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Control Systems
Current news on industrial automation, OPC technologies and the industry.
FAT and SAT: what should acceptance testing prove?
Acceptance testing should not be a formality at the end of a project. FAT and SAT answer different questions in different…
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Building an I/O list that supports PLC and DCS engineering
An I/O list is the shared language between field equipment and control software. Missing units, ambiguous signal types or…
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Automation backups: plan the restore, not just the copy
The existence of a backup file does not prove a system can be restored within the required time. Recovery needs project files…
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Alarm management: a systematic way to reduce operator workload
More alarms do not mean more safety. Alarm management defines the purpose, priority and expected operator action for every alarm…
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Comparing automation proposals on equal scope
The lowest total price does not always mean the same work has been offered more economically. Tests, documentation, licenses and…
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Commissioning handover: what should operations receive?
If project knowledge has not transferred to operations when a system is commissioned, handover is incomplete. A useful handover…
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Risk-based planning for DCS spare parts
A spares plan is more than a count of cards in storage. Criticality combines process consequences, procurement conditions…
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Legacy DCS modernization: how to migrate without stopping production
Replacing an aging DCS is not a rip-and-replace job. A phased approach with inventory, target architecture, parallel build…
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SCADA vs. DCS: which system fits which facility?
SCADA is a data collection and supervision layer; a DCS combines control, graphics, alarms and history on one platform…
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