Articles and News
1,146 Results Found
-
AutoQuiz: How Are the Maintainability and Maintenance of Automation Systems Related?
Maintainability is the probability that a device will be restored to an operating condition within a specified period when maintenance is done with prescribed resources and procedures. -
National Tooling and Machining Association announces Roger Atkins as President
He previously held every officer position for NTMA at the national level, including serving as NTMA Chairman in 2012, and served in every officer position in the Houston, Texas NTMA chapter. -
AutoQuiz: How to Use the Parity System to Detect Data Transmission Errors
Parity is a simple method using a binary code (“1” or “0”) to detect data transmission errors by making the sum of the “1” bits in the source data either an odd or an even number. -
My Journey on a "Yellow Brick" Path to Becoming an ISA Fellow
ISA author and leak detection expert Ed Farmers shares his life experiences in industrial automation on the road to becoming an ISA Fellow. -
AutoQuiz: What Electrical Event Can Occur With a 24 VDC Open-Collector Output Sinking Configuration?
An NPN (sinking) open-collector, when “energized,” switches the load side of the relay (at terminal “A”) to ground (terminal “B”). -
AutoQuiz: What Device Is Used to Convert an Analog Signal From a Transmitter to the Signal Required by a Digital Controller?
A digital controller requires a digital signal as its input. A 4-20 mA transmitter outputs an analog signal. Therefore, a device to convert an analog (A) signal to a digital (D) is required. -
AutoQuiz: What Are the NPV and IRR Methods for Evaluating Industrial Automation System Capital Investments?
Net present value (NPV) by itself is not a good indicator of the viability of a project or a good differentiator between two competing projects. -
AutoQuiz: What Is the Logical Analysis Troubleshooting Method for an Industrial Process?
Once a problem is identified in an industrial process, data must be gathered and analyzed to determine a viable set of potential actions and solutions. -
AutoQuiz: What Should an Engineer Include in a Final Automation Project Report to Senior Management?
An executive summary and bullet-item lists for an automation project allows managers them to understand the basic outcomes and conclusions of your project. -
AutoQuiz: What Is the Purpose of an Instrument Location Plan?
Instrument location plans are most often used to support new plant installations and give the installer information about the actual physical location of the installation of an instrument. -
How to Solve the Biggest Maintenance Challenges in the Oil & Gas Industry
The future of the oil & gas industry will depend on operators that can survive the industry’s highly volatile nature and still achieve operational excellence in all areas of business, including mainte -
AutoQuiz: What Is the Significance of the Fieldbus Intrinsic Safety Concept?
The fieldbus intrinsic safety concept simplifies the rules governing energy storage in field cables and makes more power available to the fieldbus trunk. -
AutoQuiz: Which Valve Actuation Method Is Best for a Very Large Force and a Small Actuator?
Hydraulic actuators are driven by a high-pressure fluid (up to 4,000 psig) that can be delivered to the actuator by a pump that is remote from the actuator itself. -
AutoQuiz: What Are the Benefits of Self-Study Workbooks for Operator Training?
Self-study workbooks ensure that all students have been exposed to the same learning objectives and material. -
AutoQuiz: How are Pressure Changes Measured in Industrial Applications?
For most pressure applications, changes in pressure are detected by the change in deflection of a measuring diaphragm. -
AutoQuiz: What Are the Cybersecurity Risks to a Geothermal Plant?
Automation systems are vulnerable to many cybersecurity risks, but email viruses pose the least risk to disrupt operations and create an emergency situation. -
AutoQuiz: Technical Characteristics of the Open Systems Interconnection Model
The presentation layer for protocols used in control systems provides the translation of data received into a usable format, such as binary data from a programmable logic controller into floating poin -
AutoQuiz: How to Install Thermocouple Extension Wires
Proper installation of thermocouple extension wires requires special terminal blocks to prevent additional junctions from being formed. -
Licensure, ISA Turning 75, and the 2019 Annual Leadership Conference
ISA 2019 President Paul Gruhn discusses critical industry issues related to professional licensure. He also celebrates ISA's 75th birthday and invites readers to attend the annual ISA leadership confe -
AutoQuiz: How Are Errors Corrected in Industrial Network Data Communications?
Cyclic redundancy checking is a method of checking for errors in data that has been transmitted on a communications link.













