Process points: Learn more about process control from training programs, publications, conferences

Process control engineers can advance their knowledge about the field in a variety of ways. Among available educational resources is a university-level certificate program in process instrumentation and controls, an upcoming conference on best practices, a new book on robotics and process control, and an article on recent control valve research. Details of each follow, along with links to additional information.

A certificate program in process instrumentation and controls (I&C) is now offered by the Continuing Technical Education department at Dalhousie University . The three-part program covers the different phases of I&C from a non-mathematical and practical point of view. It includes basic concepts, engineering, and installation of control equipment. Part 1 presents an overview, Part 2 covers specific control and field devices, and part 3 focuses on engineering and documentation. The program is intended for technical and supervisory personnel who come from a setting where they can apply the knowledge received. Certificate is awarded upon completion of all three parts, which amounts to approximately 100 hours of classroom and hands-on hours. Additional information is available on the University Web site .

A new comprehensive book from Elsevier Books brings together practical information on the closely related fields of robotics and process control systems . Open-Source Robotics and Process Control Cookbook (ISBN: 0-7506-7778-3) by Lewin Edwards, Digi-Frame Inc., brings together practical information on efficient and low-cost open source design techniques, covering end-to-end robotic/process control systems using Linux as the development platform. Book includes a CD-ROM with all the code used in the design examples and open-source tools for robotics and process control system design. Click here for more on the book. For more on books by Elsevier, visit the Elsevier Web site .

ARC Advisory Group is hosting a conference next month on the best practices for optimizing human and physical resources. The event is scheduled for Jan. 31 through Feb. 3, 2005, in Orlando, FL. Among featured topics are empowering your people, collaboration between IT and operations, and achieving interoperability across the enterprise. Line-up of speakers sharing their experiences includes John Berra, president, Emerson Process Management , Will James, vice president, manufacturing, Toyota Motor , and Dinesh Paliwal, president and CEO, ABB USA . For more on the conference, visit the ARC Web site . To register online, click here .

Watch for the January issue of Control Engineering magazine, which features the latest product research data on control valves . The new study shows the importance of these devices in control and automation systems and outlines the needs and expectations of these products as defined by survey participants. After mid-January, the information will be posted on the Control Engineering Web site . Detailed results will also be available in the Control Engineering Resource Center (registration required), along with nearly a dozen other reports related to process control.

—Jeanine Katzel, senior editor, Control Engineering, jkatzel@reedbusiness.com

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