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  • August 2023

    • August 2023

    Most of the COVID-19 chaos is receding in the rearview mirror, but the scars, aftershocks and coping strategies remain. And, even though the trauma of the pandemic has largely waned, the stresses and pressures of the war in Ukraine and other upheavals continue. Distributors, suppliers and system integrators maintain hard-won supply chain practices earned during the pandemic.
    Remote I/O allows for easy scalability and expansion of an automation system.
    Industry Perspectives (sponsored)

    Positive impacts of remote I/O in processing plants

    Aug. 31, 2023
    Why replacing centralized systems with remote I/O offers large plants distinct advantages
    Process plants gain big advantages in their operations by getting information directly from OT into IT and from IT back into OT.
    Industry Perspectives (sponsored)

    Making OT and IT connections click

    Aug. 29, 2023
    Connecting OT and IT networks can be beneficial—if done correctly
    Figure 1: As part of its self-service analytics program, Parkland Corp.’s Burnaby refinery near Vancouver, B.C., adopted Seeq’s data analytics software to filter years of datasets for its main air blower, and identify anomalies in one hour instead of 40 hours. It’s also assessing inferential models by using Seeq’s Capsules and its DCS’ indicator function to automatically align sample timestamps for lab results and predictions, and enable them to quickly perform residual calculations for models of many processes at the refinery. Source: Parkland and Seeq
    Data Analytics

    British Columbia refinery succeeds with Seeq's self-service analytics

    Jim Montague
    Aug. 21, 2023
    Parkland’s Burnaby refinery near Vancouver, B.C., uses Seeq software to filter data, measure models and solve other problems
    Rework Supply Networks, Redesign With Alternate Parts
    Home

    Rework supply networks, redesign with alternate parts

    Jim Montague
    Aug. 17, 2023
    Supply chain mini-series—Day 9—Pepperl+Fuchs shows how preparation can speed up responses, while Honeywell reports that analytics enables supply chain resilience
    Collaborate And Communicate To Make Supply Chains More Visible
    Home

    Collaborate and communicate to make supply chains more visible

    Jim Montague
    Aug. 16, 2023
    Supply chain mini-series—Day 8—Newark recommends finding more willing and transparent suppliers—and using planning software

    More content from August 2023

    Supply Chain
    Home

    Supply chain players hang tough post-pandemic

    Jim Montague
    Aug. 15, 2023
    Process control and automation distributors, suppliers and system integrators maintain hard-won supply chain practices earned during COVID-19
    Embracing Alternative Sources, Parts, Designs And Strategies
    Home

    Embracing alternative sources, parts, designs and strategies

    Jim Montague
    Aug. 15, 2023
    Supply chain mini-series—Day 7—Phoenix Contact relies on planning ahead, internal manufacturing, and production in multiple regions
    Software Tools For Supply Chain Success
    Home

    Software tools for supply chain success

    Jim Montague
    Aug. 14, 2023
    Supply chain mini-series—Day 6—Some useful software and websites for streamlining designs, specifying, ordering and other tasks
    Coping With Overstocks And Other Constraints
    Home

    Coping with overstocks and other constraints

    Jim Montague
    Aug. 11, 2023
    Supply chain mini-series—Day 5—RS Americas diversifies products, expands options, and makes analytics available to more inclusive teams
    Refocus Internally To Prioritize External Tasks
    Home

    Refocus internally to prioritize external tasks

    Jim Montague
    Aug. 10, 2023
    Supply chain mini-series—Day 4—Panduit uses vertical integration to work with distributors and raw materials suppliers to manufacture crucial products
    Survey Graphic
    Home

    Process control supply chain survey three years after COVID-19, etc

    Jim Montague
    Aug. 9, 2023
    Supply chain mini-series—Day 3—Results of Control’s 2023 supply chain survey
    AutomationDirect’s library of more than 1,500 videos on a variety of process control, automation and other technical topics is available at its website and on YouTube, and includes basic and advanced product introductions, technical support, training and supplier introductions. Source: AutomationDirect
    Home

    Education mitigates a shifting crisis

    Jim Montague
    Aug. 8, 2023
    Supply chain mini-series—Day 2—AutomationDirect reports training enables awareness and flexibility for responding to supply chain issues
    Some Relief, But Snags Persist
    Home

    Some relief, but snags persist

    Jim Montague
    Aug. 7, 2023
    Supply chain mini-series—Day 1—System integrator Huffman Engineering reports collaboration with suppliers is increasing, but adds training and online configurations can help, ...
    Process Industries Seek Shop Floor To Top Floor Connections
    Wireless

    Process industries seek shop-floor-to-top-floor connections

    Ian Verhappen
    Aug. 2, 2023
    With many plants embracing Industry 4.0, the technology pieces are being put into place to help achieve a top-down approach to production planning.
    August Ate
    Control Talk Column

    How to deal with dead time compensation revelations

    Greg McMillan
    July 31, 2023
    In this month's Control Talk, Control Global columnist Greg McMillan talked with Héctor Henry Torres, a founding member of the ISA mentor program, about the best methods for dead...
    Bertrand Piccard’s Solar Impulse 2 solar-powered aircraft soars through the sky over Switzerland. (Source: Shutterstock)
    Sustainability

    Process engineers must challenge the ‘impossible’ to acheive carbon neutrality

    Len Vermillion
    July 28, 2023
    Just as Bertrand Piccard found a way to fly his solar-powered aircraft, Solar Impulse, despite doubts from many, process industries can find a way to accomplish the sometimes ...
    Ball Valve Position Feedback
    Valves

    Ask the Experts: Ball valve position feedback

    Bela Liptak
    July 26, 2023
    I need an expert opinion on valve position feedback for ball valves with Rexa or EIM actuators. I want to know if there are any other ways to know the true position besides those...
    Embrace Your Inner Skeptic
    Industrial Networks

    On the Bus: Embrace your inner skeptic

    John Rezabek
    July 24, 2023
    Should we be more concerned that we’re removing 'noise' from process control that might convey an insight on something that could avert a calamity?
    Matthias Altendorf opens the Endress+Hauser Global Forum in Basel, Switzerland, in June. The event was built around the an exchange of ideas for cultivating a sustainable future. (Source: Endress+Hauser)
    Sustainability

    Processing a sustainable future

    Len Vermillion
    July 19, 2023
    Endress+Hauser held its Global Forum in June in Basel, Switzerland. Control Global was at the event based "Insights for Sustainable Decisions." In this article, Matthias Altendorf...
    Lessons Learned The Efficient Power Of Hydrogen
    Distributed Control

    Lessons Learned: The efficient power of hydrogen

    Bela Liptak
    July 14, 2023
    In a hydrogen age, centralized energy distribution is expected to be more distributed. This will be done, in part, because some electricity will be produced "in place.”
    Huffman
    Industrial Networks

    IIoT greases digitalization’s wheels

    Jim Montague
    July 13, 2023
    IIoT mini-series—Day 8—System integrator Huffman Engineering shows how to pick the right IIoT combination
    Cybersecurity Is No Longer Optional
    Wireless

    Cybersecurity is no longer optional

    Ian Verhappen
    July 12, 2023
    The cyber-attack on the Colonial Pipeline on May 7, 2021, was to regulators what Stuxnet—the world’s first “cyber weapon” developed to disable Iran’s nuclear program—was to cybersecurit...
    Bus Ride To The Corner Office
    Industrial Networks

    Bus ride to the corner office

    John Rezabek
    July 10, 2023
    Can ambitious advocates of digitalization vault themselves into leadership roles?