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Automation Weekly - Collaboration in action, OPC drives OEE, Hydraulics web resource, Automated test summit
The May 7, 2008 issue of our Automation Weekly eNewsletter is online now. This issue includes an editorial on collaboration in action with Statoil, IBM and ABB; an article on how OPC drives overall equipment efficiency, plus the latest automation news and products. Sponsored by AutomationDirect, FESTO and IndConn
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2008 Automation Salary Survey
Automation.com is surveying automation professionals about current salaries. Find out how you stack up. Please take a minute to complete our survey and then pass it on to your automation friends and colleagues. Survey results will be published in early spring 2008.
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Winning in business
By Jim Pinto
Winning is the lifeblood of any society. People who work in successful businesses are happier, more motivated and achieve yet more success. Here are some ideas to help you win in your business.
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Two Years Later: A Look at the Demand Driven Supply Chain Technology
By Thomas R. Cutler
Materials and Plant Managers improve productivity through automation of repetitive, time-consuming management functions as well as elimination of waste built into manual kanban card process. In a Demand Driven Supply Chain (DDSC) there is instant availability of real-time inventory data as well as an automatic calculation of proper replenishment levels. Much has changed about Demand Driven Supply Chain issues and technology in the past two years.
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Digitize Work Processes with Industrial Workflow Execution
By GE Fanuc
Workflows are a key element to connecting and managing flexible work processes that can be very dynamic. By leveraging a common reference model and workflow engine layered on with transformational innovation specifically to improve production operations, companies can enable workflows to execute across many systems. (Registration required)
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XML Control Logic Standard Gains Acceptance as Digital Factory Interface
By Bill Lydon, Managing Director, PLCopen North America
Open non-proprietary interface allows users to pick the best of breed production hardware and software including PLC, PAC, PLM, modeling, and simulation software to make virtual design and production simulation a reality.
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An overview of Wireless Device Adoption in the European Process Industry
By Karthikeyan Balasubramaniyam, Frost & Sullivan
Wireless devices are gradually entering into the European process industries. A plethora of challenges, such as proving greater reliability and security, need to be overcome if these devices are to witness higher penetration into the process industries.
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Wanted: Partnerships to develop energy alternatives
By Jim Pinto
The development of energy alternatives is a big, new market with major opportunities for automation companies, an inflection point that could bring burgeoning growth for leaders and innovators who are willing to develop partnership and take bold new steps.
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Automation Professionals Seek Missing Link for Transactional Six Sigma
by Thomas R. Cutler
Many manufacturing organizations fail to achieve the full benefit of Six Sigma efforts because their tools lack connectivity to the business systems generating the data.
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Manufacturers from All Disciplines Discuss Key Challenges
By Larry O'Brien, ARC Advisory Group
The 2008 ARC Forum in Orlando highlighted some of the key challenges faced by end users across all manufacturing disciplines. End users from Dow, Boeing, Bristol Meyers Squibb and General Motors talked about some of the recent key projects they implemented, lessons learned, and obstacles overcome. Many of these revolved around common themes of getting the best possible performance out of your employees and your partners, leveraging standardization while making room for site specific requirements, and leveraging technology to create a real business value proposition.
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Simplifying Integration Logic Development
by Joel Nash, As One Technologies
As business operations evolve they require richer and more widespread inter-process integration. Because each case involves a unique combination of technologies and business rules, shrink-wrapped MES packages cannot implement the rich integration that is needed. The requirement goes well beyond communication pipes and protocols, integration requires developing custom software. The problem is that custom software is difficult to develop and maintain.
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Troubleshooting OPC and DCOM: Quick Start Guide
by Randy Kondor, OPC Training Institute
OPC is a powerful industrial communication standard. However, OPC relies on having DCOM work properly. Luckily, DCOM problems can usually be overcome with relatively simple configuration changes as documented in this whitepaper.
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Business growth barriers & plateaus for Automation suppliers
by Jim Pinto
There are several obstacles/plateaus/barriers to growth which are important to understand. Recognition of these growth patterns allows companies to plan for survival beyond the initial entrepreneurial stages towards the next levels of growth and success.
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Food Automation Operations Face Increasing Rigor
By Thomas R Cutler
Automation is the only solution for problems in the food processing industry. Labor issues, the increasing need for traceability, food safety, and competition from low-cost global manufacturing fuel the growing trend toward increased automation in the sector.
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OPC & DCOM: 5 things you need to know
by Randy Kondor, OPC Training Institute
OPC technology relies on Microsoft's COM and DCOM to exchange data between automation hardware and software; however it can be frustrating for new users to configure DCOM properly. This whitepaper discusses the steps necessary to get DCOM working properly and securely.
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2008 Pinto’s Pointers – Technologies & Markets
by Jim Pinto
Because of its fragmentation, low volumes and conservative customer base, industrial automation is relatively slow to change. In the broad automation markets, there are pockets of technology and market growth that deserve special review. Here are Jim Pinto’s pointers and prognostications regarding the top automation technology and market trends that will gain traction in the coming year.
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Improving Plant Production with Wireless Condition Monitoring
by Jim Ralston, ProSoft Technology
Mechanical failure of motors, drives and other vital electromechanical equipment are among the most common reasons for production stoppages. Fortunately, recent advancements in vibration monitoring and data analysis have lead to condition monitoring systems that can accurately detect a problem before failure, thus reducing costly machine shutdowns and maximizing production output.
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European Export Boom 2008
by Thomas R. Cutler
While consumers just added thousands of dollars more debt to their credit cards and bears and bulls at the stock exchange take turns predicting gloom or boom times, the U.S. economy trade data at an annualized rate is nearing 20% improvement. Strengthening the demand for U.S. goods are the powerful overseas economies combined with a very weak dollar, which has dropped a corresponding 20% over the past five years.
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Meeting the Changing Needs of Manufacturers Through Advanced System Integration Practices
by John Nichols, Apex Manufacturing Solutions
A systems integrator not only adds value through traditional automation systems, but also by integrating control systems, quality systems, supply chain networks, enterprise documentation systems, asset management systems, business systems, and intra/internets to provide a holistic view of all aspects of a manufacturing company’s business.
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The flip-side of Techno-productivity
by Jim Pinto
Technology has changed the dynamics of how we communicate, live and even think. It's made our lives easier in many ways. But it's also causing deeper problems, causing stress and anxiety for many people, new disabilities and new realms of social misbehavior.
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Automation lifts the burdens on U.S. manufacturing
by John Engler
Manufacturers in the United States shoulder many burdens as they compete in the tough global marketplace, working to overcome wrong-headed government policies that add unnecessary costs to production. Yet, all these challenges notwithstanding, the U.S. manufacturing sector remains the strongest in the world, setting new records for productivity year after year
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Manufacturing strategies in the global environment
by Jim Pinto
Over the past decade, many companies have adopted new strategies for manufacturing, which has taken competitiveness on to new planes. A whole array of initiatives have been introduced, collectively labeled "new wave manufacturing."
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Risk Management and Opportunity
Risk management and its compatriot, opportunity, bring many surprises. Dick Morley had to toss his pre-conceived notions of risk management out the window in order to write this column. In one interview, risk management was described as a never-ending leadership function across the entire project and enterprise. Read Dick’s perspective on risk management and the corresponding opportunities that can emerge
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Third Generation Simulation Solves Process Industry Challenges
By Mynah Technologies
Third-generation simulation software solves the industry’s complex needs and delivers significant results with minimal risk and investment. This white paper shows how using simulation for testing and training has proven benefits for capital project execution (CAPEX) and operational excellence (OPEX) initiatives.
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Using Operator Interfaces to Optimize Performance of Industrial Wireless Networks
By Jim Ralston, Prosoft Technology
This article will explore the use of a wireless diagnostic OLE for Process Control (OPC) server technology to embed diagnostic information in human machine interfaces (HMIs), thus optimizing industrial wireless network performance.
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Beyond F.U.D.: How to start securing your DCS network today
By Doug Clifton - Invensys Process Systems
Cyber Security is much more than a firewall; it's education, data integrity, protection of intellectual property and so forth. The worse thing you can do is wait another minute to do something to start securing your network. This white paper shows how to get started
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Smart Sensor and Prognostics for Self-Maintenance Machines
By Advantech eAutomation
IMS Center researchers have developed a toolbox of algorithms which is capable of converting sensor data and operating conditions to useful information that is indicative of a machine’s level of performance and health. The system monitors degradation rate of components and predicts the likelihood of failure and health of machine. This approach is called predictive maintenance, or prognostics.
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HMI: Build versus Buy?
by QSI Corporation
Any manufacturer of complex machines that include a human machine interface (HMI) must face a crucial decision: should you build your own HMI or should you buy them ready-made from an outside source? This free white paper provides readers with pros and cons to tough questions to consider when deciding whether to build a human machine interface solution in-house or buy a third-party HMI
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Salary Survey Results for 2007
Our 2007 salary survey results are in. Find our how you stack with with other automation professionals based on job function, industry type, education level, years of experience, etc.
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Six Decisions You Must Get Right Before Upgrading Your Automation System
By Control Systems International
Automation upgrades often fail because buyers fail to make a few critical decisions early in the upgrade process. This report identifies the critical decisions you must make early and correctly in order for your upgrade project to be cost effective, achieve your goals, and reduce the risk of incorrect startup and operation
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More articles and white papers by topic in our Product Portals
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