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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
  • 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
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