can optimize the process, you can shift your process to the most economic spec limits. There are a number of aspects that can be addressed in this fashion:
Each of these aspects has a direct impact on the bottom line. George Buckbee, with the help of Expertune's PlantTriage, offers these key steps for success:
The role of the automation engineer has already evolved to include multiple disciplines including engineering, IT, security, process, etc. Why not add financial discipline to the mix? This is your chance to show the executives that your engineering capabilities are not a liability, but an asset to improving the bottom line. Finally, when you've succeeded, take that documentation (above) to your boss and demand that well-deserved raise. For more information on this topic, read the featured article on Control System Asset Management, plus two important product announcements from Expertune. Enjoy the rest of this eNews! Rick Zabel |
.jpg)
Control System Asset Management
Most large process plants have invested millions in their control systems. Yet it is typical that more than 30% of the system is off-line at any given moment. Getting the best performance from the control system requires a structured approach to control system asset management. This paper lays out specific plans for establishing a control system asset management program.
Read full article by George Buckbee, P.E. of Expertune.
_thumb.jpg){kind=small} |
ExperTune announces ProcessApex software - 4/17/07 This system delivers specific diagnostics, advice, and improvement suggestions for process unit operations, and allows direct benchmark comparisons between unit operations across an entire company. |
|---|---|
_thumb.jpg){kind=small} |
ExperTune enhances PlantTriage 7.0 - 4/17/07 The latest release of PlantTriage offers support for all world languages, Shadow Server connections that protect mission-critical control systems, and web-based analysis tools, including Tree Mapping, reporting, and dashboards. |
| National Instruments LabVIEW supports Windows Vista - 4/16/07 LabVIEW forWindows Vista. includes both the desktop development environment as well as related application software including the LabVIEW Real-Time and LabVIEW FPGA modules. NI also offersg PXI embedded controllers with Windows Vista pre-installed as the default operating system. |
|
_thumb.jpg){kind=small} |
Advantech launches UNO-3072 Front Access Computer - 4/16/07 UNO-3072 Celeron M or Pentium M industrial fanless industrial automation computer has two PCI V 2.2 expansion slots, dual power input, and 512 KB battery back-up SRAM. It supports Windows 2000/XP, Windows XP (SP2) Embedded with write protection (EWF) and Linux. Price: from $995. |
_thumb.jpg) |
Emerson offers upgraded CPUs for Bristol Network 3000 RTUs - 4/13/07 Upgrade CPUs provide a migration path from the installed base of Bristol Network 3000 RTUs to Bristol ControlWave remote automation system. The migration is made by replacing installed Network 3000 CPUs with CW35 and CW31CPUs. |
_thumb.jpg){kind=small} |
TURCK introduces JRBS-57 junction box for DeviceNet - 4/11/07 JRBS-57 junction box provides DIN-rail mounting, rugged IP 20 design, and a BUS-in/BUS-out feature that eliminates the need for a separate splitter device. |
_thumb.jpg) |
Banner seals up PresencePLUS Pro vision sensors - 4/11/07 The sealed, IP68-rated Pro performs machine vision inspections in industrial and washdown environments. A sealed camera with a full-featured controller is priced as low as $2580. |
| Siemens introduces Scalance S Ethernet security modules - 4/11/07 Scalance S industrial Ethernet security modules provide the protection of a firewall and virtual private network (VPN), allowing only real-time, authenticated communication between authorized devices within the automation network. |
Other Product Announcements
- Woodhead adds Modbus TCP to BradControl IP20 I/O 4/17/07
- Sevcon introduces DC/DC converters 4/17/07
- HMS adds EtherCAT to Anybus modules 4/17/07
- Lanner introduces EM-9765 motherboard with HDTV driver 4/17/07
- Norcross intriduces M10 Viscosity Sensor 4/17/07
- Westfall introduces Model 2850 Chemical Mixer 4/17/07
- SICK launches Ranger and Ruler 3D Cameras 4/16/07
- Rexroth announces IndraMotion Trans for Single Axis Control 4/16/07
- IntelliCom announces NetBiter gateway for Siemens S7 PLCs 4/16/07
- PSU announces CEC compliant external power supplies 4/16/07
- P+F introduces VDM35 Laser Displacement Sensors 4/13/07
- PLCopen forms Security working group for control systems 4/13/07
- EMX announces calibratable UVX-300-GC UV sensor 4/13/07
- Aerotech announces ATS115 Series Ball-Screw Stage 4/13/07
- CSEM launches wireless version of ViSeLink vision sensor 4/13/07
- Keithley launches ACS test system for semiconductors 4/13/07
- WITTENSTEIN announces TPM+ servo actuator 4/13/07
- SKF releases Speedi-roll linear guiding system 4/13/07
- Intelligent Instrumentation releases LANpoint 7 terminal 4/12/07
- Carlo Gavazzi releases RSH soft start motor controller 4/12/07
- Danfoss introduces VLT Micro Drive 4/12/07
- JAI introduces CV-M9 GE RGB color camera 4/12/07
- Korenix introduces housing for JetNet Ethernet switch 4/12/07
- Mosaic adds signal conditioning to Wildcard 4/12/07
- Ametek announces Rotron regenerative air blowers 4/12/07
- Korenix Ethernet switches pass vibration test 4/12/07
- UEI adds GPS to DNA, UEIL and UEIPAC data loggers 4/11/07
- Cognex introduces fast In-Sight 5600 vision sensors 4/11/07
- Aaxeon releases PCI, PCI Express and PCMCIA Serial Cards 4/11/07
- HBM announces U93 force transducer 4/11/07
- Control Microsystems improves Vision60 OI terminal 4/11/07
Product & Supplier Search
- Featured Products for April
- Search Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date
- Search Suppliers by keyword or product category
Featured Resource: ODVA Publishes EtherNet/IP Document
Network Infrastructure for EtherNet/IP provides an introduction to the network infrastructure and gives users a framework for identifying the considerations that are most critical to their specific applications. It references specific switch features that users of EtherNet/IP would require for proper communication.
More information
Other Resources:
- ASI releases Power Supply Catalog 4/17/07
- ISA launches EDDL Website 4/17/07
- ISA releases Alarm Management book 4/16/07
- Green Hills announces toolkit for Freescale’s Automotive Microcontrollers 4/16/07
- Intermec redesigns its Web Site 4/13/07
- Control Microsystems offers ISaGRAF Technician License 4/11/07
Featured Event: Oil and Gas Industry Symposium in 13 cities
One day free symposiums run from May 8 through Nov 8 in major drilling and exploration cities across North America, South America and Europe. It includes technology presentations and case studies on how companies in the oil and gas industry have applied the latest measurement and control technologies in service, drilling, distributed measurements and oil field inventory management applications.
More information
Other Upcoming Events & Training
- North America CACS: April 22-26, 2007
- SAPPHIRE and ASUG 2007: April 22-25, 2007
- Innovation Fair: April 24, 2007
- LinuxWorld Canada April 24-26, 2007
- Keithley Nano Days Virtual Conference April 24-26, 2007
- Free Motion Control Hands-On Training April 26, 2007
- Computer/Human Interaction (CHI) 2007 Conference April 28-May 3, 2007
- FutureNet April 28-May 3, 2007
- WBF 2007 North American Conference: April 30 - May 3, 2007
- Matrikon Summit 2007: May 7-10, 2007
- NI Automated Test Summit on Web: May 8, 2007
- SMMA Spring Management Conference: May 9-11, 2007
- RoboBusiness Conference and Expo: May 15-16, 2007
- Total Processing & Packaging 2007: May 15-17, 2007
- Deacom User Conference: May 16-17, 2007
- PTO Free PROFINET 2007 Developer Workshops: Starting May 21, 2007
- M2M Forum 2007: May 22-23, 2007
- BuilConn: May 22-24, 2007
- ASi-tech 2007: May 22, 2007
Here are the latest company and application news headlines for your review...use the following links to read the full article. Check out our Daily News Headlines page frequently to stay up-to-date on the industry events.
Company & Organization News:
- ISA submits electrical safety standard to ANSI 4/17/07
- ENDEVCO donates computer monitors to Boys & Girls Clubs 4/17/07
- ISA submits control valve standards to ANSI 4/16/07
- Cyco Software changes name to BlueCielo ECM Solutions 4/16/07
- ABB Automation World 2007 attracted 2,500 attendees 4/16/07
- Schneider Electric receives Frost & Sullivan award 4/16/07
- FKI Logistex consolidates in Canada 4/16/07
- Matrikon reports lower income in second quarter 2007 4/13/07
- Lantronix awards $20,000 in wireless design contest 4/13/07
- Flow Research Study predicts $1 Billion Flowmeter Market 4/13/07
- Northwire collaborates with assemblers for custom cord sets 4/13/07
- Cambridge Display awarded grant for display research 4/13/07
- Flowserve receives award in India 4/13/07
- Radley becomes IFS Software Partner 4/13/07
- Paul Schentag Joins JMP Engineering in Windsor 4/13/07
- Ethernet Direct signs distributor in China 4/12/07
- MAVERICK signs alliance with Solving International 4/11/07
- Aspectrics to use GRAMS software from Thermo Fisher 4/11/07
- Green Hills Software supports Missile System 4/11/07
Application News:
- KUKA provides robots to Lawrence Technological Univ 4/16/07
- Imprinting machine uses Baumüller's servo direct drives 4/13/07
- Infor installs ERP at Australian cable manufacturer 4/13/07
- Invensys to supply operator training simulation for LNG terminal 4/12/07
- Thermo Fisher supplies SampleManager LIMS to Intertek 4/11/07
- KUKA to supply robots for injection molding systems 4/11/07
Here's a list of new jobs posted on Automation.com:
- Sr. Software Application Engineer: GE Fanuc Automation - Northeast USA 4/17/2007
- Sr. Software Application Engineer: GE Fanuc Automation - California/Pacific, USA 4/17/2007
- Consulting Business Developer: Siemens - Cypress, CA 4/11/2007
To view other recent job postings, please use our Job Search Function.
Dilbert
It’s tough to point out an engineer’s mistake…we just don’t make them.
Understanding Engineers – Take 2
The graduate with a Science degree asks, "Why does it work?"
The graduate with an Engineering degree asks, "How does it work?"
The graduate with an Accounting degree asks, "How much will it cost?"
The graduate with an Arts degree asks, "Do you want fries with that?"
I hope you enjoyed this Automation Weekly update. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the content in this e-newsletter or on Automation.com, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher
Automation.com
For editorial and advertising inquiries, please contact Rick Zabel or see our Media Kit.
For recruiting and contract staffing services, please visit www.automationtechies.com.