Security at Orlando in February.

Experts representing the Automation Federation and the ISA Security Compliance Institute have been selected to speak at the 20th Annual ARC Industry Forum, which will be held 8-11 February 2016 in Orlando, (FL USA). This year’s ARC Industry Forum, titled “Industry in Transition: Navigating the New Age of Innovation,” is designed to provide answers to these and other compelling questions: How are leading companies preparing for the new age of industrial innovation? In what ways do these companies expect to improve their business performance? What specific capabilities are needed to achieve transformational change? What steps can organizations take to foster innovative thinking? Two leaders representing the Automation Federation—an association founded by the International Society of Automation (ISA) to serve as the “The Voice of Automation”—will explain how competency models can help community colleges, industry and government address the critical shortage of qualified professionals in advanced manufacturing. Today, six out of 10 production jobs remain open because of the talent shortage, according to a recent study by The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte. Some experts predict that up to 2 million manufacturing jobs in the US may go unfilled over the next 10 years. “The Automation Federation has been working with the US Department of Labor to develop competency models that serve as building blocks for careers in automation, industrial cybersecurity and engineering technology,” says Steve Huffman, Chairman of the Automation Federation’s Government Relations Committee. “These models clearly outline the abilities, knowledge and skills required to gain employment and perform well in these high-demand professions.” Huffman, a widely recognized expert in process systems optimization, new application development and technical education, will join fellow Automation Federation leader Steve Mustard, who specializes in process automation and business process reengineering, in leading a workshop on the use of competency models in defining cybersecurity skills. Also participating in the workshop are Jen Worth, Senior Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development at the American Association of Community Colleges; and Mitchell Sepaugh, Project Manager of Industrial Systems at the National Consortium for Mission Critical Operations. The four workshop panelists also will discuss the fundamental differences between certificate programs, certifications and licensure.  All are often misunderstood and each has a different set of advantages and disadvantages. Also at the upcoming ARC Industry Forum, Jeff Melrose—the Principal Technology Strategist for Cybersecurity at Yokogawa—will speak on behalf of the ISA Security Compliance Institute (ISCI) during a workshop on cybersecurity and the plant engineer. ISCI, founded in 2007 by asset owners and suppliers, operates a standards-based cybersecurity certification program that certifies commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) industrial automation control systems (IACS) to the ISA/IEC 62443 standards for devices and systems. The ISASecure® designation provides assurances that IACS products conform to industry-consensus cybersecurity standards, such as ISA/IEC 62443.    Among other topics, the workshop will explore how mounting industrial cybersecurity concerns are placing greater pressures on plant managers to improve security while maintaining operational safety and reliability. Speakers will consider the influence of technology, workplace skills and effective risk assessment in achieving satisfactory outcomes. Actual case studies from end users will be discussed, and panelists will welcome feedback from the workshop participants.  @ARCWorldForum #PAuto