DCS, SCADA, Controllers

Better control means getting useful information when needed to the right people, for smarter decisions. Intuitive dashboards showing plant parameters provide faster understanding, as shown at the 2019 Honeywell Users Group Americas meeting in June. Courtesy: Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering, CFE Media and Technology

Process Manufacturing October 31, 2019

Opening your options: Control system migration

Inside Process: Aging process control systems (PCSs) create nine major problems. There are three good reasons to migrate distributed control systems before obsolescence.

By Satnam Bhogal

Maintenance October 17, 2019

Predicting the end of unplanned downtime

Any unscheduled downtime will cause a major headache for engineers in the food and beverage manufacturing sector, but predictive maintenance can be a remedy.

By John Rowley

Educational September 21, 2019

Control Engineering 2020

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), process and machine control systems, automation and instrumentation are among the topics Control Engineering will advance in 2020, a year that suggests perfect vision and hindsight, as we mark 65 years in September 2019.

By Mark T. Hoske

HMI, OI September 12, 2019

Using web browsers for HMI, SCADA applications

New capabilities in mobile-responsive design make human-machine interfaces (HMIs) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) applications more valuable on the plant floor.

By Travis Cox

Project execution with a new generation control system: Honeywell Experion PKS Honeywell Integrated Virtual Environment (HIVE) uses Lean project execution principles (the Honeywell LEAP process introduced in 2014), software and networking to decouple control applications from physical equipment, and controllers from physical input/output (I/O) devices. Modular designs allow multiple controllers to form one virtual controller. PKS stands for process knowledge system. Courtesy: Honeywell Process Solutions

Process Manufacturing September 11, 2019

Shift in control system technologies, design

Project execution using a process control system highly integrated virtual environment melds software and networking to uncouple control applications from physical equipment, and controllers from physical I/O. This reduces capital cost by shifting from customization to standardization and eliminating some non-value-added work.

By Jason Urso

Using asset condition to plan maintenance tasks, rather and arbitrary calendar, can improve productivity and save money. Courtesy: Fluke

DCS, SCADA, Controllers August 30, 2019

Leverage SCADA data in maintenance workflows

Know what you need before investing in IIoT.

By Michael Watson

Cybersecurity August 29, 2019

Industrial controller cybersecurity best practices

Protecting industrial automation systems is easier when controllers offer built-in cybersecurity features.

By Benson Hougland

Up to four communication protocols, including leading IT protocols such as Modbus TCP/IP and FTP, can be used simultaneously with high-performance HMIs. Courtesy: IDEC

IIoT, Industrie 4.0 August 29, 2019

Control system connectivity update

Digitalization, IIoT and Industry 4.0 implementations need communication hubs, a role well-suited to PLCs and HMIs.

By Don Pham and Linda Htay

Figure 1: Long-life lithium batteries serve to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) by enabling some low-power devices to operate maintenance-free for up to 40 years. Courtesy: Tadiran Batteries

Power August 9, 2019

Achieving long battery life with remote wireless devices

A lower self-discharge rate leads to longer operating life for batteries and a lower cost of ownership for remote wireless devices.

By Sol Jacobs

DCS, SCADA, Controllers August 7, 2019

Next-generation control room technologies

Technology and demographics are changing control room design as companies try to lower risk and create appealing environments visually and operationally for the next generation of operators. See eight tips for control room design.

By Matko Papic