Automation Weekly - September 12, 2007

Achieve Actionable Information from Distributed Data. Discover how to harness data from varying sources, and in multiple formats, into a single version of the truth. Chevron’s Mike Brooks presents his vision of how enterprises can achieve interoperability through knowledge and information management.

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Sponsor: OPC Foundation

What is OPC? Want your company to be an innovator leader, and maximize your product and resource utilization? Learn more about OPC, and how to achieve secure reliable interoperability with high performance quality products from hundreds of vendors.

For End-Users and System Integrators: the OPC Foundation provides no-cost seminars providing the solid foundation for what and how to use OPC-based products.

Click Here for more details, schedule and registration for these and other important OPC Events.

OPC Training and Support just got better

Whether you work in process or discrete manufacturing, regardless of the industry segment, the chances are pretty good you are using OPC technology. Many of your plants and factories have control systems and software from multiple vendors, and OPC is likely the primary, open and standard technology used to communicate between them. As you strive for higher efficiencies and higher productivity, you rely on system data to make real-time production and manufacturing decisions. If OPC communications are not implemented correctly and securely, your plant or processes are at risk of failure.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of systems integrators that don’t understand how to implement OPC properly. The problem here is a lack of formal, complete training. There are even a few vendors who haven’t properly implemented (or tested) OPC technology in their own products. Fortunately, the OPC Foundation addresses this problem.

The OPC Foundation is the organization dedicated to ensuring interoperability in automation by creating and maintaining open specifications that standardize the communication of data between multi-vendor control and enterprise systems. The OPC Foundation takes it one step further by offering an OPC Product Certification program. The program provides a process where OPC vendors can verify the correct operation of their products with a series of tests developed by the OPC Foundation.

So what about training? Now, there is a brand new company that strictly focuses on vendor-neutral OPC training. Many of you are probably familiar with MatrikonOPC, a leading OPC developer and supplier of more than 500 interfaces. Randy Kondor recently left Matrikon’s marketing group and started the OPC Training Institute (OPCTI).

OPCTI offers hands-on classes both in-person and online. Unlike other companies that offer vendor-biased information, OPCTI focuses strictly on training and does not sell its own products.

OPCTI’s comprehensive workshops provide automation professionals with a proven training program that enables them to quickly take on the challenging task of establishing a robust communication infrastructure. Each workshop is composed of various units that increase in complexity. In each unit, students first learn the theory followed by hands-on exercises that demonstrate common contemporary issues. Each unit has additional exercises to challenge even the most advanced students.

OPCTI is the only company that is sanctioned by the OPC Foundation to award the Certified OPC Professional (COP) designation. Holders of the COP designation have demonstrated proficiency with OPC technology, design architecture, and installations.

The OPCTI has partnered with the OPC Foundation to develop a survey to gather your opinion and requirements regarding a formalized OPC Training program. Please take two minutes to complete the OPC Training & Quality of Service Survey.

I’ve come to know Randy professionally over the past few years and I wish him the best of luck in his new endeavor.

If you have any feedback regarding this topic, please share your thoughts in our OPC Discussion Forum on My.Automation.com. Note: You must create a profile to post in the forum.

Enjoy the rest of this eNews!

Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher

Featured Article

Leveraging Everyone’s Contribution: Vendor Relationship Management and Impact on Automation
Vendor Relationship Management or VRM is the reciprocal of CRM (Customer Relationship Management). VRM provides manufacturing enterprises a wide range of technological tools for efficient vendor interactions that benefit both the manufacturer and the vendor. VRM improves markets by providing mechanisms that equip automation-based manufacturers to be independent leaders rather than lagging participants in relationships with vendors and other parties on the supply side of the marketplace.

Read full article by Thomas R. Cutler
Read more articles by Thomas Cutler

Browse Portals for more articles, white papers and application stories by topic

Product Announcements

	National Instruments upgrades Vision Development Module 8.5 Enhancements include improved edge-detection algorithm and support for new 2-D codes, so machine designers can enhance images, check for presence, locate features, identify objects and measure parts.
	ABB’S AC800M achieves Achilles Level 1 Security Certification Certification required the AM800M to maintain control while being attacked with network tests designed to verify protocol stack robustness, compliance with standards, and proper handling of rogue protocol packets.
	Invensys enhances Infusion Condition Manager Version 2.2 collects and analyzes real-time diagnostics from plant production assets, drives the appropriate actions, and now shares that information with plant databases and HMIs.
	Lantronix Introduces UBox 2100 USB-to-Ethernet Device Server UBox 2100 enables virtually any USB 2.0 device to be networked and shared over the Internet.
	Banner introduces PICO-GUARD fiber optic E-stop E-Stop Button uses plastic fiber optic cable, meets Safety Category 4 applications (per ISO 13849-1), and is certified for use in harsh and potentially explosive environments.
	MOXA announces IP67-rated EDS-305-M12 Ethernet switches EDS-305-M12 series of 5-port industrial unmanaged Ethernet switches with M12 connectors are designed for the toughest industrial applications.
	Remke releases Dome Cap cable glands for wet applications NEMA 6P and IP 68 rated glands withstand the rigors of continuous flexing and bending and can be used with a wide range of cables indoors, outdoors and under water.
	ASI releases 3 and 4 Wire Terminal Blocks With a current rating up to 30A at 600V, the Twin and ASIUDK series are suitable for distributing power to multiple devices in the same circuit.

Other Product Announcements

Product & Supplier Search

Featured Products for September
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Resources & Literature

Events, Seminars & Training

YAPFEST at ISA EXPO 2007
ISA will host its second annual event for Young Automation Professionals, YAPFEST, at ISA EXPO 2007 in Houston, Texas. YAPFEST is a must-attend event, open to young professionals and students (aged 18-30) in the automation industry. The event features opportunities to network with industry leaders, food, free beer, entertainment, and prizes.

Fieldbus for Sales Professionals
The Fieldbus Center at Lee College will be offering a one-day certified training course intended for controls and instrumentation sales professionals needing a general understanding of FOUNDATION fieldbus technology. The training course is designed for inside and outside sale representatives, as well as service personnel employed by plant automation equipment suppliers. The class does not require previous experience with digital control systems.

Other Upcoming Events & Training

Siemens Safety Webinars: Started May 24, 2007
Opto 22 Lunch & Learn Program: Today through November 23, 2007
2007 NI Technical Symposium: September - December, 2007
Securing Industrial Networks: Cyber Protection for Automation, Control & SCADA Systems: September 16, 2007
Activate 2007 by Activplant Corporation: September 16, 2007
MESA International Plant to Enterprise Conference: September 16-18, 2007
RIA Robotic Material Removal Training: September 17-19, 2007
SCMLogistics World 2007: September 17-20, 2007
PLC Structure, Programming, Installation and Maintenance Course: September 17-21, 2007
FDT Group North American Technology Seminar Series: September 18, 2007
Facilities Midwest: September 18-19, 2007
9th Wireless Technologies Conference 2007: September 18-19, 2007
HBA Global Exhibition & Conference: September 18-20, 2007
ODVA 2007 CIP Networks Conference and 12th Annual Meeting: September 18-20, 2007
ECMR 2007 - European Conference on Mobile Robots: September 19-21, 2007
3rd IEEE International Conference on Wireless Communications, Networking and Mobile Computing: September 21-23, 2007
WAGO Industrial Ethernet and IEC 61131-3 Seminar: September 24-26, 2007
National Manufacturing Week: September 24-27, 2007
BlueCielo Utilities Industry Seminar - Asset Information Management: September 26, 2007
PTO Free PROFINET 2007 Developer Workshops: October 2007 (exact date TBD)
ISA EXPO 2007: October 2-4, 2007
ISA holds Executive Summit at ISA EXPO: October 3, 2007
ZigBee Expo in Europe: October 4-5, 2007
Fieldbus Educational Seminar - San Juan, Puerto Rico: October 11, 2007
Global Packaging Forum: October 13, 2007
Midwest RFID Symposium: October 23-24
ISA Training Courses at WonderWorld: October 23-25, 2007
RoboDevelopment Conference and Exposition: October 25-26, 2007
Introduction to Fieldbus: October 27, 2007
Metalworking and CNC Machine Tool Show: November 6-10, 2007
OMAC Technical Symposium: November 28-29, 2007
International Manufacturing Technology (IMTS) 2008: September 8-13, 2008

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

Company & Organizational News

Emerson and Cisco collaborate on wireless solutions
Emerson and Cisco will offer open-standard solutions for wireless process and plant management applications that install easily and operate reliably.

ABB expects increased earnings from 2007 to 2011
ABB expects to increase revenues at almost twice the rate of market growth and three times the rate of global GDP growth over the period.

Honeywell joins ISA Security Compliance Institute
The ISA Security Compliance Institute will work to establish an ISASecure designation, which will identify and promote standards-compliant process control products and systems.

Other Company & Organization News:

Go to our Daily News Headlines page for the latest automation news.

Application News

Siemens to supply automation to Air Products
Siemens will supply automation and drives hardware, software and system solutions, as well as engineering, design, fabrication and support services.

ABB to provide control systems for offshore oil field in Australia
ABB is supplying integrated control and safety systems at the Vincent oilfield off the Australian coast – as well as electrification for the floating production vessel.

Matrikon supplies asset management software to PPL
Software includes Operational Insight, Alarm Manager, various OPC interfaces and Resolution Intelligent Plant Data Model to monitor equipment performance and reliability.

Other Application News:

Go to our Daily News Headlines page for the latest automation news.

New Jobs

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

To view other recent job postings, please use our Job Search Function. For recruiting and contract staffing services, please visit www.automationtechies.com.

Humor of the Week

Dilbert - Next time you need a diversion, throw out a Web 2.0 reference (then create a profile at My.Automation.com)

Goin' Fishin' - Marketing presents a wish list to engineering

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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