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Author Profile
Bill Lydon
208 Results Found
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FeatureThe Automation Professional as Change Agent
To create the greatest value for their employers, automation professionals need to be change agents. -
FeatureWhy Standards Benefit Manufacturing and the Process Industries
New industrial automation industry standards are enablers for leveraging new technology for the process industries. -
FeatureCollaborative 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. -
FeatureProduction 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. -
FeatureLeverage 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. -
FeatureLeveraging 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. -
FeatureCareer 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 -
FeatureWhat 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. -
NewsFrom 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. -
NewsIndustrial 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. -
NewsAn 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. -
FeatureIs 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. -
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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. -
FeatureSiemens 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. -
NewsHoneywell 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. -
NewsAutomatic 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. -
NewsOPC 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. -
NewsNew 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. -
NewsRockwell'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. -
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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. -
NewsIEC 61850 Power Industry Communications Standard
IEC 61850 is the new Ethernet-based international standard for communication in power generation facilities and substations. The goal of this standard is to integrate all of the protection, control, measurement, and monitoring functions within a substation, and to provide the means for high-speed substation protection applications, interlocking and intertripping. -
FeatureHoneywell Users Group - Heroes Gather in Phoenix
The 33rd annual Honeywell Users Group Conference was held June 15 - 19, 2008 at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, AZ with over 700 customers in attendance. -
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Stop and Think! Solving Problems More Effectively
Leveraging the knowledge and know-how of the people in an organization is a powerful way to make improvements and solve problems. The difficulty is getting this done effectively and avoiding an ineffective committee that creates more problems. -
NewsElectronic Marshalling Concept Attacks Installed Costs
Emerson Process Management introduced their new Electronic Marshalling concept as part of the new DeltaV release. This is the result of Emerson’s new process to design products based on Human Centered Design (HCD). -
NewsMachine design software generates open source Mechatronics program code
To implement a design, Mechatronics Concept Designer generates the control application code in the PLCopen XML standard format to create programs for controllers. -
NewsIEC 61850 Power Communications Standard - Commercial Ethernet switches need not apply!
The Ethernet-based IEC 61850 international standards for communication in power generation facilities and substations sets a high bar for Ethernet switch reliability. The goal of this standard is to integrate all of the protection, control, measurement, and monitoring functions within a substation. -
NewsHoneywell Process Solutions Embraces System Integrators
Honeywell Process Solutions is pursuing relationships with independent system integrators (SI) for the “Honeywell Experion Implementers” program. -
NewsAbout Bill Lydon, Editor for Automation.com
Please don't hesitate to contact Bill regarding any editorial opportunities with Automation.com.