After a 6-month hiatus for various personal reasons, I’ve decided to go back to podcasts. Hopefully a little more regularly now. Even in the 6 months of no new material, my site still averaged over 300 downloads–and someone bought the app. Thank you.
This one recaps my experiences at the MARTS Conference this week.
Here is the first part of my interview with former head of Emerson Process Management, John Berra. Today is his last day on the job after 41 years in the industry. I hope you’ll hear more from his perspective as an industry leader in the future. The interview went longer than that, and you’ll see more in a couple of days here and at Automation World.
Many of you have heard by now that the founder and publisher of Automation World passed away Wednesday. Dave Harvey was a leader and well known fixture in the controls and automation space. He fought a courageous battle with cancer. He’ll be missed by us all. He’s also the person who took a chance on this country boy to build his magazine. For that, I’ll always be grateful. Here’s the tribute the staff wrote and a link to an online memorial for those who knew him and can’t make it up for the wake or funeral.
If you prefer to download audio, here’s that version of my essay taking off on the BP safety oil rig situation and the worm that attacked Siemens’ HMI/SCADA.
OK, my wife doesn’t read any of my blogs (thank God), but still I have to wish her happy anniversary for putting up with me for 40 years as of today (yes, we married right out of grammar school :-). All of you who know me can sympathize with her. (Yes, I remembered to get a card even though I’ve been traveling. And yes, I bought a present–thanks to Internet shopping. I’m not a complete social misfit–just partial. Yes, I’m taking her out for dinner. In return, I get to watch soccer.)
The June 2010 issue of Automation World is live on the Web. The first issue was June 2003. Can’t believe I’ve had this job for over seven years. It’s almost the longest tenure I’ve had in my career–and the longest time I’ve had the same position.
I’m home for a couple of days. I’ll recap the RSTechEd event in the next post with a caveat from Wes Iversen who attended the Siemens Industry event in North Carolina. I’m interviewing a bunch of people today to wrap up an article on real-time decision making.
During my visits this week, I was asked what makes AW different from the engineering magazines in the field. My first response which is actually the same idea we started with is that we look at the Why of automation. Engineering magazines are often product-centered. They tell you What. Sometimes they may get into How. But with the expansion of the Web that can give you What and companies more and more issuing papers on How, the independent voice explaining to the broader manufacturing engineering and management population Why you should look at new technologies and systems is the key. We started that way, and I still believe that we’re on the right track.
