Managing Automation - November 2007 - (Page 30)

with issues such as security and intrusion.” Automation/IT Best Practices: Help May Be on the Way It’s only natural, then, that, as manufacturing organizaou don’t have to tell Bruno Kisala that automation and IT teams are increasingly being required to collaborate and, in some cases, struggling to do so. The managing director of the Automation Federation, tions begin to pilot wireless has for the past several weeks, been hearing from members of his organization networks for process monitorseeking to work with other manufacturers to develop best practices for enabling ing and even control, IT orautomation/IT collaboration. ganizations often expect to “I have spoken with several individuals from member organizations about issues related take an oversight role. In some to IT and automation collaboration,” Kisala says. “Many people seem troubled about how companies, such as Boeing, to align these organizations. They see it as a problem.” that’s leading to new types of The federation, an umbrella organization for manufacturing- and automation-related collaboration between IT and trade groups, is considering putting together a formal program to help manufacturers betautomation groups. At others, ter manage automation/IT collaboration. Though the specifics of the program have yet to Bruno Kisala it’s generating friction and be worked out, Kisala says, the federation may co-sponsor a conference on the issue even delaying wireless auand/or launch a more formal effort to work with manufacturers to define the relative roles, responsibilities, and tomation deployments. skill sets associated with IT and automation groups within the manufacturing enterprise. That has been the case at “We’re looking at defining the line between when you would expect to bring an IT professional into a sitpharmaceuticals giant Eli Lilly uation and what skill sets those individuals would need to possess in order to work effectively in a plant floor & Co. Automation teams at the environment,” Kisala says. “Right now, there’s no consistent understanding of what the scope of responsibilcompany’s Indianapolis R&D ity of IT and automation should be when it comes to projects like wireless or integrating a new sensor into a plant have been pushing to network. We hope to provide some guidelines around that.” launch pilot projects to monitor instruments and producand de facto standard technologies — from tion equipment, and to track the movement PCs and the Windows operating system to of raw materials through the plant. But the Ethernet and IP-based networks — have company’s IT and telecommunications made their way from the IT world to the groups, which have overseen back-office plant floor. But, though automation groups wireless network deployments, have called found it fairly easy to assimilate standardsfor a timeout when it comes to wireless in based technologies while maintaining the the plant. separation from IT networks and processes, “Their biggest concern is with our wirewireless is a different story, experts say. less networks interfering with their bandFor one thing, those deploying and runwidth,” says James Murphy, an automation ning the technology need to worr y about engineer at the company. Also, he says, IT multiple wireless networks interfering with and telecom want pilot projects to wait for one another. And, obviously, they need to wireless products that comply with the ISA’s be concerned with the security and reliabilSP100 wireless automation standard, now ity of data as it moves wirelessly around the in development. office or plant environments. “They want to wait for the perfect, stanMany organizations long ago resolved dard solution, but we’re anxious to jump in. these issues in the front and back offices There have been several delays already,” by putting IT and telecommunications Murphy says. groups in charge of specifying and enforcing This is not to say that all wireless plant wireless standards and overseeing wireless floor projects are being delayed by disconnetwork deployment policies. Boeing, for nects between IT and automation teams. example, created a Wireless Applications Many automation groups have managed to Group (WAG) that developed a standard keep initial wireless projects under IT’s radar wireless reference architecture for the comby making sure they are relatively modest, pany, as well as an Unlicensed Radio Operaeasy to manage, and focused on equipment tions Committee (UROC) that approves all sensing and monitoring rather than control, proposed wireless network deployments, says Peter Zornio, chief strategic officer at Paine says. Emerson Process Management. Emerson “At most companies, IT has been cast in has assisted this, he says, by making sure its the role of approvers of wireless deploySmart Wireless family of products can be ments,” says Ian McPherson, network archieasily deployed and managed by automatect at Apprion Inc., a provider of wireless tion engineers familiar with the company’s networking management tools. “They’ve alwired networking products. ready deployed the technology in most “Sometimes the IT guys ask questions, office environments, and they are familiar but they are quickly satisfied that the de- [ SPECIAL REPORT ] Y ma November 30 2007 Photo courtesy: Bruno Kisala

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Managing Automation - November 2007 Contents Take 1 Mailbox SAP's Business ByDesign to Validate On-Demand Model for Enterprise SW Portfolio Management Specialist Losing Ground to Rivals At Incor, It's Time for Some Deep Breathing Can HART, ISA Get Together on a Wireless Spec? Mesa Tries to Help Improve Plant Metrics Notes Cover Story: The Digital Factory Special Report: Breaking Down Walls Integration: Dreaming of One ERP Industries: Locking onto Cyber-Security Transformation: Not Your Father's Time & Attendance Program Product Scan Advertiser Index Next

Managing Automation - November 2007

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