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Author Profile

Feature Image for Bill Lydon

Bill Lydon

Bill Lydon, an experienced industrial automation technical and business professional, is currently a consultant providing insights, facilitating thinking and coaching for digital manufacturing transformation. Lydon has 35 years of experience, including industrial, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), process control/DCS, electrical power/utility and building automation with technology and business experience ranging from design, application engineering, corporate experience, co-founder & president of a start-up company. He started his career as a designer of computer-based machine tool controls; in other positions, he applied programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and process control technology. He's trained and experienced as a group Creative Problem Solving & Value Engineering facilitator.

Working at a large company, Lydon served a two-year stint as part of a five-person task group, that designed a new generation automation system including controllers, networking and supervisory and control software. He also designed software for chiller and boiler plant optimization. Bill was the product manager for a multimillion-dollar controls and automation product line and later cofounder and president of an industrial control software company with solutions for factory and process control and automation.

208 Results Found
  • Envisioning the Future: Ignition Community Conference 2020

    Envisioning the Future: Ignition Community Conference 2020

    The Inductive Automation Ignition Community Conference 2020 (ICC2020) has become an important event for automation professionals, and this year’s virtual event due to the pandemic was no exception.
    By: Bill Lydon
    14 October, 2020 | 4 minutes
  • Industrial Automation in the Maker Era: Raspberry Pi Industrial Edge Platform

    Industrial Automation in the Maker Era: Raspberry Pi Industrial Edge Platform

    Sfera Labs has a vision to provide innovative technology bridging the best of the Maker World with the industrial automation market with the introduction of the Iono Pi Max.
    By: Bill Lydon
    13 October, 2020 | 4 minutes
  • Edge Computing: Chip Delivers High Performance Artificial Intelligence

    Edge Computing: Chip Delivers High Performance Artificial Intelligence

    The Hailo-8TM inference chip expands the number of industrial Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications possible for a wide range of industrial applications including optimization of production, processes, track & trace, logistics, quality, machine functions, and predictive maintenance by eliminating inherent limitations of server and cloud solutions with processing at the edge.
    By: Bill Lydon
    12 October, 2020 | 4 minutes
  • Pandemic Accelerates Manufacturing Digitalization

    Pandemic Accelerates Manufacturing Digitalization

    Attending the AVEVA World Digital Virtual Press Roundtable provided thoughts and insights about the impacts of the pandemic and recovery.
    By: Bill Lydon
    14 September, 2020 | 4 minutes
  • AVEVA Roundtable Insights: Digitalization Reenergizing Industry

    AVEVA Roundtable Insights: Digitalization Reenergizing Industry

    AVEVA hosted a virtual roundtable panel discussion Aug. 26, 2020 with key people from the world’s largest oil & gas organizations to understand how technology is reenergizing industry.
    By: Bill Lydon
    03 September, 2020 | 7 minutes
  • Rockwell Automation Advances Digital Edge Architecture with ASEM Acquisition

    Rockwell Automation Advances Digital Edge Architecture with ASEM Acquisition

    “Seamlessly connecting all levels of a business and turning raw data into powerful insights happens when devices are integrated and data is standardized. No one vendor can do this alone," said Rockwell Automation Chairman and CEO Blake Moret.
    By: Bill Lydon
    12 August, 2020 | 3 minutes
  • ROKLive DX Strategists Conference: Manufacturing Digitalization Keys to Success

    ROKLive DX Strategists Conference: Manufacturing Digitalization Keys to Success

    Retired Procter & Gamble VP Tony Saldana highlights the opportunities successful digitalization offers and outlines the skills, actions and mindsets manufacturing companies need to thrive during the pandemic and the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era.
    By: Bill Lydon
    06 August, 2020 | 8 minutes
  • OPC Foundation Empowers Sensor-to-Cloud Digitalization

    OPC Foundation Empowers Sensor-to-Cloud Digitalization

    OPC Days 2020, a virtual event held June 22- 25, provided the latest information about OPC UA (Open Platform Communications United Architecture), the protocol-agnostic framework for the Industrial Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 initiatives.
    By: Bill Lydon
    28 July, 2020 | 6 minutes
  • Era of Empowerment for Automation Professionals

    Era of Empowerment for Automation Professionals

    Automation professionals are critical to successfully selecting and applying these technologies and guiding management to maximize their productivity. This role will continue and expand, as more companies look to make informed productive technological investments and implementation decisions to yield profitable results.
    By: Bill Lydon
    15 July, 2020 | 2 minutes
  • Open Standards Mean More Options for Industrial Automation

    Open Standards Mean More Options for Industrial Automation

    By Bill Lydon Open system options continue to emerge from nontraditional suppliers and standards groups, and this is a trend that I expect will accelerate and enable multivendor interoperability at all levels of the system architecture.
    By: Bill Lydon
    15 July, 2020 | 3 minutes
  • Wired and Wireless Networks Advance in Power

    Wired and Wireless Networks Advance in Power

    Both wired and wireless networks have been undergoing a significant evolution during the past decade, enabling greater opportunities to those who leverage the advancements in the next one.
    By: Bill Lydon
    14 July, 2020 | 5 minutes
  • Enhanced Integration Drives Need for Enhanced Cybersecurity

    Enhanced Integration Drives Need for Enhanced Cybersecurity

    There is an increasing recognition that an integrated cybersecurity approach is required for an entire manufacturing and production company. Many manufacturing companies are realizing with the integration of IT, OT, automation and other functions that designating one leader responsible for all cybersecurity for the company is most effective.
    By: Bill Lydon
    14 July, 2020 | 5 minutes
  • Pushing Plant Computing to the Edge and to the Cloud Factories

    Pushing Plant Computing to the Edge and to the Cloud Factories

    By Bill Lydon Time synchronization and accelerate the continued integration of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) groups. This trend has been facilitating changes in organizational structures, and the creation, in many cases, of integrated IT/OT groups.
    By: Bill Lydon
    13 July, 2020 | 2 minutes
  • The Growing Impact of the Cobot Revolution

    The Growing Impact of the Cobot Revolution

    By Bill Lydon Accelerating the application of collaborative types of robots is the integration of vision systems with artificial intelligence, and this integration is enabling a range of new applications.
    By: Bill Lydon
    12 July, 2020 | 1 minutes
  • Digital Transformation Leads to Integrated Factories

    Digital Transformation Leads to Integrated Factories

    By Bill Lydon, Implementing Digital Twin concepts is quickly becoming fundamental for organizations achieve real-time integrated manufacturing.
    By: Bill Lydon
    12 July, 2020 | 2 minutes
  • Continued Evolution for Process Automation

    Continued Evolution for Process Automation

    By Bill Lydon The Process Automation industry has been heavily impacted by the influx of new technologies and, as we enter the next decade, several organizations are providing roadmaps in order to help process automation companies enable the best practices to leverage these technologies and drive competitiveness and productivity forward.
    By: Bill Lydon
    02 July, 2020 | 3 minutes
  • Worldwide Blossoming of Country-Centric Open Manufacturing Initiatives

    Worldwide Blossoming of Country-Centric Open Manufacturing Initiatives

    By Bill Lydon The impact of open manufacturing initiatives continues to be a worldwide affair. These initiatives continue to grow as industry recognizes the need to modernize and the Industry 4.0 movement (called “Industrie 4.0” in Germany, its country of origin) continues to accelerate.
    By: Bill Lydon
    01 July, 2020 | 2 minutes
  • Digitalization Driving Manufacturing to New Heights

    Digitalization Driving Manufacturing to New Heights

    By Bill Lydon Manufacturing and production companies are realizing digitalization requires structure, organizational changes, and integration of information technology (IT), operations technology (OT) and automation technology.
    By: Bill Lydon
    30 June, 2020 | 2 minutes
  • PTC LiveWorx on Moving Digitalization from Vision to Reality

    PTC LiveWorx on Moving Digitalization from Vision to Reality

    The multi-session live event, recorded and available on demand for those who missed it, described how digitalization is a competitive imperative for manufacturing and production companies that want to thrive and survive.
    By: Bill Lydon
    18 June, 2020 | 6 minutes
  • Leveraging the Digitalization Toolbox to Distance Workers in the COVID-19 Era

    Leveraging the Digitalization Toolbox to Distance Workers in the COVID-19 Era

    By Bill Lydon Running a manufacturing plant in the COVID-19 pandemic era means distancing coworkers and minimizing their interactions. Fortunately, there are a range of industrial automation solutions available that can help organizations achieve these new goals while also being consistent with digitalization investments to improve productivity.
    By: Bill Lydon
    03 June, 2020 | 5 minutes
  • Innovative Engineering Solutions Contribute to COVID-19 Medical Protection

    Innovative Engineering Solutions Contribute to COVID-19 Medical Protection

    By Bill Lydon Many organizations in the manufacturing industry have shifted assets in order to innovate and produce solutions that are contributing to the protection of medical personnel on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight. In this article, we highlight two of these innovative engineering solutions that are keeping these crucial personnel safe
    By: Bill Lydon
    29 May, 2020 | 4 minutes
  • The Missing ‘Industry 4.0/Digitalization’ Link – Open Programming Standard Conformance & Certification

    The Missing ‘Industry 4.0/Digitalization’ Link – Open Programming Standard Conformance & Certification

    By Bill Lydon Achieving the benefits of digitalization requires organizations to leverage Industry 4.0 and IoT (Internet of Things) concepts, technology, and architecture with open standards.
    By: Bill Lydon
    27 May, 2020 | 4 minutes
  • ODVA General Meeting Focuses on Industrial Digitalization

    ODVA General Meeting Focuses on Industrial Digitalization

    By Bill Lydon More than 120 industry professionals from more than 50 companies attended to focus on supporting industrial digitalization through the association’s device connectivity technologies, which include the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) and the network adaptations of CIP: EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet and CompoNet.
    By: Bill Lydon
    30 April, 2020 | 5 minutes
  • Hannover Preview 2020: Digitalization and Mobility Reach Higher Importance in COVID-19 Environment

    Hannover Preview 2020: Digitalization and Mobility Reach Higher Importance in COVID-19 Environment

    By Bill Lydon While the April Hannover Messe event is cancelled, industrial companies remain focused on digital transformation techniques, methods and ideas.
    By: Bill Lydon
    01 April, 2020 | 4 minutes
  • ODVA 2020 General Meeting Focuses on Industrial Digitalization

    ODVA 2020 General Meeting Focuses on Industrial Digitalization

    By Bill Lydon, Automation.com One of the last automation events to occur before the coronavirus shut down business gatherings around the world was the ODVA 20th Annual Meeting of Members in Palm Harbor, Florida, USA on March 5, 2020. More than 120 industry professionals attended to focus on supporting industrial digitalization through the association’s device connectivity technologies, which include the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) and the network adaptations of CIP: EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet and CompoNet.
    By: Bill Lydon
    24 March, 2020 | 5 minutes
  • New FDT Architecture Delivers Manufacturing Digitalization Platform

    New FDT Architecture Delivers Manufacturing Digitalization Platform

    By Bill Lydon, Automation.com One of the last automation events to occur before the coronavirus shut down business gatherings around the world was the ODVA 20th Annual Meeting of Members in Palm Harbor, Florida, USA on March 5, 2020. More than 120 industry professionals attended to focus on supporting industrial digitalization through the association’s device connectivity technologies, which include the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) and the network adaptations of CIP: EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet and CompoNet.
    By: Bill Lydon
    24 March, 2020 | 4 minutes
  • 2019 PAR Insights from the Annual Pharmaceutical Automation Roundtable and Survey

    2019 PAR Insights from the Annual Pharmaceutical Automation Roundtable and Survey

    By Bill Lydon The current state of pharma manufacturing maturity and the future of automation in the sector were important topics at the annual Pharmaceutical Automation Roundtable (PAR) held October 2019 at a Novo Nordisk facility.
    By: Bill Lydon
    22 March, 2020 | 5 minutes
  • 2019 PAR Insights: Automation Workforce Development Trends

    2019 PAR Insights: Automation Workforce Development Trends

    Members of the annual Pharmaceutical Automation Roundtable (PAR) held October 2019 reflect on workforce skills, training, certification and development.
    By: Bill Lydon
    21 March, 2020 | 6 minutes
  • ARC 2020 Conference Wrap-up: How IT/OT Integration Helps to Accomplish Digitalization

    ARC 2020 Conference Wrap-up: How IT/OT Integration Helps to Accomplish Digitalization

    By Bill Lydon Focused on the theme, Driving Digital Transformation in Industry and Cities, the February 3-6 event had over 800 attendees from 20 countries representing more than 300 companies, along with many breakout sessions and workshops.
    By: Bill Lydon
    17 March, 2020 | 5 minutes
  • Growing Problem with Counterfeit Electrical Products

    Growing Problem with Counterfeit Electrical Products

    Counterfeit electrical products are a growing problem that can have serious consequences. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reports fiscal year 2008 seizures totaled more than $272.7 million in counterfeit and pirated goods, a 38 percent increase in domestic value over fiscal year 2007. In the category of Top Safety and Security Commodities for fiscal year 2009, electrical products moved from 5th to 2nd position just behind pharmaceuticals.
    By: Bill Lydon
    25 February, 2020 | 2 minutes
  • New Gigabyte Industrial Ethernet Open Protocol - CC-Link IE

    New Gigabyte Industrial Ethernet Open Protocol - CC-Link IE

    The CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA) announced the release of the open architecture gigabit (GB) CC-Link IE Field Network. I recently met with two members of CLPA Americas to get an update on the latest CC-Link IE standard.
    By: Bill Lydon
    24 February, 2020 | 3 minutes
  • Product Spotlight: Micro DCS - Small to Midrange Process Control

    Product Spotlight: Micro DCS - Small to Midrange Process Control

    The Freelance system combines easy engineering with open system architecture. ABB describes Freelance as a small footprint DCS for small to medium sized plants in the process industry and for applications requiring DCS functionality in a compact system with intuitive and efficient engineering tools.
    By: Bill Lydon
    22 February, 2020 | 3 minutes
  • World Economic Forum 2020 - Fourth Industrial Revolution or Evolution?

    World Economic Forum 2020 - Fourth Industrial Revolution or Evolution?

    By Bill Lydon, Contributing Editor Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies are disrupting the manufacturing industry, and that disruption has risen to the highest levels: a topic for discussion at the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in late January
    By: Bill Lydon
    07 February, 2020 | 5 minutes
  • Single Pair Ethernet Industrial Automation Joins IoT Revolution

    Single Pair Ethernet Industrial Automation Joins IoT Revolution

    By Bill Lydon, Contributing Editor Attending the Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) Symposium hosted by Harting Electronics and the SPE Partner Network organization, I learned more about the 10BASE-T1 Single Pair Ethernet. SPE is an exciting development enabling seamless ethernet connectivity from sensor to enterprise, connecting the IoT universe.
    By: Bill Lydon
    03 February, 2020 | 3 minutes
  • ISA95 In the IoT & Digitalization Era

    ISA95 In the IoT & Digitalization Era

    The ANSI/ISA95 standard, generally referred to as ISA95, is an important tool for digitalization. It provides the framework, modeling, and vendor independent common information models which can be applied in any manufacturing or process industry production architecture.
    By: Bill Lydon
    06 January, 2020 | 3 minutes
  • Inside the Rise of 5G Industrial Automation Networking

    Inside the Rise of 5G Industrial Automation Networking

    Hannover Messe 2019 created a buzz with the 5G Arena showcasing the latest 5G developments, products and solutions for the industry. 5G is starting to make the goal of wireless industrial automation a reality. Companies are already starting to deploy private 5G networks within plants and are seeing increases in performance, determinism, low latency, and reliability.
    By: Bill Lydon
    10 December, 2019 | 4 minutes
  • Fabtech 2019: Edge Computer Integrates Machine Work Cell Control & Automation

    Fabtech 2019: Edge Computer Integrates Machine Work Cell Control & Automation

    Siemens introduced the Sinumerik Motion Control (MC) open, industrial PC-based CNC for fabrication and metal-processing machines at Fabtech 2019. The introduction is an affirmation of the growing trend to use Edge Computer platforms to integrate all control & automation functions in a machining work cell including CNC, PLC, Drives, motors, safety and other production related functions to achieve higher levels of productivity and profits.
    By: Bill Lydon
    10 December, 2019 | 2 minutes
  • PLC Programming Preference Survey - Insights and User Comments

    PLC Programming Preference Survey - Insights and User Comments

    The PLCopen organization and Automation.com conducted a joint survey of PLC programming preferences. Here are some of the results to inform you of current trends in PLC programming and users thoughts on vendors.
    By: Bill Lydon
    03 December, 2019 | 3 minutes
  • Industry 4.0 Concepts for Discrete Manufacturing Applied to Process Automation

    Industry 4.0 Concepts for Discrete Manufacturing Applied to Process Automation

    Industry 4.0 initially focused on discrete manufacturing, and now there is an additional focus on process automation
    By: Bill Lydon
    02 December, 2019 | 11 minutes
  • The Industrial Automation Transformation Change Agent - Inside Inductive Automation's ICC 2019 Conference

    The Industrial Automation Transformation Change Agent - Inside Inductive Automation's ICC 2019 Conference

    By Bill Lydon, Automation.com The 2019 Inductive Automation Ignition Community Conference was another high energy, creative, and stimulating leadership event. With the company illustrating the power of the next level of software technology and leveraging this with a new business model, Inductive Automation illuminated their progression to be more responsive to industry and customer requirements.
    By: Bill Lydon
    19 November, 2019 | 6 minutes
    Sponsored By Inductive Automation
  • Inside the Integration at Milwaukee's New Fiserv Forum Sports & Entertainment Complex

    Inside the Integration at Milwaukee's New Fiserv Forum Sports & Entertainment Complex

    Since its opening in August of 2018, Fiserv Forum has quickly become home to many passionate Milwaukee Bucks basketball fans. Yet, aside from the on-court product, the new entertainment and sports center in downtown Milwaukee is an integrated facility, working to enhance fan experience, comfort and safety.
    By: Bill Lydon
    05 November, 2019 | 5 minutes
  • Why Automation Professionals Need to Go Beyond the Obvious and Create Elegant Solutions

    Why Automation Professionals Need to Go Beyond the Obvious and Create Elegant Solutions

    Automation professionals may well benefit from taking a chance to develop options beyond the obvious, finding elegant solutions that are superior.
    By: Bill Lydon
    30 October, 2019 | 3 minutes
  • Epicor Strategy Empowers Digitalization for Small & Medium Manufacturers

    Epicor Strategy Empowers Digitalization for Small & Medium Manufacturers

    While many manufacturers are aware of the benefits of digitalization, it can be difficult to figure out where to begin, in order to reap those benefits. EPICOR has put together an architecture for companies, particularly small and medium manufacturers, to implement Industry 4.0, and Internet of Things conceptsy.
    By: Bill Lydon
    24 October, 2019 | 5 minutes
  • Why Industrial Cybersecurity Needs to Start at the Top and Be Embraced by All

    Why Industrial Cybersecurity Needs to Start at the Top and Be Embraced by All

    Organizations that invest in a cybersecurity culture are unlikely to be a cybersecurity disaster news headline.
    By: Bill Lydon
    26 August, 2019 | 2 minutes
  • Does Your Company Have Vision to Leverage Disruptive Industrial Automation Innovations?

    Does Your Company Have Vision to Leverage Disruptive Industrial Automation Innovations?

    When technology that has the potential for revolutionizing an industry emerges, typically only a few companies with vision see it as attractive and leverage it.
    By: Bill Lydon
    29 July, 2019 | 6 minutes
  • Democratizing Digitalization to Achieve Manufacturing Competitiveness at PTC LiveWorx 2019

    Democratizing Digitalization to Achieve Manufacturing Competitiveness at PTC LiveWorx 2019

    By Bill Lydon, Automation.com While attending LiveWorx 2019, for example, it was obvious to me that that PTC has created the most open system architecture which manufacturers can use to leverage digitalization and collaboration to achieve strong competitive positions in their industries.
    By: Bill Lydon
    25 June, 2019 | 4 minutes
  • Insights from 2019 3DEXPERIENCE Forum: Inside Boeing's Digital Transformation Journey using ISA-95

    Insights from 2019 3DEXPERIENCE Forum: Inside Boeing's Digital Transformation Journey using ISA-95

    The digital transformation continues to flow throughout manufacturing, generating electricity among the audience at event after event. At the 2019 Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE in May, it was Boeing, and Lucia Chung, Senior Director, IT Factory Operations, who provided insights into Boeing’s digital transformation effort.
    By: Bill Lydon
    11 June, 2019 | 3 minutes
  • Tension in Industrial Automation: Open Systems and the User's Dilemma

    Tension in Industrial Automation: Open Systems and the User's Dilemma

    By Bill Lydon, Automation.com Suppliers either adapt with technology, or they lose customers and die. This is true in every industry. The industrial and process automation industries will be no exception.
    By: Bill Lydon
    08 May, 2019 | 6 minutes
  • 2019 Hannover Messe Wrap Up: The Growing Realization of Industry 4.0 & Digitalization

    2019 Hannover Messe Wrap Up: The Growing Realization of Industry 4.0 & Digitalization

    Illuminating the theme of ‘Integrated Industry - Industrial Intelligence, the 2019 Hannover Messe, hosted 6,500 exhibitors from 75 countries and 215,000 attendees from 95 nations. The event, which featured Sweden as the partner country, hosted over 80 forums and conferences which highlighted many new digitalization trends and technologies.
    By: Bill Lydon
    30 April, 2019 | 6 minutes
  • Can Manufacturers Compete When Trapped in Existing Automation Architectures?

    Can Manufacturers Compete When Trapped in Existing Automation Architectures?

    Manufacturing companies are becoming more aware of the need to modernize production methods and automation to compete globally, but many still find themselves stuck in a sunk investment trap.
    By: Bill Lydon
    01 April, 2019 | 5 minutes
  • How the Internet of Things Impacts Manufacturing

    How the Internet of Things Impacts Manufacturing

    Dramatic advancements in technology are driving the Internet of Things, creating more tools for industrial automation and the process industries.
    By: Bill Lydon
    18 March, 2019 | 9 minutes
  • Hannover Messe 2019 Preview: Digital Networking Humans & Machines in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

    Hannover Messe 2019 Preview: Digital Networking Humans & Machines in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

    During a January preview for the event, over 120 journalists, including yours truly, gathered for presentations and discussions from the Hannover Messe team, and over 40 exhibitors, expanding on the topics and technologies that so many will experience
    By: Bill Lydon
    26 February, 2019 | 5 minutes
  • Bill’s Top 10 Automation & Control Trends for 2019 – Accelerating Change & Reaching the Tipping Point

    Bill’s Top 10 Automation & Control Trends for 2019 – Accelerating Change & Reaching the Tipping Point

    The pace of technological change in the automation industry seems to be accelerating as we head into 2019, driven by innovations developed for Internet of Things and general computing.
    By: Bill Lydon
    29 January, 2019 | 23 minutes
  • What is Open Source & Why Should You Care?

    What is Open Source & Why Should You Care?

    Lydon brings more than 10 years of writing and editing expertise to Automation.com, plus more than 25 years of experience designing and applying technology in the automation and controls industry. Lydon started his career as a designer of computer-based machine tool controls; in other positions, he applied programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and process control technology. In addition to working at various large companies (e.g., Sundstrand, Johnson Controls, and Wago), Lydon served a two-year stint as part of a five-person task group, where he designed controls, automation systems, and software for chiller and boiler plant optimization. He was also a product manager for a multimillion-dollar controls and automation product line and president of an industrial control software company.
    By: Bill Lydon
    10 December, 2018 | 5 minutes
  • How Programming Standards Improve Automation and Controls

    How Programming Standards Improve Automation and Controls

    IEC 61131-3 software standards improve the quality of applications and the efficiency of building applications. Structured modular software improves the reuse of applications.
    By: Bill Lydon
    26 November, 2018 | 7 minutes
  • Redefine and Transform How You Execute Automation Projects

    Redefine and Transform How You Execute Automation Projects

    Improving on what has always been done can only result in incremental improvements at best or continued complications. We have to redefine and transform how we execute automation projects.
    By: Bill Lydon
    03 September, 2018 | 3 minutes
  • Industry 4.0 Make to Order Manufacturing at Valpak, Who Would Have Guessed?

    Industry 4.0 Make to Order Manufacturing at Valpak, Who Would Have Guessed?

    I was impressed by a tour of the Valpak Manufacturing Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, hosted by Siemens, which is a great example of a company applying Industry 4.0 make to order manufacturing concepts.
    By: Bill Lydon
    15 August, 2018 | 3 minutes
  • How Industry 4.0 and Digitization Improves Manufacturing Responsiveness, Quality, and Efficiency

    How Industry 4.0 and Digitization Improves Manufacturing Responsiveness, Quality, and Efficiency

    Automation is essential to the implementation of Industry 4.0 and IoT strategies as manufacturers realize low labor rates are no longer a winning strategy.
    By: Bill Lydon
    18 June, 2018 | 11 minutes
  • How to Leverage the ISA Ecosystem to Advance Your Career in Industrial Automation

    The automation industry is experiencing rapid changes and challenges; the diversity of ISA members is a great resource of experience, ideas, and know-how.
    By: Bill Lydon
    13 June, 2018 | 3 minutes
  • Digital Factory Comes into Focus at Hannover Messe 2018

    Digital Factory Comes into Focus at Hannover Messe 2018

    Resembling more a bustling city than a trade fair, the 71st Hannover Messe was very busy and chock full of energy and innovation this year, with over 200,000 attendees from 75 countries. Focusing on the theme 'Integrated Industry – Connect & Collaborate', the Digital Factory was front and center.
    By: Bill Lydon
    22 May, 2018 | 8 minutes
  • How to Optimize Application Engineering to Keep Projects on Time and on Budget

    Customization of products that deviate from vendor and industry standards leads to a number of problems on projects. Engineering and as-built documentation costs can increase because of the deviation
    By: Bill Lydon
    26 March, 2018 | 3 minutes
  • 2018 HANNOVER MESSE & CeMAT to see Industry 4.0 meeting Logistics 4.0

    2018 HANNOVER MESSE & CeMAT to see Industry 4.0 meeting Logistics 4.0

    From April 23-27, 2018, HANNOVER MESSE and CeMAT will run concurrently with a particular emphasis on integration in supply chain and manufacturing. The theme -'Integrated Industry – Connect & Collaborate' - encompasses the range of Industry 4.0 technology, thinking, and creative applications
    By: Bill Lydon
    13 March, 2018 | 5 minutes
  • Bill’s Top 10 Automation & Control Trends for 2018 - A Year of Technology Driven Change

    Bill’s Top 10 Automation & Control Trends for 2018 - A Year of Technology Driven Change

    After another busy year talking to a wide range of users, suppliers and industry consultants, and attending over 20 industry conferences and related events, I have another year’s worth of informed insights to share on the latest trends that will shape automation in 2018.
    By: Bill Lydon
    30 January, 2018 | 20 minutes
  • The Push for Industrial Cyber Security Standards: A Look at Underwriters Laboratory Efforts

    The Push for Industrial Cyber Security Standards: A Look at Underwriters Laboratory Efforts

    By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com While industrial automation suppliers can claim products are cybersecure it is hard to prove. Standards and certification, like electrical and safety device requirements, today for cybersecurity are one such way for companies to illustrate that proof.
    By: Bill Lydon
    06 November, 2017 | 4 minutes
  • Insights on the Impact of Industry 4.0 for Process Automation

    Insights on the Impact of Industry 4.0 for Process Automation

    Of the technology trends that I have observed in recent years, few developments have been more exciting than Industry 4.0 for Process Automation. But what does Industry 4.0 mean for your facility?
    By: Bill Lydon
    17 October, 2017 | 4 minutes
  • Should STEM Education Programs Include the Arts?

    Should STEM Education Programs Include the Arts?

    The author argues the expansion of STEM programs in schools.
    By: Bill Lydon
    28 August, 2017 | 3 minutes
  • Automation Professionals Are Catalysts for Change in Manufacturing

    Automation Professionals Are Catalysts for Change in Manufacturing

    As manufacturing marches on, automation professionals find themselves in the best position to improve the industry.
    By: Bill Lydon
    10 July, 2017 | 3 minutes
  • Hannover Fair 2017: Integrated Industry Empowers World Competition

    Hannover Fair 2017: Integrated Industry Empowers World Competition

    The 2017 Hannover Fair taught us one thing above all others. Manufacturing winners and losers will be defined by their understanding and application of Industry 4.0 and IoT solutions.
    By: Bill Lydon
    19 June, 2017 | 7 minutes
  • Successful Automation Engineers Build Relationships and Collaborate

    Successful Automation Engineers Build Relationships and Collaborate

    Learn and share knowledge via discussion groups, articles, user group meetings, ISA meetings, Web meetings, and trade events.
    By: Bill Lydon
    22 March, 2017 | 2 minutes
  • The IoT Impact on Business Models: What Should Manufacturers Do First?

    The IoT Impact on Business Models: What Should Manufacturers Do First?

    The availability of many new technologies has provided the building blocks for dramatic changes in the manufacturing industry. Is your business model set to keep up?
    By: Bill Lydon
    20 March, 2017 | 5 minutes
  • Is the Internet of Things Creating Unfocused Urgency to Monitor Everything?

    Is the Internet of Things Creating Unfocused Urgency to Monitor Everything?

    The hyper-focus on IoT is creating an unfocused urgency monitor everything, which could lead to over instrumenting automation systems & creating data noise.
    By: Bill Lydon
    11 January, 2017 | 2 minutes
  • How Cloud Computing Delivers a New Industrial Automation Tool for Improving Operations

    How Cloud Computing Delivers a New Industrial Automation Tool for Improving Operations

    Cloud computing simplifies industrial systems administration and support and the analytics can be levered for improving process operations.
    By: Bill Lydon
    26 October, 2016 | 8 minutes
  • The Big Maintenance Dilemma: In-House vs. Outsourcing

    The Big Maintenance Dilemma: In-House vs. Outsourcing

    Determining whether to use in-house staff to perform maintenance or to outsource to a contractor is a source of continual headaches for many a company. The decision-making process will come down to three approaches to maintenance management
    By: Bill Lydon
    10 October, 2016 | 3 minutes
  • Automation Controllers & Word Processors Embrace the Technological Shift or Die

    The foundations of the automation industry are being reshaped right now from the torrent of ideas driven by Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Given today’s trends, are industrial automation controllers headed down a path to extinction?
    By: Bill Lydon
    19 September, 2016 | 3 minutes
  • Cybersecurity: Where Does the Reasoning Begin?

    Cybersecurity: Where Does the Reasoning Begin?

    Usually during cybersecurity presentations, the speakers talk about serious consequences of cyber security and then overwhelm people, who are not familiar with the topic, with deep levels of details and intricacies. This one answers a simple question: Where does the reasoning begin?
    By: Bill Lydon
    22 July, 2016 | 3 minutes
  • ISA Members Develop Key Standards That Advance the Industrial Automation Industry

    ISA Members Develop Key Standards That Advance the Industrial Automation Industry

    ISA members develop standards in everything from cybersecurity to process safety to interfaces between industrial process control computers and subsystems
    By: Bill Lydon
    22 June, 2016 | 2 minutes
  • Cybersecurity Strategy at Ford: IT & Automation Cooperation

    Cybersecurity Strategy at Ford: IT & Automation Cooperation

    Mike Bastian, Global Controls Manager at Ford, shared the motivations behind their cybersecurity strategy, as well as defined 7 systems which are essential for reliable operations and keeping production running smoothly.
    By: Bill Lydon
    20 May, 2016 | 5 minutes
  • Technical Deep Dive: Multi-core Industrial Controllers

    Technical Deep Dive: Multi-core Industrial Controllers

    Beckhoff Automation has been offering multi-core industrial controllers since 2006 with users benefiting from the advantages that this increased performance delivers. We discuss multi-core technology with Beckhoff Automation’s Daymon Thompson, Automation Specialist.
    By: Bill Lydon
    11 April, 2016 | 10 minutes
  • Response to Automation Industry Problem: React or Positively Act?

    Response to Automation Industry Problem: React or Positively Act?

    It is not important how you react to automation industry problems, issues, and challenges, but how you positively act.
    By: Bill Lydon
    04 April, 2016 | 2 minutes
  • Process Plant Historians Deliver Insights and Improve Operations

    Process Plant Historians Deliver Insights and Improve Operations

    Before the term “big data” was being used as part of the Internet of Things, plant historians were handling large volumes of time-synchronized data.
    By: Bill Lydon
    08 February, 2016 | 9 minutes
  • The Automation Professional as Change Agent

    The Automation Professional as Change Agent

    To create the greatest value for their employers, automation professionals need to be change agents.
    By: Bill Lydon
    06 January, 2016 | 2 minutes
  • Why Standards Benefit Manufacturing and the Process Industries

    Why Standards Benefit Manufacturing and the Process Industries

    New industrial automation industry standards are enablers for leveraging new technology for the process industries.
    By: Bill Lydon
    20 May, 2015 | 3 minutes
  • Collaborative Robots Transform Industry

    Collaborative Robots Transform Industry

    Bill Lydon: I am convinced that collaborative robots are the highest impact automation development to improve manufacturing since the assembly line. If this development follows the cost performance trends of past developments, like PCs, we at the beginning of a new revolution.
    By: Bill Lydon
    01 May, 2015 | 3 minutes
  • Production Line and Machine Upgrades Improve Productivity and Efficiency

    Production Line and Machine Upgrades Improve Productivity and Efficiency

    The manufacturing industry has production lines and machines with old technology and custom controls that could benefit from an upgrade to newer technology.
    By: Bill Lydon
    23 February, 2015 | 2 minutes
  • Leverage New Knowledge to Avoid Being Blindsided

    Leverage New Knowledge to Avoid Being Blindsided

    If you do not leverage new knowledge, you can be blindsided by others who apply it, especially your competitors.
    By: Bill Lydon
    14 January, 2015 | 2 minutes
  • Leveraging Industry Silos to Develop New Business Opportunities

    Leveraging Industry Silos to Develop New Business Opportunities

    Isolated silos in industry may create barriers to growth, but they also offer opportunities for those willing to take the initiative.
    By: Bill Lydon
    31 December, 2014 | 2 minutes
  • Career Choices on the Road to Becoming an Automation Professional

    Career Choices on the Road to Becoming an Automation Professional

    In your journey to become an automation professional, consider joining ISA and contributing your time and talents to advance the automation industry. You will find a community of people with common in
    By: Bill Lydon
    17 September, 2014 | 3 minutes
  • What Can We Do to Prevent Cyberattacks on Industrial Operations?

    What Can We Do to Prevent Cyberattacks on Industrial Operations?

    Cyber attacks on industrial operations are a growing concern with potential to disrupt the economy and do harm.
    By: Bill Lydon
    03 March, 2014 | 10 minutes
  • From simulation to plant floor control

    From simulation to plant floor control

    With xPC Target Turnkey, users can do virtual design and debugging of machines, production lines and processes and the results will be automatically implemented in real control systems.
    By: Bill Lydon
    05 February, 2013 | 4 minutes
  • Industrial Wire Management & Organized Wiring Systems

    Industrial Wire Management & Organized Wiring Systems

    Structured cabling in commercial buildings based on TIA/EIA standards has become a common practice in many building automation system applications. Panduit is promoting similar approaches for industrial automation. Jeff Paliga of Panduit answered the following questions about their approach.
    By: Bill Lydon
    05 February, 2013 | 4 minutes
  • An Example of a Sustainable Light Commercial Building

    An Example of a Sustainable Light Commercial Building

    There can be some great lessons learned from professionals when they put their skills and knowledge to work. I saw this when visiting a 34,100 square feet light commercial building where technology and knowhow were applied to create an efficient, sustainable, and productive environment. The building is a notable exception when contrasted with the typical light commercial building built for lowest first cost resulting in high energy cost, extra maintenance, and an uncomfortable environment.
    By: Bill Lydon
    04 February, 2013 | 5 minutes
  • Is Smart Grid Avoiding Real Challenges?

    Is Smart Grid Avoiding Real Challenges?

    There is too much hype about the smart grid without looking at the core problems from an engineering and business point of view.
    By: Bill Lydon
    02 December, 2011 | 3 minutes
  • PLC vs DCS - Competing Process Control Philosophy

    The idea of using a PLC-based system rather than a DCS has become a philosophical and technical debate in the industry. DCSs have been the primary solution for process automation but now many PLC vendors are arguing that a single integrated architecture based on PLCs and/or PACs is the best approach to total plant automation.
    By: Bill Lydon
    10 October, 2011 | 7 minutes
  • Siemens Contributes to Toy Story Attraction's Magic

    Siemens Contributes to Toy Story Attraction's Magic

    Toy Story Midway Mania! is one of the most technologically sophisticated attractions yet developed by Walt Disney Imagineering. It marks the company's first use of industrial Ethernet for a ride's control system which takes advantage of Siemens products.
    By: Bill Lydon
    19 September, 2011 | 5 minutes
  • Honeywell Process Solutions Embraces System Integrators

    Honeywell Process Solutions Embraces System Integrators

    Honeywell Process Solutions is pursuing relationships with independent system integrators (SI) for the “Honeywell Experion Implementers” program. I recently spoke with Bill Stevens, Honeywell Channel Manager, to learn more about this program.
    By: Bill Lydon
    07 July, 2011 | 3 minutes
  • Automatic PLC Code Generation & Design Interchange Standards

    Automatic PLC Code Generation & Design Interchange Standards

    Open standards, more powerful desktop computers, and lower cost software are making design, modeling, and automatic code generation for PLCs and PACs practical for improving automation.
    By: Bill Lydon
    07 April, 2010 | 4 minutes
  • OPC UA Redefines Automation Architectures

    OPC UA Redefines Automation Architectures

    The new OPC UA technology provides an efficient and secure infrastructure for communications - from sensor to business enterprise computing for all automation systems in manufacturing and process control. OPC UA leverages web services to provide a single programming paradigm in a scalable architecture that can be implemented is a range of devices - from embedded to enterprise.
    By: Bill Lydon
    25 February, 2010 | 3 minutes
  • New DCS for the Power Industry, the Siemens SPPA-T3000

    New DCS for the Power Industry, the Siemens SPPA-T3000

    I recently visited Siemens Energy’s Instrumentation, Controls, and Electrical group to learn more about the SPPA-T3000 system and how customers are using it.
    By: Bill Lydon
    16 February, 2010 | 6 minutes
  • Rockwell's Process Industry Strategy - New DCS Architecture

    Rockwell's Process Industry Strategy - New DCS Architecture

    Rockwell’s Process Solutions User Group (PSUG) meeting was held the two days prior to Automation Fair. Rockwell’s message to DCS users is very direct - the Logix architecture can meet all control and automation requirements from discrete to process control.
    By: Bill Lydon
    30 November, 2009 | 4 minutes
  • Make or Break with Project Management

    Project management is critical to ensuring projects are implemented correctly, on time and within budget. Good project management also communicates to your management or stakeholder that you are a professional.
    By: Bill Lydon
    13 March, 2009 | 5 minutes
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