Automation, Productivity and Manufacturing Jobs

by | Jul 25, 2010 | Automation

Retired packaging engineer and OMAC leader, Keith Campbell, has returned from his sailing vacation to post a couple of comments about packaging.

First, he predicts that good times are ahead for packaging machinery. Why, especially in this still stagnant economy? “Because the only way to increase earnings on weak sales is through gains in productivity.”

Then he notes that the bar for entry level workers in manufacturing continues to be raised. He received a call asking if he knew where to find graduating students from a mechatronics education program to fill entry level operator positions.

Yes, Keith is right, there. The era of unskilled people earning middle-class incomes (if such a thing exists in today’s America) in manufacturing is long over. If you’re unskilled, you can find some jobs in manufacturing. But the pay will be just above minimum wage–and you’ll probably be a temporary worker. Manufacturing jobs that pay a reasonable wage will require education, training and skills.

Automation Conference Second Season

by | Jul 24, 2010 | Automation

The late summer and fall conference season is about to take off (I’d say heat up, but it’s been almost as hot in Ohio as in Austin, where I’ll be in 10 days). If any of these appeal to you, there is still time to register. See you there. Don’t forget to shout out if you see me.

The first week in August feature National Instruments’ NI Week. Also that week is the PTO annual general meeting. I’ll be in Austin with NI. Automation World’s digital managing editor Grant Gerke will be covering the US Profibus event in Phoenix.

This year appears to be a little slender in events. The next one I’ll be at is Emerson Exchange, this year in San Antonio, Sept. 27-Oct. 1.

Then is mid-October (18-20) is the Invensys Ops Manage Conference in Orlando.

The first week of November features duelling events. I’ll be in Orlando at Rockwell Automation’s Process Systems User Group Nov. 1-2 and Automation Fair Nov. 3-4. Meanwhile Managing Editor Wes Iversen and the rest of the staff will be at Chicago’s McCormick Place at Pack Expo.



Another Milestone for WirelessHart

by | Jul 23, 2010 | Automation, Technology, Wireless

The Hart Communication Foundation has announced that the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has approved the WirelessHart specification as a European National Standard (EN 62591). CEN released the standard to CENELEC, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, whose members are the national electrotechnical committees of 31 European countries. CENELEC approved the WirelessHART European Standard on 01 June 2010.

“In March, the WirelessHart specification was approved by the International Electrotechnical Commission as a full international standard (IEC 62591Ed. 1.0),” says Ron Helson, Executive Director of the Hart Communication Foundation. “Approval as a European National Standard further confirms acceptance of the technology by users and suppliers as a technically sound, reliable and secure solution for wireless communication in process automation.”

The IEC Standard was approved by CENELEC as a European Standard without any modification. According to the announcement of approval issued by CENELEC, “members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration”.

A growing number of WirelessHart compatible products are available today from major global suppliers including ABB, Emerson, Endress+Hauser, MACTek, Nivis, Phoenix Contact, Pepperl+Fuchs, Siemens and others.

Released in September 2007, WirelessHart is an open and interoperable wireless communication standard designed to address the critical needs of industry for reliable, robust and secure wireless communication in real-time industrial process measurement and control applications.

WirelessHart is a backward compatible, evolutionary enhancement to the Hart Communication Protocol, the leading communication technology for intelligent process measurement and control field devices and systems with more than 30 million devices installed and operating in process plant applications around the globe.

The CEN was founded in 1961. Its 30 national members work together to develop European Standards (ENs) in various sectors to build a European internal market for goods and services and to position Europe in the global economy. CENELEC is a non-profit technical organization set up under Belgian law. CENELEC members have been working together in the interests of European harmonization since the 1950s, creating both standards requested by the market and harmonized standards in support of European legislation.

The Hart Communication Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit membership organization that provides global support for the application of Hart technology. The Foundation is the technology owner, standards setting body and central authority on the Hart Communication Protocol, establishing and controlling new technology developments and enhancements that support the needs of the process automation industry. Founded in 1993, Foundation membership includes more than 230 companies worldwide.

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