Automation and controls might be getting more open and easy to work with after OMAC (Open, Modular, Architecture Control User Group) announced a Corporate Membership program.

A key benefit members receive is a seat on the OMAC Technical Advisory Board (TAB), which advises the Board of Directors on technical direction, strategy and goals. Each will be an appointed representative for each of the OMAC Corporate Member companies. This opportunity is a Corporate Member benefit only, and will last the term of one year or the length of time the company remains a paid Corporate Member.

For its first two years of operation (2008-2010), the three co-chairs of TAB will be appointed by the Board of Directors. Two have already been named: Doug Gray of Coors, and Bob Tain of Okuma. In subsequent years, co-chairs will be one-year-term elected positions, with nominations coming from TAB members.

Tasks to be performed by TAB include conducting quarterly meetings to address OMAC initiatives, providing reports to the Board of Directors on the status progress of OMAC initiatives, promoting and supporting OMAC programs and initiatives, and serving as the technical voice and conduit between membership and leadership.

According to Bruno Kisala, managing director of the Automation Federation, “The TAB will serve as the voice of our corporate members, a mechanism that never existed in the past. It will give our corporate members the ability to identify common industry issues and challenges, allow them to articulate their thoughts to the OMAC leadership for evaluation and action, and serve as a conduit for greater industry collaboration in developing solutions. The members of the TAB are in an excellent position to influence change and shape the technical direction and future of OMAC.”

www.omac.org