101 Tips for a Successful Automation Career

101Tips for A Successful Automation Career_McMillan Preface......Page 1
101Tips for A Successful Automation Career_McMillan TOC......Page 3
automation.isa.org-Tip 1 Always Ask Why Never Stop Learning......Page 9
How to Use Plant-Wide Feedforward for More Flexible and Efficient Production......Page 0
automation.isa.org-Tip 2 Always Note the Author of a Technical Article......Page 10
automation.isa.org-Tip 3 Pain Is Instructive......Page 12
automation.isa.org-Tip 4 Why You Should Establish a High Level of Trust with Your Automation Co-Workers......Page 14
automation.isa.org-Tip 5 Automation Industry Career Tip Admit Your Errors......Page 16
automation.isa.org-Tip 6 The Balance Between Risk Avoidance and Need for Change in Process Automation......Page 18
automation.isa.org-Tip 7 If You Have to Tell Everyone How Smart You Are You Probably Arent......Page 20
automation.isa.org-Tip 8 Never Underestimate the Power of Politics and Emotion in an Industrial Automation Career......Page 22
automation.isa.org-Tip 9 How to Determine the Reliability of an Actuator......Page 24
automation.isa.org-Tip 10 Butterfly and Ball Valves with Positioners Are Not Control Valves......Page 26
automation.isa.org-Tip 11 Benefits and Shortcomings of Vortex Flowmeters......Page 28
automation.isa.org-Tip 12 The Good the Bad and the Ugly of Magmeters......Page 30
automation.isa.org-Tip 13 What are the Strengths and Weaknesses of Differential Pressure Flow Devices (1)......Page 32
automation.isa.org-Tip 14 How to Specify a Capillary Seal Assembly......Page 34
automation.isa.org-Tip 15 The Value of Process in Designing or Improving an Industrial Control System......Page 36
automation.isa.org-Tip 16 The Benefit of Outlines and Flow Charts for Industrial Project Development......Page 38
automation.isa.org-Tip 17 The Value of Messaging in Industrial Control Systems......Page 40
automation.isa.org-Tip 18 Pitfalls of Selecting Low-Cost Industrial Instrumentation......Page 42
automation.isa.org-Tip 19 Always Design in Spare Capacity to Allow for Industrial Plant Expansion......Page 44
automation.isa.org-Tip 20 Benefits of Individually Fusing IO with Indicating Fuse Blocks......Page 46
automation.isa.org-Tip 21 Too Many Alarms Can Be Worse Than None at All......Page 48
automation.isa.org-Tip 22 Why Successful Automation Engineers Are Detail-Oriented......Page 50
automation.isa.org-Tip 23 Murphys Law Is Alive and Well in Industrial Processes......Page 52
automation.isa.org-Tip 24 The Importance of IO Cards When Performing a DCS Retrofit......Page 54
automation.isa.org-Tip 25 Make Sure the Coffee Is Strong and the Pot Brews Quickly on Start-up career tip......Page 56
automation.isa.org-Tip 26 Document Your Code......Page 57
automation.isa.org-Tip 27 Create Thoroughly Test THEN Replicate......Page 59
automation.isa.org-Tip 28 Plug and Play Devices Often Dont......Page 61
automation.isa.org-Tip 29 Why Control Panels Can Be a Source of Risk in Retrofit Projects......Page 63
automation.isa.org-Tip 30 Appearance Matters......Page 65
automation.isa.org-Tip 31 Project Management Is Really Risk Management......Page 67
automation.isa.org-Tip 32 Industrial Automation Project Management Tips......Page 69
automation.isa.org-Tip 33 High Pay Is Great but Life Is Too Short to Stay in a Job You Dislike......Page 71
automation.isa.org-Tip 34 Why Is Instrumentation Critical for the Automation Professional......Page 73
automation.isa.org-Tip 35 Why Operators Can Make or Break an Automation Project......Page 75
automation.isa.org-Tip 36 A College Degree Does NOT Buy You Respect......Page 77
automation.isa.org-Tip 37 Get Past the References You Are Offered......Page 79
automation.isa.org-Tip 38 Why You Should Avoid Scripted Control System Demonstrations......Page 81
automation.isa.org-Tip 39 Know the Codes......Page 83
automation.isa.org-Tip 40 How to Build Communications Skills as an Engineer......Page 85
automation.isa.org-Tip 41 Why New Engineers Should Get Plant Experience Early......Page 87
automation.isa.org-Tip 42 Consider Intangible Costs When Calculating an Industrial Project......Page 89
automation.isa.org-Tip 43 The Cost of a Continuous Waste Stream in Process Automation......Page 91
automation.isa.org-Tip 44 Why Engineers Should Foster Relationships with Vendors......Page 93
automation.isa.org-Tip 45 Why Engineers Should Learn to Estimate Jobs......Page 95
automation.isa.org-Tip 46 How to Build a Successful Project Team in the Automation Industry......Page 97
automation.isa.org-Tip 47 Why You Should Teach and Grow the Next Generation of Engineering Talent......Page 99
automation.isa.org-Tip 48 Treat Every Automation Professional with Respect......Page 101
automation.isa.org-Tip 49 High Pay Is Not Reason Enough to Stay in a Bad Industrial Automation Job......Page 104
automation.isa.org-Tip 50 Continuous Improvement in an Automation Career Requires Continuous Solicitation of Feedback......Page 106
automation.isa.org-Tip 51 Seek Conversations with Knowledgeable People......Page 108
automation.isa.org-Tip 52 Be a Good Listener......Page 110
automation.isa.org-Tip 53 The Best Process Control Technical Resources May Be Out of Print......Page 112
automation.isa.org-Tip 54 Why You Should Look for Opportunities to Improve Plant Profitability......Page 114
automation.isa.org-Tip 55 Why You Should Use the Best Automation Technology Even if the Price Tag Is Higher......Page 116
automation.isa.org-Tip 56 Learn New Skills and Explore Technological Advances......Page 118
automation.isa.org-Tip 57 Be a Team Player......Page 120
automation.isa.org-Tip 58 Automation Industry Career Tip Make Yourself More Marketable......Page 122
automation.isa.org-Tip 59 Why You Should Document the Benefits of Process Control Improvements......Page 124
automation.isa.org-Tip 60 Why Automation Professionals Should Write and Present Technical Papers......Page 126
automation.isa.org-Tip 61 How to Achieve Greater Manufacturing Efficiency With Online Process Metrics......Page 128
automation.isa.org-Tip 62 How to Use Simulation and Virtual Plants for Process Improvement......Page 130
automation.isa.org-Tip 63 Use Field Analyzers to Measure Key Component Concentrations......Page 132
automation.isa.org-Tip 64 How to Improve Setpoints......Page 134
automation.isa.org-Tip 65 How to Use High Rangeability Flowmeters and Valves to Increase Plant Turndown......Page 136
automation.isa.org-Tip 66 First Principles for a Deeper Understanding of Industrial Automation......Page 138
automation.isa.org-Tip 67 Optimal Measurement Location Maximizes Sensor Sensitivity and Signal-To-Noise Ratio......Page 140
automation.isa.org-Tip 68 How to Select the Best Control Valve Location......Page 142
automation.isa.org-Tip 69 Add Control Loops to Eliminate Manual Actions and Sequences in Process Control......Page 144
automation.isa.org-Tip 70 The Importance of Minimizing Dead Time in Process Automation......Page 146
automation.isa.org-Tip 71 How to Achieve Best Disturbance Rejection and Setpoint in Industrial Processes......Page 148
automation.isa.org-Tip 72 How to Achieve Best Loop Coordination and Optimization......Page 150
automation.isa.org-Tip 73 How to Use a Coriolis Meter for Mass Flow and Concentration Control......Page 152
automation.isa.org-Tip 74 How to Eliminate Split Range Oscillations in Process Control......Page 154
automation.isa.org-Tip 75 Use Wireless Transmitters for Diagnostics Improvements and Metrics......Page 156
automation.isa.org-Tip 76 Free Download Checklists to Manage Instrumentation and Manufacturing Technology......Page 158
automation.isa.org-Tip 77 Benefits of Increasing PID Gain and Reset Time for Vessels and Columns......Page 160
automation.isa.org-Tip 78 Decrease the PID Gain and Reset Time for Pipeline and Inline Control......Page 162
automation.isa.org-Tip 79 How Equipment and Operating Conditions Affect Process Dynamics......Page 164
automation.isa.org-Tip 80 Benefits of Using Sliding Stem Valves for Tighter Process Control......Page 166
automation.isa.org-Tip 81How to Select the Best Type and Size of Actuator for Tight Control......Page 168
automation.isa.org-Tip 82 The Importance of Using Tuned Positioners on All Control Valves......Page 170
automation.isa.org-Tip 83 Why You Should Not Use On-Off Valves as Control Valves......Page 172
automation.isa.org-Tip 84 Use Signal Characterization in the DCS to Linearize the Installed Flow Characteristic of a Valve......Page 174
automation.isa.org-Tip 85 What Are the Benefits of Linear Reagent Demand Control in Managing pH......Page 176
automation.isa.org-Tip 86 How to Determine the Health of a Glass Electrode......Page 178
automation.isa.org-Tip 87 How to Determine the Health of a Reference Electrode......Page 180
automation.isa.org-Tip 88 Use Middle Signal Selection to Improve pH Measurement Reliability......Page 183
automation.isa.org-Tip 89 What are the Benefits of Identifying Deadtime and Ramp Rate......Page 186
automation.isa.org-Tip 90 Benefits of Computing and Trending a Future Process Variable......Page 189
automation.isa.org-Tip 91 How to Use Output Tracking to Improve Setpoint and Abnormal Condition Response......Page 191
automation.isa.org-Tip 92 How to Make Reset Time and Feedforward Action Smarter......Page 193
automation.isa.org-Tip 93 How to Use an Adjustable Flow Ratio and Feedforward Summer to Optimize Flow Measurement......Page 195
automation.isa.org-Tip 94 How to Smooth the Transition Between Batch and Continuous Operations......Page 197
automation.isa.org-Tip 95 How to Use External-Reset Feedback for Cascade Control......Page 200
automation.isa.org-Tip 96 How to Optimize Batch End Points and Cycle Times......Page 202
automation.isa.org-Tip 97 How to Use Valve Position Control to Optimize Process Efficiency and Capacity......Page 204
automation.isa.org-Tip 98 How to Achieve Process Simulation Fidelity......Page 207
automation.isa.org-Tip 99 Why a Virtual Plant Is Crucial for Process Control Improvement......Page 210
automation.isa.org-Tip 100 Why You Should Use an Enhanced PID for At-Line and Off-Line Analyzers......Page 212
automation.isa.org-Tip 101 How to Use Plant-Wide Feedforward for More Flexible and Efficient Production......Page 214