Standard for distributed workflow system integration.

The International Society of Automation (ISA) has issued a call for participants to join the new ISA113 Standard Committee, a strategic initiative focused on defining a specification for integrating distributed workflow systems across multiple vendor platforms.*

The ISA113 Standard Committee is being formed to address a growing need for improved interoperability across workflow systems used in industrial organisations. Many teams face a significant burden from bespoke, one-off integration projects required to connect workflow systems. ISA113 aims to create a standard that bridges workflow styles, decouples workflow logic from where work happens, establishes action-based integration for operational technology (OT)/IT workflows and builds a foundation for multi-system orchestration.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is to publish the official call for ISA113 committee members today (20 March 2026)

. The call for interested parties will remain open for 30 days following this publication date. Individuals with relevant expertise and interest in contributing to this effort are encouraged to participate.

One particular area of emphasis for the committee’s work will be enabling interoperability between orchestrated workflows and choreographed workflows. Orchestrated workflows, such as ISA-88-style hierarchical procedures and phases, are widely used in industrial automation and batch control environments. Choreographed workflows, which are common in Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN), manufacturing execution systems (MES) and broader business process environments, support more distributed and event-driven process coordination. As organisations undergo digital transformation, they increasingly rely on both styles, and the need for seamless integration between them has become more urgent.

“The goal of initiating the ISA113 Standard Committee is to help bridge OT/IT workflow styles,” said Steve Ferguson (right), managing director of standards and technical activities at ISA. “This work has the potential to help organisations improve efficiency, reduce integration risk and support more scalable digital transformation initiatives. A vendor-neutral standard can also foster greater collaboration across suppliers, end users, integrators and software providers.”

ISA welcomes participation from end users, automation suppliers, software vendors, system integrators, consultants and other stakeholders with expertise in workflow systems, industrial automation, MES, BPMN and standards development. Broad representation will be essential to ensuring the resulting standard reflects diverse industry needs and delivers practical value.

Those interested in helping shape the future of distributed workflow interoperability are encouraged to respond during the 30-day ANSI call period.

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* For additional information or to express interest, contact standards@isa.org.

@ISA_Automation @ansidotorg @ISAIreland @automation_com #PAuto #ISA113 #Standards

Alarm management standard approved!

ANSI/ISA-18.2, Management of Alarm Systems for the Process Industries, changed the world of alarm management when first published in 2009 with the introduction of activities grouped into the alarm management lifecycle. That lifecycle has since become globally recognized as the standard has been adopted by the International Electrotechnical Commission and found wide use across the process industry sectors. Suite of Alarm Management Stds! Drawing on knowledge gained from six years of extensive application throughout industry, the ISA18 committee has completed an updated version of the standard that has been approved by the American National Standards Institute as ANSI/ISA-18.2-2016. This revision was led by ISA18 co-chairs Donald Dunn, Director of Engineering in the Amarillo Division, Phillips 66, and Nicholas Sands, Global Alarm Management Leader for DuPont and a Manufacturing Technology Fellow for DuPont Protection Solutions. (Nick Sands led one of the training sessions on Alarm System Management at the FPID Symposium in Cork earlier this year.) Among the key changes in the new version of the standard, point out Sands and Dunn, are stronger requirements for control systems to have the functions to support good alarm management practices, new requirements for package systems such as compressors and heat trace systems, and clarifications in some terminology.  The ISA18 committee has published and continues to develop ISA technical reports that provide guidance and support in using the standard. Three new ISA18 technical reports are expected to be published this year—covering Alarm Philosophy, Alarm Identification and Rationalization, and Alarm Management for Utilizing Packaged Systems. Previously completed technical reports cover Basic Alarm Design; Alarm System Monitoring, Assessment, and Auditing; Enhanced and Advanced Alarm Methods; and Alarm Systems for Batch and Discrete Processes. #PAuto #ISAuto @ansidotorg @isainterchange

Security standard certification

Secure Embedded Device Security Assurance Certification accepted as ANSI Pilot Accreditation Program

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB)/ACLASS brand have launched a formal pilot accreditation program based on the requirements of the ISA Security Compliance Institute (ISCI) ISASecure™ Embedded Device Security Assurance (EDSA) certification program.

ISASecure recognizes and promotes cyber-secure products and practices for industrial automation suppliers and operational sites. A new agreement between ISCI, ANSI, and ACLASS establishes ANSI/ACLASS as the Accreditation Body for organizations that provide product certifications in accordance with the ISASecure EDSA conformance scheme as well as ISO/IEC Guide 65, General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems.

"This announcement is a major milestone in the ISCI ISASecure EDSA certification program,” stated Andre Ristaino, ISCI managing director. "With our device certification requirements and lab accreditation requirements complete, we can now accredit labs to international standards to provide certification services. The ANSI/ACLASS accreditation requirement supports our goal to operate a credible, globally recognized certification program.”

Third-party accreditation by ANSI/ACLASS enhances the credibility and value of the ISASecure process by attesting to the competence and qualification of certification bodies and laboratories, offering them a significant distinction from their competitors in the marketplace.

Companies desiring to become an accredited ISASecure EDSA certification body and/or laboratory should visit the ANSI website, for a description of the ISASecure EDSA program and information on accreditation requirements, fees, and the application process. The 30-day open period to apply for accreditation under the pilot program begins on 2 August 2010, and ends on 1 September 2010.

“The industry’s vision to set up a globally recognized security assessment program for our automation control systems is being realized through ISCI,” explained Ivan Susanto, manager PCN & SCADA security of Chevron and ISCI board vice-chairman. “This program establishes a clearly articulated baseline level of security for automation controls bearing the ISASecure certification. It will simplify procurement processes for many companies because it provides clarity for control systems suppliers on security requirements and we, as asset owners, can build our security effort on top of the ISASecure certification baseline.”

“ANSI/ACLASS are proud to be selected by ISCI as accreditor for a program that contributes to the safety and security of systems controlling critical infrastructure,” stated Lane Hallenbeck, ANSI vice president for accreditation services.

The ANSI/ACLASS accreditation program will be implemented in accordance with all relevant international standards, including ISO/IEC 17011, Conformity Assessment – General Requirements for Accreditation Bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies. The ANSI/ACLASS program will assess the competence of Chartered Certification Bodies and Laboratories against the requirements of the international standards ISO/IEC Guide 65 and ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, as well as the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) Mandatory Document for the Application of ISO/IEC Guide 65, and the additional requirements as specified by the ISASecure EDSA certification program.