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FCI's ST100 Series Air/Gas Flow Meters Are Future-Ready

FCI's ST100 Series Air/Gas Flow Meters are feature-rich, adaptable instruments for industrial process and plant applications.

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ISA Fall Training Institute

Don't miss a spectrum of technical training!

The International Society of Automation (ISA) - known around the world for its top-notch automation and control training - is bringing a spectrum of 25 technical training courses focused on practical technology, theory, and applications to one location.

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Welcome to this Special Edition of ISA Automation Week Daily Update. Instead of our typical e-newsletters this week, we will be sending out three issues of this Daily Update (on October 18, 19 & 20) which will cover highlights from ISA's Automation Week in Mobile, AL, USA.

ISA Automation Week's opening day a success
ISA Automation Week 2011 leaped into action Tuesday morning with an information-packed keynote address by automation legend, Charles Cutler. Following Cutler, eight tracks of technical sessions launched for approximately 300 conference attendees in Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center in Mobile, Ala.

Lipták talks automation irony: High influence, low understanding
By Ellen Fussell Policastro
Automation consultant Béla Lipták will tackle the problems underlying the automation industry, the challenges it faces now, and where it is headed for the future.

The perfect husband
Just before the Tuesday morning keynote speech at ISA Automation Week, Greg McMillian spoke about the ISA Mentor program, the demand for automation engineers and the top ten reasons why an automation engineer makes a perfect spouse.

Rockwell Automation increases customers' efficiency, productivity with PlantPAx
PlantPAx combines the plant-wide control technologies and scalability of Integrated Architecture with all the core capabilities expected in a DCS.

Attendees deeply engaged at Wireless, Cybersecurity, and Control Systems session
Track: Wireless Technology and Applications
The combination of in-room attendance (at 65+), informative presentations by Jorge Carvajal (Westinghouse Electric Co.), Mitra Maghaddam (Fluor), and Wayne Manges and Peter Fuhr (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), and the vibrancy of wireless technologies made for a lively 90 minutes.

Large scale sensor networks key to improved plant operations
By Jim Cahill
Track: Wireless Technology and Applications
Mark Nixon of Emerson Process Management gave a tutorial on large-scale sensor networks. His presentation covered Evolution of wireless sensor networks applications, scaling-up sensor networks, and the WirelessHART and ISA100.11a wireless communications standards.

Tips, examples for successful project management
By Bill Lydon, Editor of InTech Magazine
Track: Installation, Operations & Maintenance
This technical session at ISA Automation Week covered how to select a qualified systems integrator and automation project management best practices.

Project management: Reduce risk and increase chances of success
Track: Human Asset Optimization
During the past four years, Dave Adler has conducted research on pharmaceutical automation technology, costs, and benefits. The results were data driven, representing more than 50 new highly automated facilities and recently completed automation projects.

How to survive a Stuxnet attack
Track: Safety & Security
Andrew Ginter explained in detail how Stuxnet spread on Tuesday at ISA Automation Week. This session showed that when money, expertise, and time were not an issue, a piece of malware such as Stuxnet could be very sophisticated and successful.

Energy management improves energy efficiency
By Bill Lydon, Editor of InTech Magazine
Track: Energy
Three presenters related their experiences and insights into applying methods to more efficiently use energy in production processes during a Tuesday technical session at ISA Automation Week.

ARC Inside provides insider view of what to expect in automation in coming years
Track: Advanced Process Control Techniques
ARC Advisory Group Research Director Wil Chin reviewed the outlook for the global automation market in the coming years at ISA Automation Week on Tuesday in Mobile, Ala. Markets that will invest the most on automation over the next five years include Upstream Oil & Gas, Electric Power, and Chemicals.

Social media: Why do we care? How do we put it to work?
Track: Human Asset Optimization
Telesian Technology's Juliann Grant provided a great overview on Tuesday at ISA Automation Week on the growing importance of social media in an ISA Management Division presentation, "Social Media: Why Do We Care, How Do You Put it to Work?"

The ISA Technician Guide series covers calibration, loop checking, troubleshooting, start-up, and project management, but several other books are also available on programmable logic controllers (PLCs), PID control, maintenance, and more to help you get ahead in your career.

Stop by the ISA Bookstore and take advantage of a special 20% discount off all five Technician Guide series of books, or you can view the entire series online at www.isa.org/link/TechSeries.

Start-Up: A Technician's Guide, 2nd Edition - $69.00
This book explores and explains the crucial role a technician plays in the start-up process of a newly built or substantially changed manufacturing plant or control system.

Project Management: A Technician's Guide - $69.00
This text explores project management from a technician's perspective. Subjects include documentation requirements, communication requirements, planning & resource coordination, monitoring & control, administration, and closeout.

Win a Kindle!
While visiting the onsite ISA Bookstore, take advantage of the great opportunity to view the technical books and CD-ROM resources onsite. As an added bonus, you can also enter your name into a drawing to win a new Kindle loaded with select ISA eBooks. A raffle will take place at 3:15 p.m. each day. You can enter one time per day, but you must be present to win. Don't miss out on this $400 value!

Browse more Books on the ISA Automation Week Portal.

ISA Publications department honors authors at awards ceremony
Held in the Mardi Gras Theater on Tuesday evening at ISA Automation Week 2011, several authors received awards for their contributions to InTech magazine, ISA Books, ISA Transactions, and Standards.

The real strength: Celebrating ISA Division leadership
On Monday evening in Mobile, Ala., ISA honored many people for outstanding service to our industry and to the Society at the 49th Annual Honors & Awards Gala. On Tuesday, a more intimate gathering honored the volunteers who often labor quietly in the background in the various ISA Divisions.

Browse more ISA News on the ISA Automation Week Portal.

Tomorrow is Technician Day - A burn to learn
Technicians are gearing up for a full day of hands-on workshops, calibration best practices, PLC techniques, and a special mini boot camp at the first-ever Technician Day being held in Mobile, Ala.

Fun, food meets solutions, experts during opening networking reception
Hundreds of attendees wrapped up their first full conference day in Mobile, Ala., by joining us at the opening night reception. Featuring food and beverage, fun, and great conversations, this reception captured the true spirit of ISA Automation Week - and then some!

Steel plant tour receives glowing reviews from participants
One of the opening events at ISA Automation Week 2011 was a plant tour of ThyssenKrupp Steel USA in Calvert, Ala., about 45 minutes outside of Mobile. Approximately 60 conference attendees took part in the tour, which allowed them inside the hot strip mill.

Wednesday's Question of the Day
What technology are you and/or your company excited to learn more about while at ISA Automation Week 2011?

What's happening around town?
Wednesday, 19 October
Tonight is a big night on the showcase floor! Our Mardi Gras Reception-Celebrating FIRST® will feature light snacks and beverages and lots of fun. We are sure you will leave the reception with a big appetite for both fun and food! Here are some recommendations for tonight.

Navigate your way through ISA Automation Week with PathFinder
Navigate your way through the dozens of conference options with PathFinder. PathFinder assists you in selecting your own unique combination of sessions - a conference "path" - that shapes a learning experience suited to your individual job function and professional goals.

Join the Twitter conversation at ISA Automation Week with #isautowk
Share your ISA Automation Week 2011 experiences with other attendees and to the rest of the world via Twitter. During ISA Automation Week 2011, a Twitter feed will be displayed on the concourse by the technical session rooms. Learn how to join the conversation.