Control System World

Wonderware MES 2012 with Quality increases efficiency, compliance and product safety.

Invensys Operations Management, a global provider of technology systems, software solutions and consulting services to the manufacturing and infrastructure operations industries, has released an updated version of its Wonderware® MES software. The newest version expands existing operations and performance management functionality by adding quality management for sample data collection, statistical process control and quality results monitoring, helping to improve operational efficiency, regulatory compliance and product safety.

Wonderware MES Software 2012 with Quality reduces the cost of quality management while improving regulatory and product safety compliance by capturing complete product, equipment and process-related quality data for both automated and manual operations. The software monitors quality data in near real time so plant operators can respond faster to non-conformance conditions, quality trends and deviations, as well as to take corrective actions that minimize variations and bring quality closer to specifications. It complements existing enterprise quality management systems with sample plan execution automation, higher accuracy in shop-floor quality sample data, integrated statistical process control (SPC) and enhanced work order and operational execution context.

“Our Wonderware MES 2012 with Quality software integrates manufacturing operations and quality operations in production and addresses a key challenge in synchronizing production schedules and the required quality procedures,” said Rob McGreevy, vice president of platform and operations software at Invensys Operations Management. “Enhancements to the software reduce distracting and difficult-to-manage operator tasks, as well as secure compliance and product safety in ever-changing environments. Integrating systems, data and processes enables better operations management and increases value within manufacturing. We’ve enhanced our MES software because users demand improved operational efficiency and reduced complexity, which allows them to better manage all their operational activities and improve their overall business performance.”

The new features of Wonderware MES 2012 with Quality software build out the quality management capabilities of the original version. The software now enforces manual and automatic data collection and integrates structured sampling plans, as well as includes rigorous SPC. The updated software also allows sampling plans to be dynamically generated, according to current work-order status for products, equipment and operations. Execution of the sample plans can be done according to system quality specifications, and the samples themselves can be automated, from equipment, control systems or instrumentation. SPC trending and charting are available for near real-time quality monitoring, and include notifications of violations of control and specification limits.

“The new feature-rich operations, performance and now quality-management capabilities can be incrementally deployed,” McGreevy said. “Our Wonderware MES software is configurable, providing reusable and sustainable manufacturing operations management solutions with a low total cost of ownership and high return on investment when deployed as an enterprise standard across multiple lines and plants.”

MTL SmartPlant Instrumentation (SPI) symbol library for FOUNDATION fieldbus™ components.

MTL has made it easier for engineering designers and end users to use their FOUNDATION fieldbus™ products by developing a utility to import the complete range of MTL-Relcom fieldbus products (Power Supplies, Megablocks™, surge protectors,Fieldbus Barriers and Entity conversion blocks) into SmartPlant Instrumentation version 9 and 2009.

This new, updated version of SPI includes all the latest products and ranks among the most successful examples of the new generation design tools created to reduce the cost of designing control systems. The cost of designing a single control loop can be in excess of one man-day, so using tools like SmartPlant can dramatically reduce these costs. The utility, including all associated files is available for download below.

Click 'Free SmartPlant Instrumentation (SPI) symbol library for FOUNDATION fieldbus™ components' to download the Software.

Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) has announced that Shell selected the firm as its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for Shell’s carbon capture facility for its flagship Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Quest project at the Athabasca Oil Sands project in Alberta, Canada. The Quest project is being built on behalf of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project joint venture owners (including Shell, Chevron and Marathon Oil) with support from the Canadian and Alberta governments. Fluor booked the undisclosed contract value in the third quarter.

“Shell’s confidence in choosing Fluor as its EPC contractor for this first-of-its-kind CCS project is a testament to our long-term, successful business relationships established by building Shell projects in Canada and throughout the world,” said Peter Oosterveer, president of Fluor’s Energy & Chemicals Group. “Fluor has more than two decades of experience with carbon capture technologies and the Canadian oil sands industry, so this unique opportunity will demonstrate our project execution abilities to bring clean energy to the marketplace. The use of CCS technology will allow our customers to address their carbon footprint and sustainability needs.”

The Athabasca Oil Sands Project produces bitumen, which is piped to Shell’s Scotford Upgrader. Fluor will provide full EPC services using its patented and innovative 3rd Gen Modular Execution approach for a 1.1 million tonne-per-year carbon capture facility at the Scotford Upgrader near Edmonton, Alberta. Captured carbon dioxide will be sent about 80 kilometers from the facility via underground pipeline to an underground storage site. Fluor has been providing preliminary services and front-end engineering and design for Quest since 2009.

Daelim has won the USD 185 million Sadara CHEM II ISS Project of Saudi’s Sadara Chemical Company. As Saudi’s state oil company, Sadara Chemical Company is a joint venture invested in by Saudi Arabia’s state oil company Aramco and the US’s Dow Chemical Company at 50/50 shareholding.

This project is a U&O (Utilities & Offsite) project involving the construction of various auxiliary facilities for the Sadara MFC Project bagged by Daelim in July 2011 and currently implemented in Saudi’s Jubail II Industrial Complex.

Daelim will implement this project in LSPB (Lump Sum Procurement & Building) mode as the company responsible for procurement and construction. The project is expected to run for 28.5 months and is scheduled to be completed in January 2015.

Amplicon are proud to announce the launch of their exciting new web shop, NEXCOMSHOP.COM. This new addition to Amplicon eShops sees the internationally renowned industrial component manufacturer, Nexcom, working in partnership with Amplicon, the leading UK provider of industrial computing; together they offer the marketplace over 50 years of joint experience.

This new venture allows customers to rely on the outstanding Amplicon technical knowledge whilst having access to the Nexcom range of small form factor motherboards, compact rugged PCs, closed or open frame panel PCs as well as medically approved panel PCs. The Nexcom range delivers market leading designs and technology and their name is synonymous with quality and reliability.

NEXCOMSHOP.com allows you to find 100's of new products from Nexcom in a crisp, clean, and user friendly interface. You will be able to interact with our technical support and sales engineering team using the online Live Chat facility, for all of your sales and support requirements.

Yokogawa Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco has signed a Corporate Procurement Agreement (CPA) that encompasses all the services Yokogawa provides to Saudi Aramco. This agreement is a testimony to Yokogawa’s strong presence in Saudi Arabia. The CPA with Saudi Aramco covers equipment supply, project management, engineering, spare parts, and maintenance services. It greatly simplifies the process by which Saudi Aramco purchases process automation equipment from Yokogawa. Yokogawa is the first automation vendor to sign such an agreement with Saudi Aramco.

In the recent years, Yokogawa has doubled the size of its facilities in the Dhahran Techno-Valley. In addition to engineering and project execution capabilities, the expanded facilities allow Yokogawa to manufacture specific components of its control systems and to strengthen its research and development activities.

Under the Saudi government’s Nitaqat Program, Yokogawa is in the top Platinum Saudization tier, and will firmly remain at this level in the future. The current workforce of 300 at Yokogawa Saudi Arabia includes a large female engineering team. This team supports not only Saudi projects but also projects in other GCC countries.

“With the true and sincere support of the Saudi government, customers, and academia, Yokogawa Saudi Arabia has successfully executed many process automation projects in the region,” said Shuzo Kaihori, President and CEO of Yokogawa Electric Corporation.

Through these projects, Yokogawa has developed the capabilities of many Saudi engineers and technicians by deploying and fully involving them in every facet of project execution, and will remain in the Kingdom with a workforce that has the knowledge and expertise to support its installed base throughout its lifecycle.

Since April 2007, Yokogawa has been providing a one-year Graduate Engineer Training Program and shorter internship programs that are specially tailored to the needs of the Saudi job market, targeting recent graduates and students of Saudi universities and colleges such as King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Jubail Industrial College (JIC), and Yanbu Industrial College (YIC). So far nearly 130 Saudi trainees have benefited from these programs, which have included visits to Yokogawa global engineering centers in Japan, Singapore, and the Netherlands.

Mr. Kaihori appreciates the contributions made by the Saudi engineers, saying, “I am not exaggerating when I say that Yokogawa Saudi Arabia’s operation owes much of its success to the central role played by these Saudi personnel.”

The Fieldbus Foundation today announced the release of a major revision to its AG-181 System Engineering Guidelines. AG-181 is a comprehensive guide that includes best practices and recommendations for a complete FOUNDATION fieldbus installation, from engineering and design through commissioning, startup, operations, and maintenance. The guide includes recommendations on topics from selecting cable to wiring installation, grounding, implementing plant asset management systems, and best practices for project management.

The new edition of AG-181 has been reformatted and reorganized to make it easier to read and access information. Some content has been rewritten to include more up-to-date information. This includes sections covering the Fieldbus Intrinsically Safe Concept (FISCO) fieldbus design rules, cable length, surge protection and segment scheduling. A section on the use of existing wiring has also been added.

According to Larry O'Brien, global marketing manager for the Fieldbus Foundation, the FOUNDATION fieldbus System Engineering Guidelines is "one of the automation industry's best-kept secrets" that belongs in the library of almost every process control engineer. It is a highly valuable resource for the growing number of end users, system integrators and engineering firms involved in the implementation of FOUNDATION fieldbus.

"One of the things we try to do at the Fieldbus Foundation is put information into the hands of those who need it around the world. We want people to become proficient in the use of our technology, from engineering and design to installation, maintenance, and operations," said O’Brien. "Our System Engineering Guidelines document contains the distilled wisdom of many of the world's leading fieldbus technology experts, from those in the engineering and construction world to end users, systems integrators, educators, and suppliers. It offers many good pointers on how to do your fieldbus project right the first time, and is an essential part of the toolbox of any FOUNDATION fieldbus professional. If you already have the older version, the latest update will look more streamlined and contains several new sections, as well as rewrites of old sections."

The FOUNDATION fieldbus System Engineering Guidelines is separated into 11 sections, each covering different aspects of the fieldbus project lifecycle. Specific topics include: General Considerations, Fieldbus Definitions, Fieldbus Project Requirements, Host System Requirements, Software Configuration, Field Device Requirements, Segment Components, Network/Segment Design Guidelines, Site Installation Guidelines, Acceptance Testing, and Documentation Requirements.

O'Brien indicated that the FOUNDATION fieldbus System Engineering Guidelines provides accurate and current fieldbus information in a vendor-neutral format, and is revised periodically to reflect changes to FOUNDATION technology. He said, "There is no better guide to implementing FOUNDATION fieldbus available today."

To obtain the FOUNDATION fieldbus System Engineering Guidelines (Document Reference No. AG-181), visit the Fieldbus Foundation's Technical References.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) today announced it has completed the acquisition of the medium voltage drives business of Harbin Jiuzhou Electric Co., Ltd. The purchase enables Rockwell Automation to design, engineer and manufacture medium voltage drives and power solutions for a broader base of Chinese and other customers throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Jiuzhou Electric has successfully served as Rockwell Automation’s contract manufacturer for seven years.

“Our medium voltage drives business is one of the fastest growing units at Rockwell Automation,” said Mike Laszkiewicz, vice president, general manager, Rockwell Automation power control business. “Based on our successful relationship with Jiuzhou Electric, we look forward to providing our customers with the products, service and solutions they’ve come to expect, and grow the business with our combined expertise.”

Harbin Jiuzhou Electric Co., Ltd. focuses on research and development, manufacturing, sales and services of high power, electrical and electronic equipment. Jiuzhou was established in 2000 and is registered in Harbin.