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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August Tech Training and Education from ISA

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

ISA's Technical Training Camp comes to Pennsylvania in August. Over five consecutive weeks, a team of respected subject matter experts will conduct ISA’s most popular, world-class technician, automation engineering, safety, and security courses. The training and education programs include Automation Engineering Survival Training (WeekDollarphotoclub_68373583 1), Technician Training Boot Camp (Week 2), Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) Boot Camp (Weeks 3 & 4) and Industrial Cybersecurity Training (Week 5). All of ISA's classroom training, web-based courses and webinars are taught by top industry subject experts in manufacturing and industrial automation,  instrumentation and control systems. The wide variety of ISA training programs will expand your knowledge and advance your career. Companies leverage ISA's educational programs to advance the skills and capabilities of their employees.

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.

Classroom Courses

Fundamentals 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 August 24 in Columbia, Ill.

Developing and Applying Standard Instrumentation and Control Documentation (FG15)
This course will present the methodology for designing and developing control systems documentation. The development of piping and instrument diagrams (P&IDs) and related ISA drawings are emphasized. This course covers both the development and the reading/interpreting of these documents, making it beneficial to engineers, designers, software programmers, system integrators, and technicians. The two-day class starts August 18 in Houston, Tex.

Technical Skills Training

Instrumentation Maintenance

New_80x80Electrical Controls for the Controls System Technician (TI23)
This course will focus on electrical controls that are frequently overlooked in a formal training program. The content will begin with Ohm's Law and cover content all the way through technical troubleshooting aspects.  The course is geared toward any level technician who wants a thorough review of electrical process concepts to reinforce their knowledge of basic electricity and develop skills required to install and maintain electrical control devices. The 4.5-day class starts August. 10 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Installing, Calibrating, and Maintaining Electronic Instruments (TI25)
This popular course offers a combination of practical information and hands-on experience, covering proper installation, calibration, and maintenance of electronic instruments. You will examine characteristics of electronic control systems; techniques for installing electronic instruments; and procedures for configuring and calibrating transmitters, transducers, and controllers. Approximately 40 percent of your time in this course is spent working with equipment. The 4.5-day class starts August 24 in Houston, Tex.

New_80x80Control Valve Mechanics and Operations from Analog to Digital (TS18)
This course offers the student a comprehensive study of the control valve's mechanical composition, actuation and positioning accessories including a detail study of digital valve controllers (DVCs). The class is hands-on, lab intensive leading the student to a real-world working knowledge of valve mechanical configurations, valve operations and positioner calibrations. In addition the student will gain a working knowledge of DVC operations including configuration, calibration, tuning and diagnostics utilizing the latest communication tools (HART communicators, AMS software, etc). The 4.5-day class starts August 3 in Houston, Tex.

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 August 3 in Cerritos, Calif.

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 August 6 in Cerritos, Calif.

Industrial Data Communications

Industrial Networking & Security (TS12)
This five-day course focuses on the latest developments in networking, including practical tips on designing, implementing and testing TCP/IP-based networks and how to apply them securely and reliably in an industrial environment. You will discuss the functions and purposes of the elements used to create and protect an industrial network including switches, routers, firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems. This course will expand your practical knowledge of LAN, WAN and Web technologies. It illustrates what is safe and practical for today’s plant floor, including Internet technologies such as Web servers, TCP/IP and fiber optics. Special focus will be placed on the questions of security in the industrial setting drawing on the work of the SP-99 committee and NIST. The course will cover the details of IP addressing and how functions and protocols such as DHCP, DNS, ARP/RARP and fast spanning tree are essential to make such networks function.  The course will include network troubleshooting and the use of network diagnostic tools. The class starts August 17 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Industrial Data Communications Systems (TS06)
Starting from the basics, this course gives you the tools to design and maintain industrial communications systems on your plant floor. You'll learn the underlying principles behind today's industrial communications systems, including Modbus, Data Highway Plus, Ethernet, and TCP/IP. Real-life examples and case histories provide insight into the facts behind control networks and how to apply and maintain them effectively in your plant. The five-day class starts August 24 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Automation Professional Skills

Cybersecurity

Using the ANSI/ISA99 (IEC 62443) Standards to Secure Your Industrial Control System (IC32)
The move to using open standards such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, and Web technologies in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and process control networks has begun to expose these systems to the same cyberattacks that have wreaked so much havoc on corporate information systems. This course provides a detailed look at how the ANSI/ISA99 standards can be used to protect critical control systems. It also explores the procedural and technical differences between the security for traditional IT environments and those solutions appropriate for SCADA or plant floor environments. The two-day course will be held twice in August. The class starts August 13 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Alternate course date/location: The class also will be offered as part of ISA Technical Training Camp — Pennsylvania 2015, starting August 31 in King of Prussia, Penn.

IACS 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 August 10 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Measurement & 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 August 10 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 August 12 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Safety

Process Safety Fundamentals (EC50CT)
(Part of ISA Technical Training Camp — Pennsylvania 2015)
This one-day course is a quick reference for technicians and operators to understanding the principles governing the use of safety instrumented systems (SIS). Students will learn basic definitions and concepts, the different types of standards, and the role of personnel in the safety life cycle of such systems. It also serves as an introductory preparation for the more comprehensive ISA EC50 multi-day course covering design, analysis and justification of SIS and its related certificate programs. The one-day class will be held August 17 in King of Prussia, Penn.

Safety Instrumented Systems − Design, Analysis and Justification (EC50)
(Part of ISA Technical Training Camp — Pennsylvania 2015)
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 August 18 in King of Prussia, Penn.

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 August 17 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Alternate course date/location: A second class starts August 24 as part of ISA Technical Training Camp — Pennsylvania 2015.

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 August 19 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Alternate course date/location: A second class starts August 26 as part of ISA Technical Training Camp — Pennsylvania 2015.

Applying Instrumentation in Hazardous (Classified) Locations (ES10)
This course provides a detailed, systematic approach to specifying and implementing instrumentation in hazardous locations. The two-day class will be held starting August 10 in Newark, Del.

Certification and Licensure Preparation

ExamPrepChecklist_80x80Certified Automation Professional® (CAP®) Exam Review Course (EC00)
This three-day course reviews the knowledge and skills areas included on the CAP 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 CAP certification exam. The course starts on August 11 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

ExamPrepChecklist_80x80Control Systems Engineering (CSE) PE Exam Review Course (EN00)
This course reviews the knowledge and skills areas that are included on the Control Systems Engineer (CSE) Professional Engineer (PE) examination produced by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) and administered by U.S. state professional license boards each October. The intent of the class is to prepare an engineer with four or more years of experience to take the exam by providing instruction in the broad range of technical areas that will be tested. The content is based on the CSE Exam Specification that went into effect in October 2011. The three-day course starts August 12 in Newark, Del.

Alternate course date/location: The exam review course also will be sponsored by the ISA Atlanta Section, starting August 4 in Atlanta, Ga.

ExamPrepChecklist_80x80Certified Control System Technician (CCST) Level II Exam Review Course (TS02)
This is a fast-paced review of the knowledge and skills necessary for technicians with 7+ years of practical experience who are preparing to sit for the CCST Level II exam. An explanation of the requirements, examination process and practice certification-type exams are provided. The four-day course starts August 10 in Houston, Tex.

Special Training Events

ISA Automation Engineering Survival Training (AEST)
(Part of ISA Technical Training Camp — Pennsylvania 2015)
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 August 3 in King of Prussia, Penn.

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 August 3 in King of Prussia, Penn.

Extra Date Added: The course will also be offered starting August 31 in Columbia, Ill.

Process Automation Boot Camp For Non-Maintenance Personnel (PABC)
This course was specifically developed for non-maintenance personnel with little or no background in the field of process measurements and control. The class focuses on the physical measurement technologies, the communication signals and the various applications of instrument equipment to achieve common process measurements and control. The course is strategically designed around lab demonstrations and in depth class discussions. The course offers a fundamental knowledge for operations, technicians and engineers working in the process control industry. The five-day course starts August 17 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

ISA Symposium Training Courses

Introduction to the Management of Alarm Systems (IC39C)
(
Part of 2015 Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium)
This course focuses on the key activities of the alarm management lifecycle provided in the ANSI/ISA18.00.02 standard, Management of Alarm Systems for the Process Industries. The activities include the alarm philosophy development, alarm rationalization, basic alarm design, advanced alarm techniques, Human Machine Interface (HMI) design for alarms, monitoring, assessment, management of change, and audit. The one-day class will be held August 4 in Orlando, Fla.

Implementing Business-to-MES Integration Using the ANSI/ISA95 Standard (IC55)
(
Part of 2015 Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium)
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 August 3 in Orlando, Fla.

Online, Instructor – Assisted Courses

OnlineCourse_80x80Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®) Level I Review Course (TS00E)
This course is a fast-paced review of the knowledge and practical skills necessary to install and maintain standard measurement and control instrumentation. It is intended for practicing technicians preparing for the ISA Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®) Level I exam. Practice certification-type exams and an explanation of the examination process are provided. The 10-week Web class starts August 3.

OnlineCourse_80x80ExamPrepChecklist_80x80Certified Automation Professional® (CAP®) Online Exam Review Course (EC00E)
This self-paced, online course reviews the knowledge and skill areas included on the Certified Automation Professional® (CAP®) certification program 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 CAP certification exam. This course is the recommended replacement for the discontinued CAP Learning System preparation tool, as it incorporates content similarly included in that tool. The online course starts August 10.

OnlineCourse_80x80Applying Instrumentation in Hazardous Locations (ES10E)
This self-paced, online course provides a systematic approach to specifying and implementing instrumentation in hazardous locations. Related standards from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), American Petroleum Institute (API), and ISA are discussed. The eight-week course starts August 17.

OnlineCourse_80x80Fundamentals of Industrial Process Measurement & Control (FG05E)
This self-paced, online course provide an overview of industrial measurement and control for technician, engineers, and managers providing a basic understanding and foundation for communication with other control systems professionals. The 12-week course starts August 17.

OnlineCourse_80x80Certified 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 August 24.

Live Webinar Series

Boiler/Burner Management Series

Webinar_80x80Is 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). It will be held August 12.

Webinar_80x80 Introduction to the 61-511 Changes
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 online webinar will be held August 26.

ISA Partner Training

ISA has teamed up with IDC Technologies & 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.

Upcoming topics:

Advanced Diploma of Mechanical Engineering Technology
3 August (3 months)

Professional Certificate of Competency in Operation and Maintenance of Diesel Power Generating Plants
3 August (3 months)

Professional Certificate of Competency in Control Valve Sizing, Selection and Maintenance
10 August (3 months)

Advanced Diploma of Civil and Structural Engineering
17 August (24 months)

Practical Fundamentals of Heating, Ventilation & Air conditioning (HVAC) for Engineers & Technicians—4 hour online course
25 August -1:00PM CDT – 5pm CDT (18:00 – 22:00 UTC/GMT)

Practical SCADA Systems for Industry—4 hour online course
27 August - 2:00PM CDT – 6pm CDT (19:00 – 23:00 UTC/GMT)

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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