Poll Result

How integrated are your maintenance, controls, and instrumentation systems?
Loosely integrated	32%
Fully integrated	29%
They're not	22%
Somewhat integrated	16%
The Control Engineering 2013 salary survey said these factors have the most impact on job satisfaction. Which is most important to you?
Technical challenge	59%
Feeling of accomplishment	23%
Financial compensation	7%
Job security	5%
Relationship with colleagues	3%
Location	1%
For a robotic application, what return on investment is required to justify?
Other benefits trump ROI	46%
19-24 months	17%
6-12 months	12%
13-18 months	11%
More than 24 months	10%
Less than 6 months	2%
Would you consider buying or integrating robots for your facility with return on investment less than one year that could work side-by-side with operators and other workers, without an enclosure?
No	69%
Yes	20%
Likely	9%
Unlikely	1%
How many robots do you expect to augment the safety and efficiency of your facility during 2013, ultimately preserving and adding jobs?
More than 50	80%
Zero	10%
1-5	5%
6-10	1%
11-20	1%
21-50	0%
In your applications, what is the most important function or feature of an Ethernet router? (please choose one)
Ethernet routers are not used in my applications	53%
Virtual private network (VPN)	43%
Firewall	1%
Rugged environmental specifications, designed for reliability	0%
Network address translation (NAT) port forwarding	0%
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)	0%
Another feature or function not mentioned	0%
Many criteria influence communication protocol selection. Of this small sample, which would you say is most important?
Open source protocol.	69%
Standard by corporate or plant-wide mandate, or primary control device.	27%
Common media, such as Ethernet.	1%
Meets a standard, such as IEC 61850 for substations.	0%
Most familiar to maintenance or engineering team.	0%
What is the biggest barrier to adding wireless connectivity to your industrial automation infrastructure?
Not sure how to do it	78%
No barriers at all; already in place or being implemented	10%
Lack of confidence in the technology	4%
Management disinterest	2%
Marginal need	1%
Technology limitations in our facility	1%
Lack of funding	0%
When evaluating Touch Panel Computers for an application, beside the usual desire for increased power and performance, of the definite purpose characteristics listed, which is typically most important to you?
Environmental certifications like; C1D2, ATEX, etc.	68%
Mechanical characteristics like; ease of mounting, easy access ports, etc.	24%
Rugged design like high operating temperature or shock resistance	3%
Screen characteristics like; sunlight readable, wide screen, etc.	1%
Touch input characteristics like; resistive, capacitive, etc.	1%
Circuit protection on I/O connection like serial port isolation, etc.	0%
Do you plan to upgrade your DCS soon?
Yes, within 6 months	68%
No, I don't plan to upgrade	29%
Yes, within 12 months	1%
Yes, within 24 months	0%
Yes, within 18 months	0%
Is RS-485 dead? If not, of the first four choices below, which one would you choose as the most significant reason RS-485 is still an important technology?
RS-485 is dead.	73%
Existing automation applications still use a lot of RS-485.	14%
RS-485 supports up to 4,000 feet between modules.	7%
Some component manufacturers still only support RS-485.	2%
Costly and viable RS-485 cable is already in place.	2%
Where do you anticipate the challenge in upgrading the safety system?
Following applicable safety standards	87%
Design and implementation	5%
Following of Functional Safety Management System	4%
Replacing the product	3%
If a system was certified according to IEC61508 Ed 1 as Proven in Use, can it be certified according to IEC61508 Ed 2?
I don’t care, I’ll continue to use the same system regardless of certification	40%
Provided they have documented all of the design performed according to IEC61508 Ed 1	34%
No way	16%
Absolutely	7%
When was the last time you performed a Hazard and Risk Analysis on your site?
Last year	47%
I have a safety system, why should I do that?	32%
5 years ago	10%
10 years ago	10%
Please check the answer that better represents you. I normally recommend or select a safety system because:
I follow the Safety Requirement Specification (SIL based)	56%
I’m following the corporate standard	31%
Nobody is going to challenge my decision to buy TMR	8%
I’ve always used that architecture in my plant	4%
Why would you use isolated signal conditioners to connect your analog I/O signals?
Isolate ground loops	46%
Input short-circuit protection to your system	13%
Eliminate crosstalk	11%
Add over-range protection to your system	11%
Reject AC and DC common-mode voltages	11%
Tolerate very high common-mode voltages	5%
How important is energy management to your company?
We monitor and work to control energy use in all parts of our plant/process.	42%
We are exploring how we can monitor energy use.	21%
We haven’t started the process.	21%
We monitor and work to control energy use in some areas that are large consumers.	7%
We are already implementing some monitoring efforts in key areas.	7%
Which of these PLC programming languages does your company’s controls engineering team utilize most frequently?
Ladder diagram (LD)	63%
Function block diagram (FBD)	20%
C/C++	5%
Structured text (ST)	5%
Sequential function chart (SFC)	2%
Other	1%
Instruction list (IL)	0%
What areas of control and automation education are most useful? (See our online video training area.)
Switches, Circuits, PLC Basics	27%
Sensors and I/O Modules	23%
Other	17%
Motors and Drives	16%
Variable Frequency Drives	14%
This month, are you attending or did you attend...
More than one of these	52%
Siemens Automation Summit	16%
Rockwell Automation RSTechEd	8%
Local or traveling seminar	8%
Honeywell Users Group Americas	4%
Sensors Expo	4%
Embedded System Conference Chicago	4%
Other industry show or conference	4%
May ISM numbers show slower manufacturing growth from Japan quake supply chain disruption. How’s your Q2 2011 so far?
Uncertain	41%
Low single-digit growth	12%
Slightly down	12%
High double-digit growth	9%
High single-digit growth	9%
Low double-digit growth	6%
Flat	6%
Moderately down	0%
Down big	0%
Which Industrial Ethernet system do you currently use or plan to use as your primary machine/plant networking protocol within the next 6 – 12 months?
SERCOS III	42%
EtherNet/IP	26%
Modbus TCP/IP	11%
PROFINET	9%
EtherCAT	3%
Ethernet-Powerlink	2%
None	2%
Other Industrial Ethernet protocol	1%
Which PLC communication protocol do you use?
EthernetIP	45%
Modbus	28%
Profibus DP	14%
Devicenet	7%
CANopen	4%
When selecting a wireless vendor what do you consider most important?
Technical Service	39%
Features	27%
Reputation	14%
Price	13%
Other	5%
Which Engineers’ Choice Award criteria is most important in selecting the best product? Also see www.controleng.com under Events and awards.
Technological advancement	50%
They’re equal	24%
Service to the industry	21%
Market impact	3%
I would consider submitting a Tips and Tricks entry under the events and awards area at www.controleng.com because it might:
Help others	29%
All of these reasons	29%
Provide fame & glory	17%
Help my resume	11%
Improve manufacturing	11%
I would consider a medium-voltage drive (600 V to 15 kV) because ... ?
A through D	47%
A. Higher supply voltages decrease losses, increase drive efficiency, save energy and money compared to lower voltage drives	18%
None of the above, but I'll read the Aug.'10 MV drives cover story.	17%
D. Less complexity, size, and weight without transformer	6%
B. Harmonics mitigation	5%
C. Cable and conduit savings	4%
In your experience, which main problem area do you find most troublesome in your plant?
Equipment malfunctions and maintenance problems	50%
Process design and control strategy issues	30%
Incorrect hardware selection and sizing	10%
Variability in feedstocks and internal systems	8%