Managing Automation - September 2008 - (Page 17)

news managingautomation.com maonline Go online for daily news updates in perspective look at things — the public relations, the government relations kinds of activities,” he said, “to try to look at the ways that we can promote greater awareness of what automation can do to help maintain competitiveness.” The federation’s constituents include founding member ISA, as well as the Microsoft Manufacturing User Group, the Organization for Machine Automation and Control (OMAC), the WBF, and the Wireless Industry Network Alliance (WINA). Central to the federation’s early efforts was the process of bringing together member organizations to discuss their common goals and how they could work more collaboratively. “I think they’ve made great strides in that,” Goodson said. The group’s more vocal efforts going forward will focus mainly on the development of the automation professional — an initiative that involves knowledge exchange between federation members and colleges and trade schools across the country. In this era of tenuous manufacturing job security, federation leaders have also caught the ears of members of Congress, Goodson said, who are looking to re-energize their constituents and districts by outfitting them with the skills needed to lure manufacturing jobs. “We are talking to the Department of Labor about just what are the competencies involved in doing automation jobs, and helping them to define the automation professional,” he said. Although the new managing director gives U.S. manufacturers decent grades for their use of automation, he said there’s an opportunity to do much more. “I think that it’s too easy to look for the low-cost labor and ship jobs overseas rather than retool and take advantage of automation to do things here.” Other federation plans include a drive to create standardization among machines and systems, so that manufacturers can achieve truly interoperable plants, and promoting cyber-security in those same environments, namely through wireless security standards that will protect industrial companies against unwanted intrusions. The Automation Federation is steered by its board of directors, which comprises representatives from the member organizations. “Right now, we don’t have a mechanism for an industry, for example, to come and join the federation directly,” Goodson said. “But I would encourage anyone who thinks they’re interested in participating to contact me. We’ll figure out a way to plug them in.” — Chris Chiappinelli Alliances, Executive Appointments, Mergers & Acquisitions, Products execution systems (MES). The guideline aims to simplify integration, lower engineering costs, shorten project schedules, and increase manufacturing flexibility and reliability. The Connect-and-Pack guideline was developed by OMAC’s Packaging Machinery working group. OMAC also has a Manufacturing Infrastructure and a Machine Tool working group. Going forward, OMAC intends to engage in other aspects of manufacturing by adding working groups in areas such as PLM. Bauman says there is a lot of PLM development happening now, but not a lot of end-user input into the requirements related to functionality and industry standards. That’s where an OMAC PLM working group could make a difference. “We want to broaden into areas that affect our members,” Bauman said. “Also, we have a strong U.S. presence, and, in order to be more successful, we need to broaden [our reach] to become more of an international organization.” OMAC, which has about 500 members including end users, vendors, systems integrators, and OEMs, recently launched a new technology advisory board, which includes about 18 corporate members that will take an active role in shaping the direction of the group going forward. Ultimately, OMAC intends to be the organization that will shape how the industry, as a whole, applies standards, and how manufacturers use technology in the future. “Over the last few years, we’ve been focused on trying to deliver on some initiatives within the active working groups, and now we are trying to [build] OMAC to be a more influential organization,” Bauman said. — Stephanie Neil AUTOMATION FEDERATION NAMES CHIEF, PLOTS GROWTH he Automation Federation, hatched in 2006 as an umbrella organization for various user and advocacy groups, has named a new managing director to guide it toward what it hopes will be greater recognition and outreach. Paul Goodson, an electrical engineer by trade who has spent the latter half of his career managing various associations, took the helm at the federation in July. Goodson looks at the appointment as an opportunity to better promote the federation’s mission and stature. “We’re beginning to take more of an outward T http://managingautomation.com http://www.rockwellautomation.com/think/see http://www.rockwellautomation.com/think/see

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Managing Automation - September 2008

Managing Automation - September 2008 Contents Take 1 Letters Tech Vendors Defy Economic Slump by Plugging into Developing World Growth New E2open Chief Outlines Plan to Accelerate Growth Is This Marketing as It Used to Be or Something New? The OMAC Group Attempts to Widen Its Influence Automation Federation Names Chief, Plots Growth Notes Cover story: The Innovation Gap Special Report: Meet the Progressive Manufacturing High Achievers Progressive Manufacturer of the Year Business Model Mastery Innovation Mastery Customer Mastery Supply Network Mastery Data & Integration Mastery Education & Training Mastery Leadership Mastery Operational Excellence Mastery Special Report: Catching the Wireless Wave Part 1: No Clear Infrastructure Winner Part 2: Wireless Apps Take Wing Part 3: The Human Side of Wireless Product Scan Advertiser Index Next

Managing Automation - September 2008

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