Research Triangle Park, NC, USA -- The International Society of Automation (ISA) has established a new standards committee, ISA108, Intelligent Device Management. The committee will define standard templates of best practices and work processes for design, development, installation and use of diagnostic and other information provided by intelligent field devices in the process industries.
Intelligent field devices, pervasive in modern process manufacturing, bring the promise of transforming the way information is used, related to these devices and the processes they control. For example, devices with impending maintenance problems can be identified earlier with the information provided directly to process automation systems, plant asset management systems, or other systems or software as required.
In many cases, the promise remains unrealized, often because users are employing old maintenance work processes with new technology. The new devices and applications are installed, but operators and technicians stick to their traditional approaches to preventive or routine maintenance and do not take advantage of the huge amount of information available to them.
Indeed, as ISA108 Managing Director Ian Verhappen of Yokogawa Canada points out, "with more than 80% of smart instrument data not being used or even connected to an online data collection system, the lost revenues to the process industries are tremendous. Thus, the need is clear for a series of standards on how to integrate this data into control systems and work practices to achieve the benefits of proactive maintenance."
ISA108 will hold an initial meeting on 24 September 2012 in Orlando, FL, USA, in conjunction with ISA Automation Week 2012. However, the bulk of the committee's work will be conducted electronically. If you are interested in participating in ISA108, please contact Ellen Fussell Policastro of ISA Standards, [email protected].
To learn more about ISA Standards or to join a Standards committee, please visit the organization's Web site.
About ISA
Founded in 1945, the International Society of Automation is a leading, global, nonprofit organization that is setting the standard for automation by helping over 30,000 worldwide members and other professionals solve difficult technical problems while enhancing their leadership and personal career capabilities. Based in Research Triangle Park, NC, ISA develops standards, certifies industry professionals, provides education and training, publishes books and technical articles, and hosts conferences and exhibitions for automation professionals. ISA is the founding sponsor of the Automation Federation.