Jack Smith
Articles
Cybersecurity and resilience in manufacturing
Having an OT/IT convergence strategy is essential to OT cybersecurity.
Achieving technical excellence through continuing education
Actively working to develop team members for a long-term career with a company is paramount
How to securely implement digital transformation for manufacturing processes
Security is a journey; this is especially true when dealing with manufacturing and operational technology (OT) systems.
System integrators: Cybersecurity and IT/OT convergence champions
Cybersecurity is becoming a larger focus and priority for system integrators (SI) as the nature of the workforce changes.
Endress+Hauser inaugurates Texas campus
Endress+Hauser brings instrumentation, services and solutions closer to users in the process industries.
The role of the system integrator in the digital transformation
Manufacturing automation is embracing digital transformation and the system integration plays a key role in facilitating it and integrating information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT).
Insights on remote operations and HMIs
A look at how COVID-19 is changing remote operations and human-machine interfaces
Insights on industrial networking
Industrial networking has come a long way and engineers must now choose whether to use a managed or unmanaged switch.
Insights on DCS migration and mobility
Many software and hardware technologies have been developed that allow companies the means to remotely monitor and control business processes from anywhere, via any device, at any time.
Upgrading HMIs and change management
The June issue of AppliedAutomation looks at high-performance HMIs (HP-HMIs) and remote monitoring in the age of COVID-19.
Remote monitoring and data visualization
Remote monitoring and data visualization are key to improving overall manufacturing efficiency.
Configuring HMIs and hiring SIs
Have a plan when it comes to configuration your human-machine interface (HMI) and hiring the next generation of engineering talent.
2020 System Integrator Giants
The overall gross revenue for the top 100 system integrators and their parent companies topped $26.4 billion as most businesses saw growth.
System integrators at their best
The December issue of AppliedAutomation focuses on system integrators (SIs) providing quality work to their customers.
Workforce development, batteries
The October issue of AppliedAutomation focuses on workforce development through universities and colleges and battery safety.
Safety and controllers
Safety and controllers are looked at from different angles in the August issue of AppliedAutomation.
Specify performance, manage risk
The June issue of AppliedAutomation discusses specifying performance and the importance of alarm management and process safety.
Data visualization, monitoring remotely
Improving data visualization and implementing cloud-based remote access is also the first step to implementing the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industrie 4.0 applications for said data visualization.
How to enhance automation systems with instrumentation, advanced analytics
Automation can be enhanced in a number of ways whether its through improving process instrumentation or unlocking the power of the Internet of Things (IoT)
System integrators deliver value
System integrators are there to solve automation problems by providing the time, talent, and technology required to turn a plan into a completed project
Examining DCS migration
The April issue of AppliedAutomation focuses on distributed control system (DCS) migration and also touches on the subject of legacy control systems and their effectiveness.
In pursuit of best practices
The February issue of AppliedAutomation focuses on best practices from a variety of perspectives to show how it is a constant in manufacturing.
Connecting the dots
Automation is connecting variable frequency drives (VFDs) and batteries that power wireless devices with the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
Pursuing wireless power, implementing wireless sensing
The August 2017 issue of AppliedAutomation focuses on the Tesla coil and how to implement wireless process sensing in large plants.
Of safety, protection, and crisis management
The June 2017 issue of AppliedAutomation focuses on safety from a several viewpoints and what ties them all together.
In case you didn’t notice: DCS and automation upgrade examples
The April issue of AppliedAutomation focuses on DCS modernization, automation methods used in a distillery, and updating hardware and software for an automated mobile warehouse.
Taking steps in a new direction
AppliedAutomation's new focus will emphasize application stories and case stories and the February issue focuses on how system integrators apply automation, instrumentation, and control theories and techniques.
A new niche for AppliedAutomation
Stories in the December issue of AppliedAutomation focus on risks associated with cybersecurity, real-time process optimization, and motion control features that compare drive-based and controller-based automation.
Of wireless technology, process safety, and VFD software
During the last decade, the use of industrial wireless sensor networks has been growing rapidly in the process industries. Variable frequency drive (VFD) software has also gone through a number of changes.
Avoiding nuisance trips from SIFs
The actions a specific safety instrumented function (SIF) takes to correct a problem and avoid escalation can take various forms and for a serious situation, the action the SIF takes can be hugely disruptive.
Of network redundancy and PID control
Ethernet, industrial networks, fieldbus, and PID control remain major topics for automation experts.
Celebrating 10 years of Applied Automation
AppliedAutomation celebrates its 10th anniversary and the issues that were relevant in 2006 still hold some weight today.
Hannover Fair: LED lighting enclosures
Rittal's LED lighting is designed to replace fluorescent lighting and features motion sensing capabilities and a swivel option to change the direction of the light depending on lighting needs.
Hannover Fair: Enclosure air conditioner with hybrid system
Rittal's Blue e+ series of enclosure air conditioners for the U.S. market feature a hybrid system that uses active and passive cooling technologies. The active cooling system operates using a traditional compressor-based unit.
Making technical, business sense
Automation can help companies be more competitive, but that alone does not make a plant successful, productive, or profitable.
Visualizing the (applied) automation continuum
Well-implemented automation strategies solve problems, increase flexibility, and meet increasing business pressures and challenges.
Making the right automation changes
Choosing to upgrade—or not to upgrade—can be the proverbial double-edged sword whether it be network-migration best practices or HMI advances.
Making engineering choices
Engineers and plant managers face a constant barrage of choices that affect the day-to-day operations and the bottom line for plants.
Of key metrics and myth busting
The need for high-availability computing in mission critical applications and the need to understand how variable frequency drives (VFDs) really work are becoming increasingly important for manufacturers.
Understanding automation selection criteria
Understanding how the programmable logic controller (PLC) has evolved and how it relates to more modern incarnations like the PAC as well as understanding servo system criteria will help a great deal on the plant floor.
Integration, automation, and the cloud
Successful system integrators must be as business savvy as they are tech savvy and many of these issues must be sorted out and planned carefully before the first network is mapped.
Investing in automation opportunities
Manufacturers should act and invest in opportunities that will improve their efficiency and their ability to do new things.
Technology from future past
The December issue of Applied Automation talks about proximity switches, PID tuning, and a case study on robotic technology helping a company that sells mowers.
Exploring motor measurement, controller design, and the maturity model
The October issue of AppliedAutomation focuses on motor measurement, designing real-time process controllers, and the maturity model.
Of control design, motor measurement, and trains
Control systems are a major part of the control engineer's day-to-day activities and there are many challenges when it comes to equipment as well as execution.
Connecting the networking dots
Networking involves many aspects including synchronization, selecting protocol conversion solutions, and integrating HMIs with PLCs and PACs.
Finding system integration resources
System integration is very common in automation, and there are plenty of resources out there.
From packaging to tuning to visualization
Applied Automation covers aspects of the bagging process, PID tuning, and HMI system standardization in the December 2013 issue.
The evolving Ethernet
Ethernet continues to evolve and it brings up many new challenges and opportunities for automation engineers.
Of PLCs, control panels, and VFDs
PLCs have come a long way since the late 1960s and their applications in engineering are both innovative and seemingly endless.
Applying flexibility, safety, and control
Learning how flexible and configurable I/O can be applied to more than safety systems could open many doors regarding how engineers approach automation and control projects.
Automation: It’s a good start
Judicious use of automation can help successful organizations achieve the growth associated with productivity and profitability.
Challenges of Motor Selection and Sizing
The range of sizes, types, and configurations of electric motors can seem endless. Here are a few ideas for navigating the choices.