ISA Automation Week: Technology and Solutions Event 2013 wrapped up today in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, after three days of comprehensive technical sessions, keynote addresses, networking events, standards meetings, and training courses.
The ISA Automation Week program also included 24 technical sessions, organized into six educational tracks. These tracks, which included Industrial Network Security; Creating Business Value through Automation; The Connected Enterprise; Wireless Applications; Industrial Automation and Control; and Asset Lifecycle Management and Optimization/Strategy, were organized with a focus on the critical components of successful automation – safety, people, business and technology.
Peter Martin, Ph.D., vice president of business value solutions for the Software and Industrial Automation division of Invensys, delivered the opening keynote address on Tuesday morning, entitled “The Future of Automation.” Dr. Martin’s talk focused on the importance of automation professionals in solving the world’s most significant problems. “When people say you’re biting off too much of a project, they might use the expression that you’re trying to solve world hunger. I want you to understand that in the automation industry, we can solve world hunger. We can do it, and we’re the only people who can do it.”
Wednesday morning’s keynote address was delivered by Major General Robert E. Wheeler, Deputy Chief Information Officer of the United States Department of Defense. Major General Wheeler is responsible for Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) and Information Infrastructure Capabilities (DCIO for C4IIC) and serves on the executive staff of the Secretary of Defense. The General’s address focused on the importance of industrial infrastructure cybersecurity and the threats posed daily to our nation’s critical infrastructure networks.
“In the Department of Defense, our job is to assure mission execution in the face of cyber warfare by the most capable adversaries in the world,” said Wheeler. “We have to get the bad guys, protect the good guys, take out insurgents, and not hurt anyone else. That's very hard.”
Wheeler went on to discuss the protection of the nation’s SCADA systems, power grid, and other key infrastructure assets. “Information assurance must be baked in from the very beginning of your work as engineers and automation professionals – you can’t just bolt it on,” he said. The Automation Federation and ISA cybersecurity experts have been invited by the White House and NIST to participate in developing the framework for the President Barack Obama’s executive order PPD-21 calling for the cybersecurity of industrial automation and control systems and critical infrastructure.
Yesterday morning’s keynote address, the final keynote of the conference, featured a distinguished panel of experts discussing workforce development issues within our industries. Moderated by Maurice Wilkins, Ph.D., vice president of the Global Strategic Marketing Center, Yokogawa Corporation of America, the panel included Paul Galeski, CEO & founder of MAVERICK Technologies; Dr. Martin of Invensys; and Steve Huffman, vice president of marketing and business development for Mead O’Brien, Inc. “Workforce development is one of the largest issues facing industry and one that will have a quick and lasting impact on process automation personnel,” commented Dr. Wilkins. “We need to bring together supplier, systems integrator, and educational communities to reverse the trends and inevitabilities that will affect us all – they each bring a unique and valuable perspective.”
“Our rich technical sessions and thought-provoking keynotes provided attendees with new take-home tools, tips and techniques to help them deliver even better performance in their jobs,” said ISA Automation Week Program Chair Paul Galeski. “We are very proud of the technical content we’ve put together for this unique, world-class event.”
Attendees agreed with Galeski’s sentiments about the depth and breadth of the technical content in the program. “I have been attending ISA Automation Week for three consecutive years. The conference offers great technical sessions, always something new, and always something to learn,” said Hector Torres, senior process and control engineer, at Eastman Chemical.
In addition to technical sessions and keynote addresses, the event also featured a networking hub with ISA partner companies, technology briefings and social events.
“ISA Automation Week was a great opportunity to meet new prospects, spend time with our customers and network with experts,” noted Ned Espy, Technical Director at Beamex, which was announced as ISA’s Premier Strategic Partner for Calibration earlier in the week. “The presentation content was the best in years with relevant topics. I also learned we are part of an organization that is striving to end world hunger!"
SOCIETY
The Wilmington Section of the International Society of Automation is organizing a unique event for our area: an Industrial Automation Show & Technical Conference. Our industrial automation exhibition will be open and free to the public from 10 AM to 5 PM. To attend the exhibition ONLY, online pre-registration is not required but it is highly encouraged to allow your name tag to be pre-printed and waiting for your arrival.
Protecting and Controlling Critical Capital Equipment in the Production Environment : A complimentary Invensys seminar for turbomachinery applications.
During this half-day seminar, Hector Buchelly, Global Director of Turbo Machinery, Invensys and a team of experts will explain methods and technologies to help you achieve your operational and business objectives. They will examine TMC control platforms and compare and contrast configurations and installations. The focus will be on how you can significantly boost performance, safety, and productivity.