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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ISA Training and Education in August: Learn, Advance, Succeed

In August, ISA’s training and education programs cover a wide range of subjects including industrial security, advanced safety integrity level selection, operation of digital transmitters and valve controllers, and modern flow measurement systems. Can you survive in the world of process automation? Consider taking ISA's engineering survival training class, 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 Instructor and Student at Whiteboardlecture and hands-on labs with bonus features – including a plant tour, technical library, and networking events – to maximize your learning experience. Also in August, Texas will host ISA TechTour, the traveling technical training program that brings ISA’s expert trainers and premier instructional resources to your doorstep.

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. This class serves as a solid fundamental course for introduction to other ISA courses. The 4.5-day class will be offered in three locations during the month. The course starts 5 August in Burbank, Calif. and 12 August in Wilmington, Calif. The class, which is part of the August ISA TechTour in Texas, also will be held starting 26 August in Amarillo, Tex.

Industrial Flow Measurement Overview (EI10C)
This course will present applications of modern flow measurement systems. In addition, flowmeter accuracy, performance, sizing, specification, selection, and installation considerations are covered. Focus is on productivity improvement, and cost efficiencies of measurement and control. Also, you will focus on whether, when, and how to use the technologies that measure flow, the effect of fluid properties, and engineering practices required to optimize flowmeter performance. This course includes practical examples of flowmeter selection and problem solutions, with emphasis on basic principles or alternative technologies based on class preference. This one-day training is being held on 6 August in Orlando, Fla. in conjunction with the 2013 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Control Symposium.

Introduction to Industrial Automation Security and the ANSI/ISA99 (IEC 62443) Standards (IC32C)
Understanding how to secure factory automation, process control and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) networks is critical if you want to protect them from viruses, hackers, spies and saboteurs. This seminar teaches you the basics of the ANSI/ISA99 Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems standards and how these can be applied in the typical factory or plant. In this seminar, you will be introduced to the terminology, concepts and models of ANSI/ISA99 cybersecurity. In addition, the elements of creating a cybersecurity management system will be explained along with how these should be applied to industrial automation and control systems. The daylong webinar will be held 8 August.

A Tour of the ANSI/ISA99 Security Standards (IC32CW3)
This online seminar introduces you to the ANSI/ISA99 Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems standards and how these organized. You will be given a brief introduction to the terminology, concepts and models of ANSI/ISA99 cybersecurity and elements of creating a cybersecurity management system. This online seminar, which will be held 8 August, is part of the Control Systems Security & ANSI/ISA99 Series.

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

Control 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 6 August in Columbia, Ill. and also will be offered starting 15 August in Houston, Tex.

Industrial Flow Measurement Overview (EI10C)
This course will present applications of modern flow measurement systems. In addition, flowmeter accuracy, performance, sizing, specification, selection and installation considerations are covered. Focus is on productivity improvement and cost efficiencies of measurement and control. Also, you will focus on whether, when and how to use the technologies that measure flow; the effect of fluid properties; and engineering practices required to optimize flowmeter performance. This course includes practical examples of flowmeter selection and problem solutions, with emphasis on basic principles or alternative technologies based on class preference. This one-day class will be held 6 August in Orlando, Fla.

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 7 August in King of Prussia, Penn.

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

Fire and Gas System Engineering – Performance-Based Methods for Process Facilities (EC56P)
Fire and gas detection and suppression system design techniques that are currently in use are often considered to be unsatisfactory due to their nature of being rule of thumb and experience-oriented without any real ability to quantify risk. This has resulted in systems that are either over-designed or under-designed. Only after the ISA TR 84.00.07 was a comprehensive framework for performance-based fire and gas design established. This three-day course describes the techniques recommended in the technical report, along with hands-on use of the techniques and associated software tools. It will be held in Columbus, Ohio on 13 August.

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

Process Safety Fundamentals (EC50CT)
This 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 lifecycle 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 in Columbia, Ill. on 19 August.

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 (SIS) for the process industries. Students will learn how to determine safety integrity levels (SIL) 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 20 August in Columbia, Ill.

Advanced Operation of Digital (Smart) Transmitters and Digital Valve Controllers (TS16)
This lab-intensive course focuses on the configuration fundamentals, the calibration process, the measurements of multiple variables, and the utilization of computer-based configuration tools for both digital transmitters and digital valve controllers. This course offers hands-on, working knowledge of smart field devices with an emphasis on measurement accuracy, advanced information gathering, decreased maintenance time, ease-of-configuration and calibration, and diagnostic capabilities. The 4.5-day class, which is part of the Texas ISA TechTour in August, starts 26 August in Amarillo, Tex.

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

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 26 August in Houston, Tex.

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 28 August in Houston, Tex.

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

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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