ISA Interchange

Welcome to the official blog of the International Society of Automation (ISA).

This blog covers numerous topics on industrial automation such as operations & management, continuous & batch processing, connectivity, manufacturing & machine control, and Industry 4.0.

The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. ISA blog posts may be authored by ISA staff and guest authors from the automation community. Views and opinions expressed by a guest author are solely their own, and do not necessarily represent those of ISA. Posts made by guest authors have been subject to peer review.

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Advance Your Career in March with Training from ISA

This education & training roundup was compiled by Joel Don, ISA's social media community manager.

In March, ISA's popular Technical Training Camp travels to Arizona for four consecutive weeks of intensive training classes with an emphasis on the practical application of knowledge and skills. This is an opportunity to expand your abilities and experience in automation engineering and safety. Also next month, joinmarch-2016-automation-training-education-isa other automation professionals for ISA's new Extreme Instrumentality course, a comprehensive program designed to advance your work as an instrument maintenance technician. March also includes a wide array of courses, webinars, online training classes and professional certification preparation programs, detailed in this course roundup post.

Onsite Training

In addition to taking ISA classroom training at ISA headquarters, regional locations and industry events, you can also receive customized ISA training at your facility through ISA Onsite Training. This option can bring any ISA course or combination of courses – along with ISA’s world-class instructors, training materials and portable laboratories – directly to you.  Simply pick the time and place.  Contact ISA at +1 919-549-8411 or info@isa.org.

Note: If a class date is not showing in the course offerings page or registration appears closed, contact ISA at info@isa.org or call customer service at +1 919-549-8411 to get a registration update or waiting list status.

Fundamental Skills Training

Introduction to Industrial Automation and Control (FG07)
This course combines lecture and hands-on labs to provide an overview of industrial measurement and control. Technicians, engineers, and managers are provided with a foundation for communication with other control system professionals. The class serves as a solid fundamental course for introduction to other ISA courses. The 4.5-day class starts March 7 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Technical Skills Training

Instrumentation Maintenance
Instrument Calibration and Documentation for FDA-Regulated Industries (TI24)
Do you want an untrained technician working on equipment that directly affects the quality and integrity of the product being manufactured at your facility? This course offers a combination of practical information and hands-on experience, covering fundamental principles of electronic process control instrumentation used in pharmaceutical and other life science industries. Proper calibration will be covered in hands-on lab exercises using common electronic instrumentation including analyzers. You will examine characteristics of electronic control systems and procedures for configuring transmitters, transducers, and controllers. A good portion of time is spent working hands-on with typical industry equipment. The 4.5-day class starts March 21 in King of Prussia, Penn.

Control Systems
Tuning Control Loops (TC05)
This course is directed to anyone who would like to gain a better understanding of how to tune control loops − whether they have tuned loops but would like to become more proficient or they have never tuned a loop before. Registrants are expected to have a basic understanding of instrumentation and controls (either by working experience or taking fundamental courses such as ISA’s FG07: Introduction to Industrial Automation and Control) as this course does not cover that material. The three-day course starts March 14 in King of Prussia, Penn.

Troubleshooting Instrumentation and Control Systems (TC10)
This course presents a systematic approach to troubleshooting and start-up of single- and multi-loop control loops. You'll see how pressure, level, flow, and temperature loops operate to maintain good process control systems. Knowledge of instrumentation and control is assumed. The two-day class starts March 17in King of Prussia, Penn.

Automation Professional Skills

Asset Management and Enterprise Integraion
Implementing Business-to-MES Integration Using the ANSI/ISA95 Standard (IC55)
Many manufacturing firms have made significant investments in flexible shop-floor execution systems as well as sophisticated enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Those investments, however, cannot yield their full potential until each has access to the information and capabilities of the other. The ANSI/ISA95 standard addresses that coordination problem by providing a sound, robust definition of business activities and of the information that must flow between those two realms. The two-day class starts on March 10 in Newark, Del.

Control Systems

Batch Control Using the ANSI/ISA88 Standards (IC40)
This course presents an approach to developing functional requirements/specifications using the models and terminology defined in the ANSI/ISA88 batch control standards. A review of the characteristics of batch manufacturing systems is included. Participants will explore the ANSI/ISA88 concept that separates the recipe from the equipment. This course includes a methodology that defines an object approach based on ANSI/ISA88 that promotes the reuse of these objects from one project to the next. The three-day class starts March 7 in Newark, Del.

Cybersecurity
New_80x80IACS Cybersecurity Design & Implementation (IC34)
The second phase in the IACS Cybersecurity Lifecycle (defined in ISA 62443-1-1) focuses on the activities associated with the design and implementation of IACS cybersecurity countermeasures. This involves the selection of appropriate countermeasures based upon their security level capability and the nature of the threats and vulnerabilities identified in the Assess phase. This phase also includes cybersecurity acceptance testing of the integrated solution, in order to validate countermeasures are properly implemented and that the IACS has achieved the target security level. This course will provide students with the information and skills to select and implement cybersecurity countermeasures for a new or existing IACS in order to achieve the target security level assigned to each IACS zone or conduit. Additionally, students will learn how to develop and execute test plans to verify that the cybersecurity of an IACS solution has properly satisfied the objectives in the cybersecurity requirements specification. The three-day course will be held March 15 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Discrete, Sequencing, and Manufacturing Control
New_80x80PLC Fundamentals for the Technical Professional (TC40)
This course will focus on the role the programmable logic controller plays in the design of a control system and how proper selection, installation and maintenance can reduce operating costs and improve performance. It will provide the technical expertise necessary to install, perform routine programming and maintenance and apply proper troubleshooting and configuration techniques. The 4.5-day course starts March 21 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C..

Energy

Transducer/Transmitter Installation for Nuclear Safety Applications Using ANSI/ISA-67.01.01 (IC67)
This course will cover the ANSI/ISA-67.01.01 standard relating to the installation of transducers for nuclear safety-related applications. The course emphasis will be a review of established requirements and recommendations for the installation of transducers and auxiliary equipment for nuclear applications outside of the main reactor vessel. The class is two days and starts March 14 in Newark, Del.

ANSI/ISA-67.04-2006: Setpoints For Nuclear Safety-Related Instrumentation (IC68P)
The latest version of the ANSI/ISA67 standard is focused on performance monitoring. The course will discuss the terminology and the appropriate use of the standard and the steps necessary for the development of safety-related setpoint analysis. ANSI/ISA-67.04.01 has been used as the basis for many plant specific setpoint programs and setpoint calculations. The changes to this standard should be reflected in all programs where compliance to NRC requirements is necessary. The three-day class starts March 16 in Newark, Del.

Measurement and Control
Industrial Pressure, Level, and Density Measurement Engineering (EI05)
This two-day course presents the principles and applications of modern pressure, level and density measurement systems. Emphasis is placed on instrument design technologies; system performance and design; and specification, selection, installation and maintenance requirements. The class will be held starting March 14 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Industrial Flow Measurement Engineering (EI10)
This three-day course presents the principles and applications of modern flow measurement systems. Emphasis is on flowmeter accuracy, performance, system design, sizing, specification, installation and maintenance requirements. The class starts March 16 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Safety
Advanced Design and SIL Verification (EC54)
This two-day course focuses on more detailed design issues and further hands-on examples of system analysis/modeling. Students will be better able to perform system design and analysis thus saving their companies time and money in optimizing system designs. This course will enable you to analyze any system technology and configuration to see if it will meet the required SIL (safety integrity level) and determine if existing systems are safe enough, if they need to be upgraded, and whether proposed systems will meet the performance requirements. The class will start March 2 in Houston, Tex.

Boiler Control Systems Engineering (ES15)
This three-day course covers boiler components and their purpose. Additionally, the course explains the ISA symbols used in boiler control, how to identify the engineering and control of boilers using these symbols, and a method of presenting the engineering. This course covers topics including defining the control and ratio control fundamentals, feed forward control, feed forward plus feedback control, cascade control, ratio control, and how they are implemented in boiler control. Flame detection methods, including the advantages of each method, are also covered. The class will start on March 14 in Houston, Tex.

Burner Management Systems Engineering Using NFPA Code 85 and ANSI/ISA77 Standards (ES16)
This two-day course covers the safe startup, monitoring and shutdown of multiple burner boiler furnaces. It also discusses causes of furnace explosions and the relationship between burner management systems and boiler control systems. Prior attendance at ISA ES15: Boiler Control Systems Engineering course or an understanding of boilers and boiler control is assumed. The class starts March 17 in Houston, Tex.

Certification and Licensure Preparation

ExamPrepChecklist_80x80 Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®) Level III Exam Review Course (TS03)
This course reviews the knowledge and skills areas included on the Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®) Level III examination. The intent is to prepare an automation professional who meets the exam criteria to take the exam. The content is based on the job analysis domains, tasks, knowledge areas, and skill areas developed as the basis for the CCST certification exam. The 4.5-day course starts March 21 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Special Training Events

New_80x80Extreme Instrumentality: Electrical to Instrumentation Cross Training Boot Camp (XTBC)
This class focuses on the knowledge and skills-sets required to function as an instrument maintenance technician. The electrical skills-set possessed by a trained electrician will serve as basis for expansion to include the skills-set required to maintain an instrument control system. Process measurement techniques, measurement and control equipment, calibrations techniques and calibration equipment will be discussed and utilized in numerous hands-on lab sessions. The knowledge and skill-sets gained from attending this class will lead the student to become an asset to an I&E maintenance team. The 4.5-day course starts March 14 in Houston, Tex.

The following courses are part of ISA Technical Training Camp - Arizona

ISA Technician Training Boot Camp (TTBC)
ISA Technician Training Boot Camp (not just for technicians) combines a unique technical training course − minimum lecture and maximum hands-on experience − with bonus features, including a plant tour, technical library, and social events, to enhance the learning experience and to maximize knowledge gained. More than 75 percent of your time will be spent on equipment labs. This week of intensive training will cover a broad range of technical topics needed to get the job done right. Starting with basic instrumentation fundamentals and ending with the advanced and ultimate in smart technology, this comprehensive program will serve as a vital building block to your professional development and skills enhancement efforts. This course also serves as a solid introduction to other ISA courses that will help you advance your automation and control career. ISA Technician Training Boot Camp starts March 7 in Tempe, Ariz.

ISA Automation Engineering Survival Training (AEST)
Sharpen your process automation know-how with this intensive week of expert-led lecture and hands-on exercises covering practical, real-world automation survival skills. Automation Engineering Survival Training is a unique process automation engineering experience designed to hone your process automation knowledge and skills. This intensive technical training boot camp for automation engineers combines lecture and hands-on labs with bonus features, including a plant tour, technical library, and networking events, to maximize your learning experience. The five-day class starts March 14 in Tempe, Ariz.

Safety Instrumented Systems − Design, Analysis and Justification (EC50)
This course focuses on the engineering requirements for the specification, design, analysis, and justification of safety instrumented systems for the process industries. Students will learn how to determine safety integrity levels and evaluate whether proposed or existing systems meet the performance and documentation requirements defined in the ISA 84 (IEC61511) standard. The four-day class starts March 21 in Tempe, Ariz.

Advanced Safety Integrity Level Selection (EC52)
This course focuses on further hands-on examples of safety integrity level (SIL) selection using a variety of different techniques. Students will be better able to save their companies time and money through the optimization of system performance requirements. This course is a follow-on to EC50 (Safety Instrumented Systems − Design, Analysis, and Justification). The course is required for the ISA84 Safety Instrumented Systems Certificate Program 2. You can register for the course only or for the certificate program which includes course and exam. The two-day course starts on March 28 in Tempe, Ariz.

Advanced Design and SIL Verification (EC54)
This two-day course focuses on more detailed design issues and further hands-on examples of system analysis/modeling. Students will be better able to perform system design and analysis thus saving their companies time and money in optimizing system designs. This course will enable you to analyze any system technology and configuration to see if it will meet the required SIL (safety integrity level) and determine if existing systems are safe enough, if they need to be upgraded, and whether proposed systems will meet the performance requirements. The class will start March 30 in Tempe, Ariz.

Online Instructor-Assisted Courses

OnlineCourse_80x80 Certified Control System Technician® (CCST®) Level III Exam Review Course (TS03E)
This online course reviews the knowledge and skills areas included on the new Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®) Level III examination. The intent is to prepare an automation professional who meets the exam criteria to take the exam. The content is based on the latest job analysis domains, tasks, knowledge areas and skill areas developed and regularly reviewed and updated as the basis for the CCST certification exam. The 15-week course starts March 7.

OnlineCourse_80x80 Safety Instrumented Systems − Design, Analysis and Justification (EC50E)
ISA’s CyberU online instructor-led training course offers the benefit of a high-quality ISA training course with the added advantage of studying at your own pace in the office, at home or while traveling. This course utilizes online training modules, additional text materials, online evaluations, and email discussions. Students will have access via email to an instructor and have an opportunity to participate in live Q&A sessions with the instructor and other class participants. The course focuses on the engineering requirements for the specification, design, analysis, and justification of safety instrumented systems for the process industries. Students will learn how to determine safety integrity levels and evaluate whether proposed or existing systems meet the performance requirements. The eight-week course starts March 28.

Note: This course is required for the ISA84 SIS Fundamentals Specialist Certificate Program. Click this link for details.

En EspanolInstrumentados de Seguridad - Diseño, análisis y justificación - (EC50ESP - Version en linea)
Este curso esta enfocado en los requerimientos de ingeniería para especificar, diseñar, analizar y justificar el uso de sistemas instrumentados de seguridad para la industria de proceso. Los estudiantes aprenderán como determinar los niveles integrales de seguridad funcional y como evaluar si los sistemas existentes o propuestos alcanzan los requerimientos de desempeño o rendimiento. Este curso es requerido como parte del programa ISA 84 "Certificado como experto en fundamentos en Sistemas Instrumentados de Seguridad funcional." El estudiante puede inscribirse para tomar el curso solamente o para el programa del certificado, que incluye el examen. Aquellas personas que completen el curso y pasen el examen, recibirán el reconocimiento como "Especialistas en Fundamentos ISA84" (ISA84 SFS por sus siglas en Ingles). Este curso es requerido para obtener el certificado como “Especialista en Fundamentos ISA84” (ISA84 SIS Fundamentals Specialist Certificate Program). La clase comienza 28 de Marz0.

Live Webinar Series

Instrumentation in Hazardous Locations Series - NEW!

New_80x80Webinar_80x80Protection Methods in Applying Instrumentation in Hazardous Locations & Enclosures: Introduction/Overview (ES10W1)
This seminar provides a detailed overview of protection methods and standards. Specifying, designing and implementing of enclosures in hazardous locations are also discussed. An introduction to related standards from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), International Electro-technical Commission (IEC), and the International Society of Automation (ISA) is provided. The webinar will be held March 2.

New_80x80Webinar_80x80Protection Methods in Applying Instrumentation in Hazardous Locations & Enclosures: Intrinsic Safety (ES10W2)
This seminar provides a detailed overview of Intrinsic Safety protection methods and standards. Specifying, designing and implementing of intrinsically-safe circuits in hazardous locations are also discussed. An introduction to related standards from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the International Society of Automation (ISA) is provided. The webinar will be held March 16.

New_80x80Webinar_80x80Protection Methods in Applying Instrumentation in Hazardous Locations & Enclosures: Intrinsic Safety (ES10W3)
This course provides a detailed overview of non-incendive devices, purging protection methods and standards. Specifying, designing and implementing of non-incendive circuits and purging panels in hazardous locations are discussed. An introduction to related standards from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the International Society of Automation (ISA) is provided. General maintenance instructions for maintaining protection systems is also covered. The webinar will be held March 30.

Boiler/Burner Management Series

Webinar_80x80 Introduction to Boiler Control (ES15W)
When working with balance draft boilers, regardless of the basic process control system or fuel being burned, you must control six basic functions − furnace draft, drum level, feed water, fuel, air, and steam temperature. This seminar will teach you what must be controlled and how the control systems operate. The webinar will be held March 9.

Webinar_80x80Is A Burner Management System (BMS) A Safety Instrumented System (SIS)? (ES16PW1)
This seminar presents and discusses the direction in which the industry is heading with respect to the classification of a BMS as a SIS. The course will provide an overview of the current codes/standards related to burner management systems and how they relate to SIS standards. This class also presents arguments as to why a BMS could be considered a SIS. The webinar will be held March 23.

Webinar_80x80 Is a Fire & Gas System a Safety Instrumented System? (ES16PW2)
This webinar will explore the current trends in the market place and industry in general with respect to fire and gas detection systems and their relationship to safety instrumented systems (SIS). The webinar will be held April 13.

New_80x80Webinar_80x80Introduction to the 61-511 Changes (ES16PW3)
Safety instrumented systems for the process industry sector is currently undergoing a revision cycle. This webinar will provide an overview of proposed modifications to IEC 61511 with an emphasis on those modifications that could have an impact on the specification, design and/or operation of safety instrumented systems. The webinar will be held April 27.


ISA Partner Training

ISA has teamed up with IDC Technologies & Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) to bring an array of technical-related training courses to various U.S. locations as well as online courses, with special discounts for ISA members.

Accredited Diploma Courses
Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation—DIA
Begins: 14 March (18 months)

Advanced Diploma of Industrial Automation—DIA
Begins: 14 March (36 months)

Online Offerings
Professional Certificate of Competency in Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and SCADA Systems—CAU
Begins: 14 March (3 months)

Professional Certificate of Competency in Process Control Incorporating Loop Tuning and Advanced Control Strategies—CCI
Begins: 14 March (3 months)

Gain significant benefits and savings. Become an ISA member.
When you become an ISA member, you’ll join more than 30,000 automation and control professionals who collaborate to share ideas and insights, and solve technical challenges. And, you’ll receive up to 20 percent off on ISA products, including training courses! To review the complete array of ISA member benefits, click here or contact ISA customer service at +1 919-549-8411 or info@isa.org.

Become an ISA Instructor!
ISA is always looking to expand its pool of qualified subject matter experts to teach, develop or provide assessment services for our public and private clients/customers. Wouldn’t you like to make a difference and join this elite group of automation and control professionals? Click here to find out more about becoming an ISA instructor.

Have a great course idea? Click here and suggest a new ISA class.

When you become an ISA member, you’ll join thousands of automation and control professionals who collaborate to share ideas and insights, and solve technical challenges. And, you’ll receive up to 20 percent off on ISA products, including training courses. To review the complete array of ISA member benefits, click the link below or contact ISA customer service at +1 919-549-8411 or info@isa.org.

Click here to join ISA ... learn, advance, succeed!

Joel Don
Joel Don
Joel Don is an independent content marketing, social media and public relations consultant. Prior to his work in marketing and PR, Joel served as an editor for regional newspapers and national magazines throughout the U.S. He earned a master's degree from the Medill School at Northwestern University with a focus on science, engineering and biomedical marketing communications, and a bachelor of science degree from UC San Diego.

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