Chris Vavra

Chris Vavra is senior editor for WTWH Media LLC.

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Workforce Development

IMTS 2024 Recap: Connecting workers, technologies together for greater change

Workforce Development

Making continuous improvements with a connected workforce

Workforce Development

Transforming manufacturers with augmented, connected workers

AI and Machine Learning

Control Engineering hot topics, August 2024

AI and Machine Learning

Top 5 Control Engineering content: August 26 to September 1, 2024

Figure 1: Industrial controllers such as this traditional PLC/PAC, are typically installed in control panels local to the equipment or processes they monitor and automate. Courtesy: Opto 22

Top 5 Control Engineering articles August 5-11

Figure 4: A parsing instruction, such as this JSONPARSE block in an AutomationDirect BRX PLC, is needed so the PLC can drill into the layers of objects within a JSON data payload and extract the desired information. Courtesy: AutomationDirect

Workforce Development

Top 5 Control Engineering articles July 29 to August 4

Courtesy: CFE Media

Predictive and Preventive Maintenance

Manufacturing index drops for fourth consecutive month

Figure 2: Ladder logic programming example; LL is the most commonly used PLC programing, most closely resembling circuit diagrams used for relays. Courtesy: Frank Lamb, Automation Primer

Control Engineering hot topics, July 2019

Figure 3: Don’t integrate computers on the manufacturing floor without protection in mind. Courtesy: Armagard

Top 5 Control Engineering articles July 22-28

Figure 2: Ladder logic programming example; LL is the most commonly used PLC programing, most closely resembling circuit diagrams used for relays. Courtesy: Frank Lamb, Automation Primer

Top 5 Control Engineering articles July 15-21

Users need to consider value, design flexibility, and potential modifications when choosing an enclosure for a manufacturing application. Courtesy: Rittal

System Integration

Top 5 Control Engineering articles July 8-14

Figure 2: Ladder logic programming example; LL is the most commonly used PLC programing, most closely resembling circuit diagrams used for relays. Courtesy: Frank Lamb, Automation Primer

Top 5 Control Engineering articles July 1-7

Configuration software should make it easy to create basic graphics, and to implement more advanced features like remote connectivity, data logging and security. Courtesy: AutomationDirect

Top 5 Control Engineering articles June 24-30

Figure 5: Top factors for job satisfaction are feeling of accomplishment, technical challenge, and financial compensation. Courtesy: Control Engineering research, CFE Media and CFE Technology

Process Instrumentation and Sensors

Control Engineering hot topics, June 2019

Companies reliant on DCS technology realize migration is difficult and the process delicate, but it's worth it because the costs of losing control of a process is much higher. Courtesy: Maverick Technologies

DCS, SCADA, Controllers

Top 5 Control Engineering articles June 17-23

Harting to be a collaborative partner in a development project to retrofit legacy protocol plastic injection molding machines with an integrated Industrie 4.0 digital control system that is also linked with its factory-wide MES/ERP system. Courtesy: Harting/Control Engineering Europe

IIoT, Industrie 4.0

Top 5 Control Engineering articles June 10-16