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Ask the Automation Pros
This long-running series of discussions, curated by 2010 ISA Life Achievement Award recipient Greg McMillan, gathers responses from ISA subject-matter experts on technical topics important to industrial automation professionals, academics and students.
169 Results Found
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How Can we Improve Logic Control Contact Status Awareness and Operator Response?
ISA Mentor Greg McMillan answers the question, "How Can we Improve Logic Control Contact Status Awareness and Operator Response?" -
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How Do You Get the Best From the People Working on Your Project?
Greg McMillan discusses how to get the best from people working on your project in the "Ask the Automation Pros" -
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Ask the Automation Pros: How Do You Improve Use of Analyzers for Continuous Control?
Greg McMillan discusses how to improve the use of analyzers for continuous control -
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Base, Best, and Ideal Practices for Mill Optimization
Greg McMillan discusses base, best, and ideal practices for mill optimization in his July Mentor post -
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Is Data Noise in Process Control Degrading Performance?
Greg McMillan discusses the topic, "Is data noise in process control degrading performance?" -
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Are We Facing Broad Change?
Greg McMillan and Russ Rhinehart discuss the idea of facing broad change -
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How Can We Improve Control of Dead Time Dominant Applications?
From Greg McMillan and the ISA Mentor Program team. -
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What are Considerations in Combining Process Control and Safety Systems?
From Greg McMillan and the ISA Mentor Program team. -
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What are the Diagnostics/Expertise Needed for FOUNDATION Fieldbus?
From Greg McMillan and the ISA Mentor Program team. -
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How Do We Improve Response to Continuously Changing Conveyor Setpoint?
What would be a good control strategy to regulate a process in which the setpoint is continually changing? -
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What Process and Equipment Effects Need More Attention?
How can we better understand how process and equipment design and operating conditions affect automation system design, installation, and performance? -
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What is Your Wish List for Achievement and Recognition? Part 2
What is your personal wish list of prospective achievements in process automation? -
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What is Your Wish List for Achievement and Recognition? Part 1
What is your personal wish list of prospective achievements in process automation? -
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What are the Biggest Mistakes You Have Seen? Part 5
Here we continue our series with some modeling and control mistakes. -
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What are the Biggest Mistakes You Have Seen? Part 4
We continue our series with some measurement and final control element mistakes seen by Greg that are widespread. -
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What are the Biggest Mistakes You Have Seen? Part 3
What are the biggest mistakes in automation system design, configuration, calibration, installation, checkout, commissioning, and maintenance? -
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What are the Biggest Mistakes You Have Seen? Part 2
Mistakes often offer the greatest learning experiences. Mentor program participants share what they have seen in this four-part series. -
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What are the Biggest Mistakes You Have Seen? Part 1
Mistakes often offer the greatest learning experiences. Mentor program participants share what they have seen in this four-part series. -
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How Can We Improve Control Loops with Slow Signal Updates?
What can be done to smooth out the signal with a soft sensor or virtual instrument? -
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The Best Level for Optimization and Organization in the Smart Factory
Automation professionals from the ISA Mentor Program answer questions about optimization and organization in smart factories. -
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9 Automation Engineers' Ideas and Principles for Everyday Working Life
Automation professionals from the ISA Mentor Program share their ideas and principles for everyday working life as an automation engineer. -
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What Are Some Ways to Improve and Prioritize Feedforward and Fast Feedback Control?
Automation professionals from the ISA Mentor Program answer a question about how to improve and prioritize feedforward and fast feedback control. -
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How Can We Develop and Motivate New Automation Professionals?
Automation professionals from the ISA Mentor Program address a question they received: 'How can we develop and motivate new automation professionals?' -
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Alarm Management and DCS Versus PLC/SCADA Systems
There are very few if any chemical or refinery units that would not benefit from state-based alarming. -
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How to Manage Control Valve Response Issues in the Field
A sensitive flow measurement is needed to identify the installed flow characteristic online. -
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How to Use Industrial Simulation to Increase Learning and Innovation
New projects expose automation professionals to more learning opportunities to continue to grow their skill sets and expertise. -
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How to Avoid Using Multivariable Flow Transmitters
Coriolis meters provide the only true mass flow measurements, which offer a very accurate density measurement as well. -
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Webinar Recording: Lessons Learned During the Migration to a New DCS
DCS migration topics: proper setting of tuning parameters, controller output scales, anti-reset windup limits, grounding, wiring, & configuration practices. -
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How Often Do Measurements Need to Be Calibrated?
The ISA recommended practice is not on the process of calibration but on a calibration management system -
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Basic Guidelines for Control Valve Selection and Sizing
Control valves often determine the capability of the control system. Poorly sized and selected control valves will make tight control impossible regardless of the control strategy or tuning employed.






























