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Monday, January 29, 2007 |
I was finally able to connect schedules with Rockwell Automation's Legacy DCS Migration Program Manager, Mike Vernak, today in response to a thread that began with the press release of the migration program and then Dave Harrold's comment about maintaining intellectual property in a migration.
Indeed, Rockwell does provide tools to migrate graphics, configuration and intellectual property such as high level algorithms and advanced control into its platform. Today the tools exist for Bailey Infi 90 Network 90, Honeywell TDC 2000 and TDC 3000 including logic manager system, and Fisher Provox. Coming next are Moore APACS, Taylor Mod300 and Westinghouse WDPF. The tools include a face plate library that mimic the legacy face plates. There is a control strategy library that mimic higher level function blocks from the legacy platforms (there are technical underpinnings, but I'm not going there right now). The platform also has custom cables so the Rockwell platform can go in without messing with legacy wiring. Vernak did say that they have done many "rip and replace" programs so far. Also, the program is not in beta, but has been successfully implemented. A prospective customer can request a visit to see successful implementations.
9:07:30 PM 
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Amit is wondering who goes to conferences. Good question. Although the ARC Advisory Group Forum next month in Orlando is currently the industry's best "meet and greet" gathering, check out the attendee list. That's not for the faint of heart. A majority in the past have been people from automation suppliers--many if not most from marketing. How many "buying influences" are there? It's tough to find a place as a smaller company in a new niche to find an audience.
To his last comment about M2M not getting the attention it deserves--I think about that a lot. I think there are a lot of reasons. A few thoughts: First, the early M2M was tied intimately to cellular broadband technology. Do you want your data on a carrier that drops that many calls? Second, I think there is a lot of technology sending data from machine to machine. It may not be just what some of the new companies want. What is missing is the application. M2M is an enabling technology. What it needs is a true application that people need. They don't want M2M, they want real-time data to feed their ERP system. But, that's not easy. Therefore all the MES or Performance Management or Manufacturing Intelligence vendors must get their acts together to build critical mass that then requires this real-time data communication. Third, I also wonder about a critical mass of competitors. Are there enough companies promoting this technology? How are they promoting it?
By the way, hint for you about editors. I can only talk technology so much. Then it gets old. I'd like to tell stories about how people have implemented the technology. What it took to implement (warts and all). What are the business benefits derived. When you can tell stories rather than theory, then the message gets out better.
From Amit:
Who really goes to Real time conferences?. Just last friday i was very excited as we were chosen as one of the 8 real time technology providers by Society of Petroleum Engineers(SPE) gulf coast chapter who are creating Smart Real Time environments/innovative services. We were amongst Rockwell Automation, Halliburton etc. to name a few.
This was a heavily marketed event, but my excitment wasnt long lived as 90% of the audience(attendees) were non decision makers. We had junior engineers, new recruits to big companies, big 4 consultants and obviously competitors making notes. So where were the real decision makers?
This really made me think on is this another factor why real time (M2M) technologies dont get right attention it deserves? This is 2nd time i experienced that audience didnt have real decision makers which is another reason why adoption suffers in my opinion. By Amit. [Connecting your enterpise to remote assets]
12:06:02 PM
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Adobe announced it intends to release the full Portable Document Format (PDF) 1.7 specification to AIIM, the Enterprise Content Management Association, for the purpose of publication by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). PDF has become a de facto standard and with this move the specification would become a formal standard. Adobe first published the specification in 1993. Adobe had already been active with international standards for specific implementations, for example PDF for Archive (PDF/A) and PDF for Exchange (PDF/X) are ISO standards. PDF for Engineering (PDF/E) and PDF for Universal Access (PDF/UA) are proposed standards.
7:15:08 AM
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© Copyright 2007 Gary Mintchell.
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