Automation Weekly - July 18, 2007

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Crusade for Higher Visibility of Automation

This week Invensys is holding its Foxboro User Group in Boston. While I had plans of attending the event, I was unable to go due to last-minute personal reasons. Fortunately, a number of other magazine editors are covering the event, so I’d like to refer you to one nice summary written by another editor. After all, we realize that it’s nearly impossible for us to cover everything going on in automation, all the time…so we link to other sites to bring you the most information we can.

If you have heard Dr. Peter Martin, Invensys’ vice president of performance management, speak before, you know that he is very passionate about solving real business problems with automation techniques. What many of you may not know is Dr. Martin also holds a Masters degree in Biblical Studies. Apparently in his free time, Martin is also one of the ministers at his local church. It’s no wonder he is such a dynamic and engaging speaker. I thought it was only fitting that Walt Boyes of CONTROL Magazine opened his summary of Dr. Martin’s address, Peter Martin Whacks ‘Em Between the Eyes, with “crusade for higher visibility of automation in the enterprise.”

Martin’s presentation, aimed directly at engineers, attempts to drill home the concept that engineers must prove their own worth. CEOs and CFOs are focused on the business’ bottom line. Nobody else in the plant understands the process and related technology like the engineers. And nobody else in the plant knows how to analyze, optimize, and improve the process. According to Martin, “Your worth is phenomenal. You provide more value than any other part of the organization. You must demonstrate your worth.”

Martin spoke directly to the end users: “As engineers you are measured on the capital budget. The capital budget is all about ROI. The problem is that when you hit 100% of ROI with a capital project, you don’t get any more credit!”

Martin went on, “Return on investment is always negative. Once you have recouped your investment, you have bottom line value, but nobody measures it– and nobody can see it– and so you don’t get credit for it. All you get is blame for the red line that is the ROI line. ROI is always negative.”

“So how can Invensys help you?” he asked. “We can help you reduce the cost of automation, make the top line measurable, and reduce the lifecycle cost. We know that we can help you explain your worth. This is why we came up with the idea of asset performance management,” he said.

Bringing it back home, he said, “If you aren’t the most valuable person in your organization, we aren’t the most valuable supplier in your organization.” He proclaimed, “The tools exist to do this, engineers!”

You can read Walt’s full summary online at Peter Martin Whacks ‘Em Between the Eyes.

This is a great segway into Jim Pinto’s featured article this week, The Keys to Successful Innovation. Jim points out that Innovation is not just the occasional “eureka” flash – it includes the process of making improvements, generating new ideas and methods, and devising procedures that yield major cost or value shifts. In the organizational context, innovation is linked to performance and growth through improvements in efficiency, productivity, quality, competitive positioning, market share, etc.

Enjoy the rest of this eNews!

Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher

Featured Article

The Keys to Successful Innovation
Innovation stems from a culture that encourages and breeds consistent business value improvements. In the new, fast-moving global environment Innovation is the key to generating growth and success. It includes the shifts that improve all products, services and support mechanisms – infrastructure, manufacturing and production, marketing & sales channels, and delivery logistics.

Read full article by Jim Pinto
Read more articles by Jim Pinto.

Browse Portals for more articles, white papers and application stories

Product Announcements

	Wago introduces JUMPFLEX signal conditioning modules - 7/17/07 857 Series signal conditioner modules support current, voltage, Hart protocol, RTDs and thermocouples. Configurable and dedicated modules are available.
	ASI announces MARKINGenius2 Labeling System - 7/17/07 MARKINGenius2 prints identification labels for all sizes of wires along with numerous other electrical components.
	Emerson introduces Rosemount ultrasonic level transmitters - 7/16/07 3100 Series transmitters are suited for monitoring liquid level in tanks and open air applications where long maintenance intervals are a key requisite.
	Banner releases PresencePLUS PROII two-piece vision sensor - 7/13/07 PROII controllers include gray scale tools—including Locate, Pattern Find and Count, Geometric Find and Count, Edge, Object, Blob, Average Gray Scale and optional Bar Code Reader.
	Emerson adds wireless to ROC800 remote operations controller - 7/12/07 ROC800 can communicate directly with any mix of up to 30 wireless temperature transmitters or wireless pressure transmitters over a self organizing mesh field network.
	Red Lion Controls announces CSOUT analog output module - 7/11/07 CSOUT modules have four isolated, fully scalable outputs that are software configured.
	AutomationDirect introduces ATLAS LCD monitors - 7/11/07 ATLAS monitors are available in non-touch and analog resistive touch screen models, in 15, 17 and 19-in. sizes. Prices start at $995.
	Lantronix announces XPress-Pro SW ruggedized Ethernet switches - 7/11/07 The XPress-Pro SW series includes five and eight-port managed and unmanaged hardened Ethernet switches.
	Advantech announces TPC-1070H Touch Panel Computer - 7/11/07 TPC-1070H 10.4 in. Touch Panel Computer has a low power consumption Intel Pentium M 1.4 GHz/Celeron M 1 GHz processor. Price: $1,550.

Other Product Announcements

Keithley goes to Linux on S600 Series test system 7/17/07
Korenix cuts recovery time of JetNet 5010G Ethernet switch 7/17/07
Power Sources releases TEN-8WI DC/DC converters 7/17/07
Foxboro announces I/A Series migration modules for TDC 2000 users 7/16/07
Kurt announces USB Data Collection & Control Module 7/16/07
Portescap enhances 25mm Brushed Ironless DC Motors 7/16/07
Nippon Pulse introduces Captive LINEARSTEP rotary/linear stepper motor 7/16/07
Parvalux announces DC brush motors 7/16/07
Carlo Gavazzi releases SPM Series power supplies 7/16/07
Racine releases RVL vortex meter 7/16/07
Prosilica releases 16-megapixel GE4900 CCD Camera 7/16/07
Aaxeon adds SFP to Media Converter7/16/07
Rexroth introduces Flying Shear system for metal forming 7/16/07
Avalue launches GM965 embedded computer 7/13/07
P+F introduces Dura-Vue DF12 color sensors 7/13/07
JAI digitizes four analog CCD cameras 7/13/07
Canfield introduces 9G position sensor for T-Slots 7/13/07
Siemens introduces Sitrans LR 250 radar level transmitter 7/12/07
Commtest enhances Ascent 2007 vibration analysis software 7/12/07
Commtest announces vb7 vibration analyzer 7/12/07
Stafford introduces IQ Shaft Collars 7/12/07
Schneider Electric releases Modicon M340 PAC 7/11/07
Hedland introduces EZ-View Flow Meter for semiconductor applications 7/11/07
GE MDS releases MultiLink industrial Ethernet switches 7/11/07
Wilcoxon Research announces hazardous area vibration sensors 7/11/07
Schaefer releases AEP-U3000R pure sine inverters 7/11/07
PrismTech enhances OpenSplice Version 3 to bring QoS to SOAs 7/11/07

Product & Supplier Search

Featured Products for July
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Resources & Literature

Featured Resource: The LabVIEW Style Book
This comprehensive reference, by Bloomy Controls, on recommended development practices for the National Instruments LabVIEW graphical programming language. The LabVIEW Style Book contains critical insight and style rules designed to optimize the ease of use, efficiency, readability, maintainability, reliability, simplicity, and performance of LabVIEW applications.
More Information

Other Resources:

Events, Seminars & Training

Featured Event: ODVA CIP Networks Conference
September 18-20, 2007 Denver, Colorado
Open to everyone interested in ODVA and its Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) Networks and extensions - currently, DeviceNet, EtherNet/IP, CompoNet, CIP Safety, CIP Motion and CIP Sync - the CIP Networks Conference and 12th Annual Meeting features technical, marketing, and training sessions and will conclude with ODVA’s annual meeting of members. The conference features technical, marketing, and training sessions and will conclude with ODVA’s annual meeting of members.
More information

Upcoming Events & Training

PTO Free PROFINET 2007 Developer Workshops: Started May 21, 2007
Siemens Safety Webinars: Started May 24, 2007
2007 Oil and Gas Industry Symposium: July 3, 12, 24, 26, 2007
WINA-ISA Industrial Wireless Tutorial: July 22, 2007
Wireless Solutions for Manufacturing Automation Conference: July 23-24, 2007
ISA-SP100, Wireless Systems for Automation: July 25-27 2007
PTO Free PROFINET 2007 Developer Workshops: July 31, 2007
ISA Advanced Tuning Course: August 6, 2007
2007 NIWeek Virtual Instrumentation Conference: August 7-9, 2007
National Instruments Hosts NIWeek Technical Summit: August 7-9, 2007
Free EtherNet/IP Seminar - Manufacturing Automation: August 10, 2007
Chemtech Cairo & Pharma Exhibition and Conference: August 28-30, 2007
FLOWEXPO China 2008: March 26-28, 2008
2007 Emerson Global Users Exchange Conference: September 10-14, 2007

Go to our Calendar of Events to see other upcoming events. Add an event to our calendar.

Company & Application News

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 holds Advanced Tuning Course at NI Week 7/17/07
BlueCielo appoints Berend Reinink as VP 7/17/07
Automation Alley supports SME Education Foundation 7/13/07
Commtest hires Robert Dent as District Sales Manager in Toronto 7/13/07
Matrikon appoints Eric Rosenfeld to Board of Directors 7/13/07
IFS acquires UK software firm 7/13/07
Fieldbus Foundation Brazilian Marketing Committee names officers 7/13/07
Matrikon announces third quarter 2007 results 7/13/07
Commtest announces trade up offer for vibration analyzer 7/12/07
WBF Announces 2008 Conference Call for Papers 7/12/07
IBEW applauds Cooper InVision wireless downtime-reduction system 7/12/07
Adept signs robot rep in China 7/12/07
Opto 22 Gets Greener 7/11/07
GE Fanuc software Achieves SAP certification 7/11/07
Precise Automation signs Rocky Mountain MotorReps 7/11/07

Application News:

New Jobs

Here's a list of new jobs posted on Automation.com:

Sr. Software Application Engineer: GE Fanuc Automation - Puerto Rico 7/17/2007
SCADA Project Engineer: Black & Veatch - Overland Park, KS 7/17/2007
Wonderware Application Support Engineer: Wonderware PacWest - Bothell, WA 7/17/2007
Instrument and Controls Specialist: Alabama Power, a Southern Company - Parrish, AL 7/12/2007
I&C Tech: Luminant - Various, TX 7/12/2007
Regional Sales Manager: Hardy Instruments, Inc. - Houston, TX 7/11/2007

To view other recent job postings, please use our Job Search Function.

Humor of the Week

Dilbert - Next time use this tactic to get a raise.

Goin' Fishin' - Goin' Fishin' is Dick Morley's unique perspective on a typical American company. Each week in this e-newsletter we will feature a new image. This week is “Even after this new partnership, we'll keep our identity”

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

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