Leadership in Automation Body.

We noted the start of the elections for officers for the International Society of Automation (ISA) in early June. These are usually conducted on-line so the COVID-19 pandemic had little or no effect. The results have now been posted on the society website.

Carlos Mandolesi

Carlos Mandolesi is the newly elected President-Elect/Secretary for 2021 and President for 2022. He is originally from Brazil though he is now based in Dublin (IRL). He is very passionate about ISA and its vision of Creating a Better World Through Automation. He feels that there is a need to reduce the gap between strategy definition and strategy execution, to enable the achievement of this vision. He has been an ISA member for more than ten years holding various leadership positions within the society: Section Delegate, District 4 DVP, Division Director, co-founder of the new Smart Manufacturing and IIoT Division - and currently a member of the ISA Executive Board.

His professional journey includes jobs in Project Management, Six Sigma, Engineering, Sales & Marketing, and Information Technology and various leadership positions at General Electric (GE) and as an entrepreneur at Sigma Automation.

Carlos is currently a Portfolio Manager at Trinity College Dublin Programme Management Office (PMO). He has established a formidable reputation in a very short time - he moved to Dublin from his native land in late 2018. He has been instrumental in driving the implementation and adoption of the new PPM (Project Portfolio Management) system across college. “The PPM is a system to manage most projects and programmes in the college,” he said recently. It gives Executives, Sponsors, Programme and Project Managers near real-time information about their projects, and it gives PMO a bird’s-eye view of all ongoing projects with the necessary data to provide transparency and good governance. In 2019 he was nominated for the College Provost Award for his leadership in the project.

In this new position leading the International Society of Automation he crystallises his objectives using the three initial letters of the society - I.S.A.

- "I" International focus: we need to become a truly international society defining strategies to grow in our traditional markets (like the US and Canada) and high potential markets like India, Asia, Europe, Brazil and Latin America.

- "S" Society focus: We need to improve how our Society works, creating a growth, collaborative and agile mindset, offering more help to our Sections and Divisions to engage our membership and provide a better value proposition to them. I strongly believe that we need to give more attention to our members, including students and young professionals, as they are the reason we exist.

- "A" Automation focus: We need to become the leading automation association providing the best technical content (standards, publications, training and new services) to the automation market, expanding to new industries, markets and niches and making the bridge between traditional and emerging technologies.

It looks like the ISA, now celebrating its 75th birthday has an exciting and challenging future under his leadership.

The complete slate of officers elected this summer are listed here on the ISA website.

We wish them well in their labours for the discipline – Instrumentation, Systems and Automation.

@ISA_Interchange @ISA_EU @IrelandISA @isaseccolombia #PAuto #TandM #Brazil #Ireland

Automation association to have new CEO.

GAMBICA, Britain's association for instrumentation, control, automation and laboratory technology, has announced that Steve Brambley has been appointed to take over as Chief Executive with effect from 23rd January 2018. On this date, Dr Graeme Philp, the current Chief Executive, will retire after leading GAMBICA for over 7 years.

Steve Brambley

Steve Brambley has worked for GAMBICA for over 12 years, initially in charge of the Industrial Automation sector and more recently as Director of Public Affairs. There will be a transition period between now and 23rd January, during which Graeme and Steve will work together to hand over the role.

Welcoming Steve Brambley to the Chief Executive role, GAMBICA’s President, Ludo Chapman said, “I am delighted that Steve has agreed to take over the reins of GAMBICA at this most important time. Steve knows GAMBICA well and has been an important part of the team that has transformed our industry’s trade association in recent years. I look forward to working with Steve to continue the good work as we build on our influential position to ensure that the industry’s interests are represented in a time of unprecedented change."

Thanking Dr Philp for his leadership over the last seven years, GAMBICA’s Vice President, Steve Seddon said “At a time when the industries represented by GAMBICA are front and centre of the UK government’s Industrial Strategy, it is good to report that GAMBICA has emerged as one of the most effective and respected sector trade associations in the UK. The influence which GAMBICA commands in international standards and GAMBICA’s contacts in the EU will become invaluable as the government’s ties with Europe weaken as a result of Brexit. I would like to thank Graeme for his leadership in guiding GAMBICA to this position of influence and for delivering tangible value for its members”.

Dr Philp added “I want to thank Steve and the whole GAMBICA team for their support as we have developed the influence of GAMBICA and increased its engagement with member companies. We still have some distance to go if the UK industries we represent are to gain as much competitive advantage from membership of their trade associations as does, for example, German industry from theirs, but we have made great strides and I can think of no-one I would rather be entrusting the task of completing this work than Steve”.

Steve Brambley commented “It has been a great pleasure to work for Graeme and I’m honoured to have been chosen to take over the role. I’m excited at the opportunity to lead the highly effective GAMBICA team and to build on the momentum we have to take us even further in our goals as an Association”.

@gambica #PAuto #Britain

Automation discipline well served in Ireland.

The AGM of the Ireland Section of the International Society of Instrumentation (ISA) was held recently.  It will continue to foster new advances in automation systems and technologies through technical seminars, events and training.

Some members at the AGM with President 2017-2018 John Murphy (with chain of office!)

The record of the section continues to impress and this is underlined by the number of Section Members that continue the reputation of serving in various position on the world-wide governance of the Society. Last year saw election of Brian Curtis to the signal honour as international President for the 2018 term (Our report October 2016).  Earlier this year David O’Brien started a two year term as the District 12 (Europe, Middle East, Africa = EMEA) Vice President (2017-2018). Both Billy Walsh and Declan Lordan also serve on the Executive Board of the global Society. This participation continues the tradition of serving the international automation community since the section was founded over forty years ago. The Ireland section is unique in the sense that it has a committee of 14 members where three of them sit on the main and a fourth is a District 12 VP.  As Billy Walsh, the section Secretary commented "We are the smallest country in Europe population wise in relation to the other sections , yet we hold these four key positions!".

A programme of technical talks was completed during the year. A joint ISA/ISPE Seminar titled: “Data Paralysis to Predictive Analysis” was held for a full day at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) in Cork. This event was well attended and it featured a number of table-top exhibits.

The 2016 Section Honours and Awards celebration was held in the Common Room, UCC in December. The Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor P.J. Hourican was the guest of honour. The event was well attended.

The Ireland Section has always had a good relationship with the academic staff in Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and the education instructors within the Cork Education & Training Board (CETB). New links are been forged with the next generation of academic staff within CIT so as to promote ISA and continue a tradition that has existed for decades. Additionally, the section continues to maintain correspondence with key personnel within Institute of Technology Carlow (ITC) and Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB). It continually seeks to strengthen links with the departments in other educational establishments involved in automation.

A new committee was elected and the John Murphy was re-nominated and elected to continue with the role of ISA Ireland Section – President for 2017 / 2018. He said "As part of my re-newed goals and objectives as President of the section for the coming year is 
i) Further increased awareness on Cyber Security in industry with ISA99/IEC62433 training course in Ireland, due to its critical importance today to the Life Science / Manufacturing industry as we are facing a new era with security of automation systems in today’s digital age. i
i) Further promotion of new advances in automation systems and technologies through our technical seminars, events and training. This is being built on the already established foundation we have within the section."

He lauded the continuation of links with educational establishments and the interaction between members and these bodies.

Committee members include Billy Walsh*, Liam O’Brien, David O’Connor, Declan Lordan*, Brendan Curtis, Alan Bateman, Wayne Bursey, Tim Crowe, Edmond Cuffe, Brian Curtis*, Paul Murray, David O’Brien* and Aidan Smith.

* Also hold positions on the Global Executive Board or the EMEA District.

@IrelandISA  #PAuto #ISAuto

Benefits for automation & control professionals extolled!

As part of an established relationship with the ISA Ireland Section the section committee were invited to visit Rockwell Automation's local office in Cork (Irl) to give a briefing on the benefits that membership would bring to the many Engineers and Technicians in the company, especially in fast evolving world of Automation and Control.

LtoR: David O’Brien, ISA District 12 (EMEA) VP Elect; Brian Curtis, ISA Executive Board Member and President 2108 Elect; Trish Kelly, HR Manager Rockwell Automation; John Murphy, President ISA Ireland Section; Christophe Bourillon, Business Manager Life Sciences Rockwell EMEA; and Billy Walsh ISA Executive Board Member.

The committee was welcomed to the offices by Ms Trish Kelly, HR Manager, and Mr. Christophe Bourillon, Business Manager Life Sciences EMEA. They were enthusiastic about the involvement of the ISA Ireland Section and Rockwell Automation as a well established established partnership.

Rockwell Staff & Visitors

The ISA Ireland section committee members thanked  the company for the opportunity to come and meet with their team. Among the committee were two members of the ISA Executive Board, Brian Curtis, who was recently elected to take up the position of President of the Society in 2018, and Billy Walsh, who has served on the Board for several terms.

Declan Lordan, ISA Membership Chair give a full presentation on the benefits of ISA membership to the Automation Staff. He noted the availability of new online digital content that has been recently updated.

The Ireland Section President, John Murphy, updated the company on Ireland Section events for 2016/2017. He also spoke about the key benefits of ISA membership and association to access ISA Technical Knowledge, Standards and opportunities for developing future career skills through involvement directly and indirectly with committee members. He also emphasised the importance of Cyber Security and adapting to the changing technologies in Automation. "We need to protect Plant systems from real world attack vectors," he said. “The growing importance of cyber security standards in plant automation network security such as S95 is more important today than it ever was.”

More Pictures

Left to Right: Declan Lordan, Section Membership Chair; Christophe Bourillon, Business Manager Life Sciences EMEA; John Murphy, Section President; Brian Curtis, ISA Executive Board Member.

Left to Right: Christophe Bourillon, Business Manager Life Sciences EMEA; John Murphy, President ISA Ireland Section; Brian Curtis ISA Executive Board Member and ISA 2018 President Elect.

@IrelandISA @ROKAutomation #PAuto #ISAuto

White smoke at ISA!

The current president of the International Society of Automation, Jim Keaveney, has announced the result of the elections for Society Leaders and Officers held during September. "I extend my sincere thanks to the candidates for their willingness to stand for election and hearty congratulations to those who have been elected to serve the Society. I want to personally thank each of you who took time to cast a ballot," he said.

As usual there is a good cross section of industries represented in those elected.  The election of a member of the Ireland Section, Brian Curtis, marks the second time that a European has been elected to the position of President-elect Secretary. This is the start of a three year term as he will assume the Presidency in 2018 and the office of Past President in 2019. 

The terms of office of all these positions start in January 2017.

Brian J Curtis Society President-elect Secretary: Brian Curtis, Cobh, County Cork, Ireland. Highest elected office within ISA. President-elect Secretary serves one year, in second year automatically becomes President and in third year becomes “Past President. Society Treasurer: Thomas W. Devine, Cazenovia, New York, USA Chief financial officer of the Society. Two year term and is only Society officer who may be elected to serve consecutive terms. Executive Board Member: Geographic (2 seats) Carlos Eduardo Rodrigues Mandolesi, Itatiba, SP, Brazil James (Jim) Hunter Haw, Houston, Texas, USA Executive Board Member: Technical Jeremey Steven (Steve) Mustard, Houston, Texas, USA. Leaders working together at the executive level to set the strategic direction of the Society. Three year commitment and may be re-elected for a lifetime maximum of six years. Automation & Technology Department Vice President-elect: Grant T. Patterson, Tullahoma, Tennessee, USA. Publications Department Vice President-elect: Michael B. Fedenyszen, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Standards & Practices Department Vice President-elect:  Christian (Chris) Monchinski, Neptune, New Jersey, USA. Strategic Planning Department Vice President-elect:  Yesid Alberto Yermanos Aldana, Bogota, Colombia. Leaders serving at the assembly level to provide oversight to the Society’s operational and technical departments. Four-year commitment—two years as Vice President-elect and two years as Vice President. #ISA #PAuto

American Chemical Council has new affiliate.

Yokogawa Corporation of America has been approved as an affiliate member by the Board of Directors for the American Chemical Council (ACC). The ACC is America’s oldest trade association of its kind, representing companies engaged in the business of chemistry.

About American Chemical Council
The American Chemical Council’s mission is to deliver business value through exceptional advocacy using best-in-class member performance, political engagement, communica-tions and scientific research. We are committed to sustainable development by fostering progress in our economy, environment and society.
ACC is America’s oldest trade association of its kind, representing companies engaged in the business of chemistry – an innovative, $801 billion enterprise that is helping solve the biggest challenges facing our nation and the world.
ACC supports public policies that will drive creation of groundbreaking products that improve lives and our environment, enhance the economic vitality of communities and protect public health.

“ACC had a strong year of growth in 2015 and continues to add to that with the addition of these new members,” said ACC President and CEO Cal Dooley. “As our membership expands, ACC continues to strengthen its position as the leading voice of the chemical industry throughout the value chain.”

ACC affiliate members consist of the chemical industry’s value chain partners and are not chemical manufacturers. Affiliate membership requires participation in an approved environment, health, safety, and security performance program. Yokogawa has OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 certifications.

“We are excited to strenghten our relationship with the ACC as an affiliate member,” said Daniel Duncan, President and CEO of Yokogawa Corporation of America. “We look forward to exchanging ideas, strengthening ties with chemical manufacturers, and delivering increased value in operational excellence, capital expenditure efficiency, and lifecycle sustainability as a leading automation supplier.”

@YokogawaIA @AmChemistry #PAuto #USA

New chairman selected for processing & packaging entity.

The Director- Corporate Market Development at Stemmer Imaging, Mark Williamson, has been elected as the next Chairman of the PPMA (Processing & Packaging Machinery Association). He has also been elected to serve on the Board of VDMA Machine Vision for the next three years.

Mark Williamson

The PPMA is the Britain's trade association for suppliers of processing and packaging machinery to world markets and represents over 400 member and associate companies. VDMA Machine Vision is a subgroup within the VDMA Robotics + Automation Association in Germany, with over 100 member companies supplying machine vision components and systems for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing applications across Europe.

Williamson is a former Chairman of the UKIVA (UK Industrial Vision Association) and joined the PPMA Board in 2010 when the UKIVA became a special interest group of the PPMA and continues to be an active member of the UKIVA committee. He becomes Vice-Chair to current PPMA Chairman, Grant Jamieson, from December 2015 and will take up his 2-year appointment as Chairman in December 2016. In 2018 he will revert to the position of Vice-Chair for a further year to support the then incoming Chairman.

Williamson commented: “It is a great honour to be invited to take up two such important roles in the industry. Having served for 12 years as UKIVA Chairman and been part of the PPMA Board for 5 years I have seen a significant growth in the adoption of vision technology in the processing and packaging industry. I look forward to further developing the interests of the processing and packaging sector as a whole during my tenure as Chairman.”

“As one of three non-German members on the new Board of VDMA Machine Vision, I also look forward, together with my colleagues from Belgium and Italy, to bringing a pan-European perspective to VDMA Machine Vision,” he continued. “With individual trade associations playing an important role in representing local vision companies' interests, our aim is to further broaden understanding of the market opportunities across different countries.”

New head appointed for Society of Operations Engineers

The Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) has announced that Peter Walsh has been named as the organisation’s next Chief Executive.

Walsh is to be responsible for leading the membership organisation in promoting the advancement of engineering and supporting engineering professionals. He brings to the role experience that spans a broad spectrum of engineering and a keen interest in professional development.

A Chartered Engineer and Chartered Environmentalist, Walsh is presently employed as a Senior Project Manager for GBM Minerals Engineering Consultants Ltd. He will join SOE at the beginning of July before taking on his new role in August.

Current SOE Chief Executive Nick Jones, who retires this summer, says: “SOE is pleased to welcome Peter as a valuable addition to the organisation. I am confident that he will use his wealth of experience and passion for professional development to the great benefit of the Society and its members.”

Walsh is a fellow of SOE and its Professional Sector IPlantE, and has extensive experience in facilities management, power generation and mineral processing industries. He also holds qualifications in business administration and law, being admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2008. No stranger to membership organisations, Walsh has served as Honorary Secretary and Honorary Chair on the management committee of the UK Chapter of Engineers Australia.

On accepting the position, Walsh says: “I am very proud to call myself an engineer, and am passionate about the recognition of engineering as a profession. I look forward to engaging with SOE members to increase their participation in the Society’s activities, and make membership of the institution as relevant for engineers as possible. I want to see the Society of Operations Engineers thrive and grow as a professional engineering institution as we enter this next phase of our life, and I am very pleased to be able to help drive this growth.”

Another voice to advance automation!

The Measurement, Control & Automation Association (MCAA) has signed a Memorandum of Membership with the Automation Federation (AF). As the newest member, MCAA has agreed to collaborate with the other member organisations to advance the automation profession.

The Automation Federation is an association of member organizations providing awareness, programs and services that continually advance all facets of the automation profession. The Automation Federation serves as the “Voice of Automation” by providing advocacy and industry-wide strategic analysis and coordination through its member organizations. The Automation Federation is bringing like-minded organizations, like MCAA, together to create a stronger "Voice" that will further spread the messages about the importance of the automation profession and the need to develop the next generation of automation professionals.

Cynthia Esher, President MCAA

MCAA is a trade association whose purpose is bringing process control providers together to develop the resources they need to prosper. The organization helps the management teams of process control product and solution providers run and grow successful businesses by offering timely, unique and highly specialized resources acquired from shared management benchmarks and strategies where proprietary company information is secure. Because of the interest of its membership in workforce development, MCAA recognized the valuable work of the Automation Federation and has joined the Automation Federation as its fourteenth member organization.

MCAA President, Cynthia Esher, said today, “One of our primary concerns is Workforce Development. Our Association has taken interest in the work of the Automation Federation to promote the next generation of automation professionals. MCAA will join with the other organizations in the Automation Federation to create more visibility for our industry with our future workforce. We’re interested in this effort from all levels: high schools, trade schools, technical schools and engineering schools. We recognize the strength of the alliance we are making through membership in the Automation Federation and believe that together we can make a difference in this vital area.”

“The Automation Federation welcomes MCAA as our newest member organization. I know MCAA’s support and participation will strengthen our workforce development efforts significantly. I look forward to working together for the advancement of the automation profession,” said 2012 Automation Federation Chair, Leo Staples.

New president of the French Mecatronics Association (ARTEMA)

We all know that the French have elected a new president in their country but the French Mecatronics community also has a new president in Bruno Grandjean of REDEX.

ARTEMA represents some 120 companies, employing a total of nearly 30,000 people in France and generates an industrial activity of €5billion. With a strong Mechatronics orientation in common, these companies represent 80% of the country's production.

With a consolidated turnover of €50m and 7 subsidiaries across the world, 300 employees worldwide and an export rate of 90%, REDEX is a European leader in Mechatronics providing critical components for ultra-high precision machines around the world. Planes, cars or boat manufacturing as well as wind mills or power plants are manufactured on the most modern machines equipped with.

REDEX Drives, justifying the company’s motto: "Great Achievements start with us". REDEX products are 100% built in Europe and demonstrate the strength of European Engineering.

Bruno Grandjean, 47 years old, has joined REDEX in 1995 after a working in the aerospace industry. He holds a degree in Engineering and a Master of Science from Stanford University.

Website to streamline info delivery!

The new web site improves the user experience by simplifying access to product and technical information.

The Mechatrolink Members Association (MMA) has updated its web site to streamline the delivery of information. The new web site has improved graphics and an updated layout, making it easier to use. A new search engine on the product page provides easier access to updated technical and product information.

The site also simplifies the member registration process for equipment companies, systems integrators and individuals. The login process for existing members has also been streamlined.

As part of the new website launch, the MMA is offering a free membership upgrade to new members. Entry Level membership has always been free, but this drive allows companies to join at a higher grade of membership—as a Regular Member—with added benefits. An annual Regular Membership in MMA normally costs $1,500, but until March 31, 2012, it’s free. The free membership is good until March 31, 2013, at which point it can renewed on an annual basis.

The site is available in English, Japanese, Korean, and both simplified and traditional Chinese.

Member recertification announced

Tesco Controls, (CA US)  has recently recertified as a Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) Certified member.

In other membership news from the association, the following companies became new associate members:

• Engineering Unlimited, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.
• Global Production Solutions, Shawnee, Okla.
• Golder Associates, Lakewood, Colo.
• O'Brien & Gere, Syracuse, N.Y.
• Soluciones Automaticas Ltda, Bogota, Colombia
• Strategic Automation Services LLC, Houston, Texas
• Triad Power & Controls, Browns Summit, N.C.
(all in the USA)

Motors & Controls Corp,  (WA USA) is a new partner member.

To become a CSIA Certified member, a member company must pass an intensive audit process with stringent performance standards categories in nine categories: general management, financial management, project management, quality management, technical management, human resources management and marketing, business development and sales management.

Certified members are re-audited every three years and recertified if they meet current performance standards. The certification criteria is spelled out in CSIA’s Best Practices and Benchmarks, the accepted roadmap for system integrators committed to delivering the level of quality, performance and long-term support their customers expect.

System integrators new members!

The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) announces that Revere Control Systems, Birmingham (AL USA) recently became recertified as a CSIA Certified member.

In other membership news, the following companies became new associate members:

Control Systems West, Inc., Petaluma, (CA USA).

Cosylab d.d., Ljubljana, (SI)

PCI, LLC, Detroit, (Mich USA).

River Cities Engineering, Davenport, (IO USA), is a new participating member. State Electric Supply Company, Winston Salem, N.C., is a new partner member.

To become a CSIA Certified member, a member company must pass an intensive audit process with stringent performance standards categories in nine categories: general management, financial management, project management, quality management, technical management, human resources management and marketing, business development and sales management.

Certified members are re-audited every three years and recertified if they meet current performance standards. The certification criteria is spelled out in CSIA’s Best Practices and Benchmarks, the accepted roadmap for system integrators committed to delivering the level of quality, performance and long-term support their customers expect.  

Six new members

Six companies have recently joined The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA)

Founded in 1994, the Control System Integrators Association is a global organization dedicated to advancing control system integration for the success of its members and their clients.

New associate members include:

• B&D Industrial, Macon, (GA US)
  
• NOFFZ Computer Technology, Toenisvorst, North-Rhine Westfalia, (D)

New participating members are:

• Brasil Logic Sistemas, Indaiatuba, Sao Paulo, (BZ)
• Guadalupe y Hernandez, San Martin Texmelucan, Puebla, (MX)
• Industrial Process Group, LLC, Warsaw, (IND US)

Control Technology Corporation, Hopkinton, (MA US), is a new partner member.

The CSIA 2012 Executive Conference, April 25 – 28, at the Talking Stick Resort, Scottsdale (AZ US) and we're told that the programme is building nicely. Details on the website shortly! 

New members announced!

McEnery Automation, St. Louis (MO US) recently became CSIA Certified and MAVERICK Technologies, Columbia, (ILL US)., recently became recertified with The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA).

New associate members include:

Acadeus, Overland Park, Kan.
Autopro Automation Consultants Ltd., Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada
Corpus Christi Electric Co., Inc., Corpus Christi, Texas
Deterministic Systems Inc., Walnut Creek, Cal.
Downey Engineering, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
NE Tech Solutions S.A., San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico

To become a CSIA Certified member, a member company must pass an intensive audit process with stringent performance standards categories in nine categories: general management, financial management, project management, quality management, technical management, human resources management and marketing, business development and sales management.

Certified members are re-audited every three years and recertified if they meet current performance standards. The certification criteria is spelled out in CSIA’s Best Practices and Benchmarks, the accepted roadmap for system integrators committed to delivering the level of quality, performance and long-term support their customers expect.

Another member announced for automation body

The American Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Education Foundation has become one of the newest members of the Automation Federation (AF).

One of the messages AF spreads on behalf of its member organizations is the importance of the automation profession and the need to develop the next generation of automation professionals. To build momentum and support for its workforce development initiatives—including the promotion of K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and the Automation Competency Model—AF is working to bring like-minded organizations together to create a stronger “Voice.” The membership of Continental Automated Buildings Association(CABA)was announced earlier this month.

The SME Education Foundation is committed to the educational needs of American youth and inspiring them to excel in STEM education; providing access to rigorous educational opportunities through financial support with awards and scholarships; and funding project-based curricula and activities designed to motivate learning.

Over its 30-year history, the SME Education Foundation has invested $5.3 million in youth programs, helping nearly 20,000 to explore career opportunities in STEM education; granted/funded over $4.7 million in scholarships to students pursuing manufacturing-related careers; and invested $8.5 million in grants to 35 colleges and universities to develop industry-driven curricula.

The SME Education Foundation joined AF as part of their major initiative to change public perception of manufacturing. In today’s economy, in-demand jobs are increasingly high-tech and require STEM skill sets. Everything is dependent on making engineering visible and relevant in the eyes of K-12 students, teachers, counselors and parents.

Nelson Ninin, 2011 Automation Federation chair, said,  "I am pleased that the SME Education Foundation has joined the Automation Federation. Our two organizations share a common goal to reach out to our youth about the importance of STEM for their futures. I look forward to the opportunities we can pursue together to achieve this goal.”

Says Khalil Taraman, president, SME Education Foundation, “The SME Education Foundation is aligning itself with organizations that share its vision for advanced manufacturing careers and the demanding STEM-based education these careers require. AF and SME Education Foundation’s joint resources will help AF promote careers in automation, as well as support the SME Education Foundation’s interest in expanding Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) centers now being established in high schools across the country.”

New member for automation body!

The Automation Federation (AF) and the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) recently signed a memorandum of membership initiating CABA as one of the newest members of the Automation Federation.

AF is an association of member organizations providing awareness, programs, and services that continually advance all facets of the automation profession. AF serves as the “Voice of Automation” by providing advocacy and industry-wide strategic analysis and coordination through its member organizations. AF recognizes the importance of bringing like-minded organizations together to create a stronger “Voice” that represents the whole profession, including the home and building automation sector.

CABA, an international, nonprofit industry association dedicated to the advancement of intelligent home and intelligent building technologies, is supported by nearly 400 companies involved in the design, manufacture, installation and retailing of products relating to home automation and building automation.

Through its membership in AF, CABA will work with AF and the other AF member organizations to collaborate on educational improvements; new technology, recommended and best practices, and standards development and promotion; and dedication to improving the working environment of the automation profession.

 “CABA is absolutely gratified to be entering into an agreement with the Automation Federation,” stated Ronald J. Zimmer, CABA president and CEO. “We believe that this agreement will lay the foundations for a strong alliance within the wider automation industry and represent a significant milestone toward enhancing industry productivity, progress and profitability.”

“The Automation Federation is glad to welcome CABA as one of our newest members. We look forward to working together to advance the home and building automation sector and the automation profession as a whole," stated Mike Marlowe, managing director of the Automation Federation. "Together, our organizations can further our common objectives to promote the Automation Competency Model, advance the automation profession and advocate the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education for our youth."

FDI

Accelerated deployment of Field Device Integration accepted

Foundation joins other industry leaders in recent expansion of EDDL Cooperation Team into new FDI Cooperation

The HART® Communication Foundation announces its support of accelerating the deployment of the Field Device Integration (FDI) technology by enlarging the scope of the EDDL Cooperation Team into the new FDI Cooperation. The FDI Cooperation supports a uniform device integration solution for process industries across all control and host systems, devices and field device communication protocols as requested by end users around the world.

The new cooperation initially consists of major technology trade organizations, FDT Group, Fieldbus Foundation, HART Communication Foundation, OPC Foundation and PROFIBUS Nutzerorganisation, and control equipment supplier companies, ABB, Emerson, Endress+Hauser, Honeywell, Invensys, Siemens, and Yokogawa. The addition of these supplier companies, who have agreed to support FDI solutions in their systems and products, will provide valuable resources for the completion of this project.

“The Foundation fully supports the development of a unified device integration solution. Not only are we working towards fulfilling the requirements of our global users but we are also simplifying the development and support requirements for suppliers,” says HART Communication Foundation Executive Director Ron Helson. “Simplifying the integration of a variety of devices manufactured by different suppliers into multiple control and asset management systems is our common goal.”

In addition to the finalization of the FDI specification, which is scheduled for mid 2010, the scope of the enlarged FDI Cooperation is to cover common design and test tools, common binary format and interpreter across the protocols of HART, FF and PROFIBUS.

The FDI project was initially kicked-off at the 2007 Hanover Fair at which time ECT welcomed FDT Group with the primary objective of harmonizing EDDL and FDT/DTM technologies. Since then, the project has carefully shaped the technology direction for the converged FDI solution.

InTech

ISA Announces New Chief Editor for InTech

The International Society of Automation is pleased to announce Bill Lydon, automation industry writer, analyst, and consultant, as the new chief editor of InTech, beginning January 2010. Lydon will lead the InTech editorial team and manage the strategy and content of the print, digital, and online versions of the magazine in collaboration with the InTech Editorial Advisory Board. He will draw from the expertise of ISA’s Members and leaders to focus on the most important automation industry news and trends, and provide unbiased coverage of the automation market. Subject-matter experts will develop stories and cover the important industry issues outlined in the 2010 InTech editorial calendar to meet the technical information needs of automation professionals around the world.

Lydon brings more than 10 years of writing and editing expertise to InTech, plus more than 25 years of experience designing and applying technology in the automation and controls industry. Lydon started his career as a designer of computer-based machine tool controls; in other positions, he applied programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and process control technology. In addition to working at various large companies (e.g., Sundstrand, Johnson Controls, and Wago), Lydon served a two-year stint as part of a five-person task group, where he designed controls, automation systems, and software for chiller and boiler plant optimization. He was also a product manager for a multimillion-dollar controls and automation product line and president of an industrial control software company.

“It is indeed fortunate that we have been able to have somebody as well qualified as Bill Lydon,” said Vitor Finkel, ISA Publications Department vice president. “Here is somebody who has dirtied his hands, so to speak, with real instruments. Not only that, but he also has experience in designing automation software. He is one of those rare people with practical experience and the ability to write—the ideal person to be at the helm of the leading automation publication.”

“InTech,” says Lydon, “is the conduit for ISA Members to share their rich and valuable sources of knowledge to improve controls and automation effectiveness.”

Trained as a group problem-solving facilitator at the Creative Education Foundation, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, Lydon now facilitates groups to help them solve problems and identify opportunities. “I hold those people who work in controls and automation in the highest esteem,” comments Lydon, “and I believe their honorable professions are key to industry, society, and the environment.”

In addition to serving as chief editor of InTech, Lydon also will continue his independent editorial work with other companies, such as Automation.com. This arrangement further strengthens ISA’s newly announced partnership with Automation.com to jointly publish several e-newsletters for InTech and Automation.com subscribers.

#ISAExpo

Exhibition and conference replaces conference and …
This is the unedited report on ISAExpo 2009 from Industrial Automation Insider, November issue.

As had been widely predicted, the International Society of Automation (ISA) duly announced during last month’s ISA Expo in Houston that the current show would be the last. According to ISA’s own figures, the event attracted a total of 8,500 attendees, barely sufficient to raise its status above that of a local event and certainly not enough, according to most reports, to make the 61,500 square foot exhibition with 364 exhibitor companies look anything other than thinly attended.

Although the announcement has triggered a further round of criticism of the organisation, by no means all of it constructive, it’s only fair to say that the ISA Show, as most still call it, has simply gone the same way as most other process automation industry exhibitions across the world, succumbing to a fatal pincer movement between, on the one hand, the internet and, on the other, the growing success of the major vendors’ own user conferences, including, for example, the recent Emerson Exchange in Florida and Honeywell’s European HUG in Lisbon.

ISA has in fact held on longer than most. The UK’s once hugely successful - and for a long time vastly profitable - Control & Instrumentation (C&I) Show succumbed in 2000 while the once mighty Interkama abandoned its traditional venue in Düsseldorf and threw in its lot with the Hanover Fair in 2003.

New format
Where ISA may come in for more justifiable criticism is in its choice of what to do now. The precedents for reviving this type of event in a new format are hardly encouraging. C&I organizers Centaur, it may be remembered, announced with something of a flourish at the time of the demise of the C&I Show that it would be reborn in a new event to be known as Integrated Automation Solutions, only to strangle the new show at birth just a few months later. Even Interkama, on life support at
Hanover, has little impact outside Germany, with most of the major vendors feeling they can safely ignore it.

More important, perhaps, is the fact that in markets which no longer have a major process automation event, nobody seems to miss them or even contemplates trying to start one. One group which does seem to miss such events is that of the smaller instrument vendors who valued the opportunity to the gain exposure to the larger audience which the major vendors were thought to attract. With those major vendors long gone, however, that’s largely wishful thinking, particularly at a time when technology has provided smaller companies with an almost infinite variety of other ways of reaching that audience directly, at lower cost and on equal terms with their very largest competitors. Those still lamenting the passing of the major shows have either failed to get to grips with the opportunities presented by the new media or are simply lamenting the loss of those three days off the leash and away from home and family.

Set against that background, what is the ISA now proposing? In its own words, a new intensive technical conference to be held from October 4th to 7th 2010 at the Westin Galleria in Houston. To be known as ISA Automation Week, it is to be accompanied by “an exhibition featuring leading suppliers of automation and control products and services” and will coincide with and provide a venue for the annual face-to-face meetings of ISA’s standards committees and working groups in its Industry Standards Forum.

If that sounds pretty much like the mixture as before, ISA executive director and CEO Patrick Gouhin begs to differ. “ISA Automation Week is organized around a different model than ISA has used in the past. The new model focuses on the conference as the center of the event, because we believe that automation and control professionals at every level seek knowledge above all else. By centering the event on the conference, we can help exhibitors create more successful interactions with serious and focused attendees at all levels.”

Jerry Cockrell - "It's all about knowledge"

$950 conference fee
Whether conference delegates will pay a higher conference fee – said to be of the order of $950 - and attend in sufficient numbers to justify the participation of exhibitors must be the key question. While the ISA top brass, including Automation Week Program Committee co-chair and 2009 ISA president Jerry Cockrell of Indiana State University – “It’s all about knowledge” - and 2010 ISA president Nelson Ninin, president of Yokogawa America Do Sul - “We believe that an educated prospect is a qualified prospect” - are enthusiastic, long term critics of the organisation are less than hopeful. Jim Pinto, for example, writes in his Connections for Growth & Success newsletter that “I predict it will be a flop (less than 100 paying attendees).”

As well as announcing Automation Week, ISA also confirmed that it had outsourced all of its electronic newsletter activity to Automation.com. The most significant deliverable from the agreement is a co-branded weekly e-newsletter to be known as Automation Weekly, production and distribution of which has already commenced. There will also be quarterly topic specific e-newsletters devoted to a wide range of topics from building automation to control panels and motion control to SCADA, though whether these, or Automation Weekly itself, will consist of anything more than compilations of vendors’ press releases remains to be seen. The chief attraction of the deal from Automation.com’s point of view is, of course, access to the 75,000 strong ISA mailing list which will enable it to boost the combined total distribution of its e-newsletters to some 90,000 “world-wide automation professionals”.

Infrequent InTech
Since the original announcement, ISA has also revealed that its flagship InTech magazine is to become a bimonthly with effect from next February, with six print issues scheduled for 2010. At the same time Automation.com is also taking over responsibility for advertising sales for the print, digital, and online editions and Richard Simpson, InTech’s publisher for
the past 15 years, is joining Automation.com. Quite what the future holds for InTech editorial staff, including editor Greg Hale, is at this stage unclear but Pinto reports 30% staff cuts at ISA’s headquarters which sounds ominous.

As critics such as Pinto and CONTROL’s Walt Boyes have pointed out many times in the past, ISA is grappling with the challenge of being a volunteer led organisation faced with problems which even the most professional of commercial organisations are finding near insuperable. Against that background the outsourcing route, which has been followed by a number of other similar organisations, is almost certainly the only viable long term solution, not just for ISA’s electronic publishing activities, but for InTech magazine and, indeed, for any related exhibition and conference ventures. It’s hard to believe that incoming ISA Publications Department VP-elect Eoin Ó Riain, with his own long print and electronic publishing experience with Read-out magazine and web site, won’t draw the same conclusion.