The dream job: everyone is looking for it, precious few are blessed to have it and, as far as I’m concerned, I just landed it. The October issue marks my first month on the job as editorial director for Control Engineering.

Growing up in Lawrence, MA, a city where old textile mills dominate the landscape and line the shores of the Merrimack River, manufacturing has always been a source of unending fascination and a vital part of my life. My Dad built the foundation for his career by working in the tanneries of neighboring Haverhill. The mills and canals of Lowell—the birthplace of America’s Industrial Revolution—were a favorite field trip destination. Heck, last month I even spent one of my vacation days touring a Midwest auto plant where an old college friend is an engineer. Simply stated: I love this stuff.

Spending the majority of my life in and around the manufacturing space has also provided a window into the remarkable changes affecting our industry, particularly during the past few decades. Outsourcing and offshoring have dramatically changed the landscape of our business and, to a large degree, the world. The emergence and adoption of Internet-based technologies have redefined how the plant, the front office and the customer share information and interact. Today the “green” movement is forcing all of us to take a good hard look at how we use our natural resources and how our activities impact the natural world around us.

These “big picture” trends invariably create an impact which is felt by every individual within the plant and every link in the supply chain. The technology you rely upon for your day-to-day activities will always change and evolve, with older systems making way for bold innovations such as nanotechnology and increasingly sophisticated power analysis and protection solutions, both of which you can read about in this month’s issue.

Throughout all of these changes, however, there has been one constant: Control Engineering. For more than half a century, this publication has covered the full spectrum of issues affecting our industry and will continue to grow and evolve to ensure that we always keep pace with your changing needs.

You see, ultimately Control Engineering is your magazine. The editorial team is here to deliver the information you need, when you need it and in whatever format you prefer—be it via printed magazine, podcast, blog, newsletter, or any of the other vehicles we use. That’s why I encourage you to interact and let us know how we’re doing.

I’ve spent the bulk of this article introducing myself, so now it’s your turn. Contact me at marc.moschetto@reedbusiness.com with any questions, comments or recommendations for future topics. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for reading.

marc.moschetto@reedbusiness.com