by Gary Mintchell | Apr 30, 2012 | Events, Technology
One thing I’ve tried to do for years is figure out a way to get representatives of all the various industrial Ethernet networks together in one place. Cut the BS. Answer the pointed questions. Let people figure out what works best for them.
Well, it’s finally happening May 23 at The Automation Conference. I will be moderating a panel of experts. If you come, you can get your questions answered. All erroneous “facts” spouted by one organization about another can be outed and let the truth fall where it may.
The session is dubbed: “What’s the Difference? An Examination of the Fiedlbus & Ethernet Network Protocol Options”.
Presenter are:
Chuck Lukasik, Director, CC-Link Partner Association;
Joey Stubbs, North American Rep, EtherCAT Technology Group;
Rich Harwell, Chief Technology Officer for ODVA and Advanced Solutions Manager at Eaton, representing Ethernet/IP;
Carl Henning, Deputy Director, PI North America representing PROFINET;
Shaun Kneller, Key Accounts Mgr. at B&R Industrial Automation, representing Ethernet PowerLink;
Scott Hibbard, VP Technology Factory Automation at Bosch Rexroth Corp., representing SERCOS North America.
by Gary Mintchell | Apr 29, 2012 | Automation, Standards
TC5 on Safety releases extensions to the basic Safety specification
In February 2006, PLCopen published its Safety Specification Part 1 – Concepts and Function Blocks for Safety Functions. Since then it became obvious that additional functionalities were needed. The additions are partly dealt with in a new document: Part 3 – Extensions to the Function Blocks.
These new function blocks extend the scope of the specification, and harmonize the diagnostics interface for easier handling by the user.
This new specification has now been released for comments until June 22, 2012 as version 0.99. The document, as well as a feedback form for your input, can be downloaded from PLCopen.
New activity: Engineering of Distributed Systems
PLCopen has started a new activity in cooperation with CAN in Automation.
The kick-off meeting for this event was held in February. During this meeting the goals were defined and the first ideas were generated.
Increasingly machine builders are faced with distributed control systems, in particular in medical devices, in mobile machinery, and in modular machines. In general, you can design distributed control systems with IEC 61131 compliant controllers. However, you need some manufacturer-specific additions to achieve this. In order to close this gap, PLCopen and CiA call for experts to address the necessary functionalities. This includes the standardization of communication mechanism for starting and stopping other controllers, to share computing power and other resources, to support fault tolerant systems, and to react on events generated by other controllers.
As one of the basic ideas that came out of this meeting, is to be able to link variables in different engineering systems via a top level architecture in a very easy way. For this the concept of a proxy function block was presented and discussed. Via PLCopen XML one can make the interface available to the higher level engineering system, which can generate a proxy based on the imported functionality which can be exported the relevant information to the other engineering system while representing the overall structure.
The next meeting will be held at the CiA headquarters in Nuremberg on May 8 from 10:00 – 16:00 (approx..). Contact Wendelien Wesselink via an email to [email protected] if you want to participate in this meeting.
PLCopen was founded in 1992 as an independent worldwide association for industrial suppliers and users. It is the leading association resolving topics related to industrial control programming. PLCopen creates concepts to reduce the costs of industrial automation. These cost savings are realized in areas such as engineering, training, operation and maintenance. Together with its members, PLCopen creates specifications to materialize these concepts.
by Gary Mintchell | Apr 28, 2012 | Leadership
Recorded another podcast last week. Following up on my article in Automation World. Emphasizing vision, articulation, emotional stability.
by Gary Mintchell | Apr 24, 2012 | Events
ABB Automation and Power World
ABB Automation and Power World conference returned to the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston April 23-26 welcoming some 5,500 registrants. Some numbers: 50 countries represented, over 500 workshops, 130,000 sq ft of exhibit hall, 15 partners.
When I arrived Monday afternoon, the expo hall was open. As I wandered around getting my bearings and meeting old acquaintances, I found a large pavilion dedicated to automation and control. Nice to see a renewed public emphasis on that.
In the automation area were a number of cool things going on including an eye-scan demonstration that tracks participants eye movement around a screen. Web page designers have used such technology, but here it is used to improve operator interface. ABB is also devoting much investment in control room improvements.
Kicking off the keynotes, Enrique Santacana, CEO ABB Inc, reminded us of how 2011-2012 has been a year of economic shocks globally, but he expects robust business climate in 2012 and beyond for industrial automation and electric power–drivers include industrial productivity, (he added, if you are not investing in this, you will go out of business); grid reliability, transmission congestion, aging infrastructure; exponential growth in data driven processes; increased availability of natural gas from shale; energy efficiency, will see a lot invested here. The common denominator is sustained investment. He also noted that every one of those drivers lies within ABB’s sweet spot.
Joe Hogan, CEO of ABB Group, is perhaps the most charismatic CEO in the industry right now. Some notes from his keynote:
The T&B acquisition (expected to close Q2) is a growth acquisition that brings new things to the company, just as Baldor did. It also brings a world-class distribution system.
ABB technology ventures, invested $100 million so far; trilliant Industrial defender, power assure, pentalium, ecotality, validus, green volts; 6 of 8 are US based, so innovation still here.
Five components of ABB strategy:
- driving competitiveness (and stay relevant in current markets
- capitalize on megatrends (be in markets where there is growth)
- aggressively expand core business to secure next level of growth (services is emphasis)
- find and exploit disruptive opportunities (create a new market all together)
by Gary Mintchell | Apr 23, 2012 | Leadership
I’ve studied leadership my entire life. As a little kid, I read biographies voraciously. Later I studied political leadership and then organizational leadership at the university. I still read everything I can on the subject. (I just wish I exhibited more of what I know!)
I devoted the cover story of the March issue of Automation World to the subject. The research for the article culminated in a couple of themes: having a vision and articulating that vision such that you can get others to align with it.
Along with that foundation, you need some personal characteristics including integrity, ethics, passion and believing in (and caring about) people.
I’m en route to Houston and the ABB Automation and Power World conference. I think Joe Hogan, the CEO, is an example of leadership in the industry. It’ll be interesting to catch up after a year and see where he’s been taking the company.
As we all try to be leaders in our organizations (and I hope you all are), these are good things to integrate into your life. And you may not be CEO, but they are just as applicable within a team, department, plant or division.
Michael Hyatt also writes on leadership at times. I like his blog. It’s a great read. In this post, there is a list of characteristics that I’ve included here to whet your appetite to read the whole blog:
Here are twelve ways to know if you are a leader:
- You long to make a difference.
- You’re discontent and dissatisfied with the status quo.
- You’re not waiting on a bigger staff or more resources to accomplish your vision.
- Your dreams are so big they seem impossible.
- You acknowledge what is but inevitably ask, “What could be?”
- You realize that you don’t have to be in charge to have significant influence.
- You refuse to blame others for your circumstances and take responsibility for finding solutions.
- You foster unity by bringing people together and encouraging dialogue.
- You are quick to say, “I messed up. Here’s what I am going to do to fix the problem I created.”
- You value relationships more than tasks.
- You walk your talk—not perfectly but sincerely and intentionally.
- You are a learner. You read, listen to podcasts, attend conferences, and ask other leaders lots of questions.
