Although not an engineer himself, poet Robert Burns once wrote, “the best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry.” Automation engineers know a lot can go wrong when designing a machine, programming a computer, or building anything that involves automation equipment, computers, and sensors.
There is increasing attention by control system vendors to enhance cyber security and operate better in corporate IT environments. This attention is good because cyber threats are not decreasing and, at the same time, corporate IT environments are becoming more protected.
Constant diagnostic evaluation of electric motor-operated valves (MOVs) has become an important tool for asset management, predictive maintenance programs, troubleshooting, and scheduled periodic maintenance.
A manufacturer recently lost more than $100,000 in downtime-related costs after an unknown individual made a timing change in an automated grease system.
Practitioners of control engineering generally like things spelled out when they can get it, and those revising the ISA batch control standard believe their three-year revision clarifies quite a bit. And, they say, the standard continues to become more usable for applications outside of batch control.
Indiana Veneers has seen good times come and go in its 117 years in business, but the current global recession has given it new challenges to face and adapt to. The Indianapolis-based company specializes in hardwood veneers exported to 42 countries for use in furniture and paneling.
Just about everywhere! In July we put out the call to our readers to show us how and where they read Control Engineering. Many were eager to not only take us up on the offer, but inject more than a little humor into the process as well.
When the melamine-contaminated baby milk scandal broke out in China, public attention focused more on the product quality and safety of China’s diary industry than ever before