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Can't control engineers get along with anybody?
Lately I've been reminded of a critical bit of information: Control engineers don't seem to be able to get along with anybody. To wit:
In a recent announcement from Rockwell Automation and Dassault that they are partnering in digital manufacturing efforts. Our article says the partnership is "more closely linking product design to manufacturing and redefining how the mechanical engineer and the control engineer collaborate." Is that a diplomatic way of saying they want to help control engineers overcome their natural reluctance to work with mechanical engineers?
Our recent Webcast on industrial cyber security discussed the relationship between IT and control engineers, and there was at least one question where a caller was concerned about IT quietly invading the manufacturing side. The frosty relationship between manufacturing and IT has been going on for as long as there has been computers.
The suspicions and mistrust between control engineers and the enterprise level is also well known. Peter Martin discusses that in a podcast from last summer, but it is also a long standing cold war.
Why is this? I believe it has to do with a combination of misunderstood objectives on one hand, and a fear of the unknown on the other.
Control engineers have work responsibilities different than IT and often different than even other types of engineering. One key objective of manufacturing, whether process or discrete, is to keep it running. This constant pressure weighs on control engineers and the more casual way IT folks treat shutdowns is a long standing issue.
The enterprise connection has always been dicey because manufacturing has been on the receiving end of cost cutting efforts from higher levels more than once. Another understandable situation.
So where do we go from here? Is it safe to say that companies have laid off as many engineers as they can? Does the "enterprise" now understand and value the contributions of control engineers? Do IT folks now acknowledge the importance of manufacturing? How about other engineering disciplines?
2008 is just around the corner. It would be nice to think that we can make that a year of better communications within our own companies. Maybe we can all just get along.
Can't control engineers get along with anybody?
December 18, 2007
Lately I've been reminded of a critical bit of information: Control engineers don't seem to be able to get along with anybody. To wit:In a recent announcement from Rockwell Automation and Dassault that they are partnering in digital manufacturing efforts. Our article says the partnership is "more closely linking product design to manufacturing and redefining how the mechanical engineer and the control engineer collaborate." Is that a diplomatic way of saying they want to help control engineers overcome their natural reluctance to work with mechanical engineers?
Our recent Webcast on industrial cyber security discussed the relationship between IT and control engineers, and there was at least one question where a caller was concerned about IT quietly invading the manufacturing side. The frosty relationship between manufacturing and IT has been going on for as long as there has been computers.
The suspicions and mistrust between control engineers and the enterprise level is also well known. Peter Martin discusses that in a podcast from last summer, but it is also a long standing cold war.
Why is this? I believe it has to do with a combination of misunderstood objectives on one hand, and a fear of the unknown on the other.
Control engineers have work responsibilities different than IT and often different than even other types of engineering. One key objective of manufacturing, whether process or discrete, is to keep it running. This constant pressure weighs on control engineers and the more casual way IT folks treat shutdowns is a long standing issue.
The enterprise connection has always been dicey because manufacturing has been on the receiving end of cost cutting efforts from higher levels more than once. Another understandable situation.
So where do we go from here? Is it safe to say that companies have laid off as many engineers as they can? Does the "enterprise" now understand and value the contributions of control engineers? Do IT folks now acknowledge the importance of manufacturing? How about other engineering disciplines?
2008 is just around the corner. It would be nice to think that we can make that a year of better communications within our own companies. Maybe we can all just get along.
Posted by Peter Welander on December 18, 2007 | Comments (0)
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