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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
  • 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
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