Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Here's a report of interest to many Automation World readers. G.M. Reports Progress in Returning to Profitability but Also Sees Problems. General Motors executives told financial analysts yesterday that they were making progress in their efforts to become profitable again, but that rising gas prices and continuing negotiations over labor costs were complicating the company's comeback bid. By DANNY HAKIM and JEREMY W. PETERS. [NYT > Business] 9:58:23 AM    comment []

It's always a strange feeling when you are at a conference with limited access to news from early in the morning until late at night during a time of disaster. Checking news early this morning, I just cannot comprehend the devestation of Katrina. And to think New Orleans was spared a direct hit. The Yokogawa user conference is in workshop mode today. I'm live at the networking, fieldbus/device management workshop this morning. It's a packed room (maybe 60 people). Questions after Dave Glanzer's presentation a few minutes ago on Foundation Fieldbus revealed much interest in the benefits and future directions of networking. Ron Helson of the Hart Communication Foundation is speaking right now. This network has been around for a long time, there are many devices out in the field, but most are not being used to all the capabilities they contain. 7:56:13 AM    comment []