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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June Training and Education Programs Offered by ISA

ISA automation training and education offerings for June cover a wide range of topics including electronic instrumentation, networking and security, advanced safety integrity level selection and boiler control systems engineering and tuning control loops. Take advantage of special programs in Houston, Tex., including ISA's Technician Training Boot Camp and Automation Engineering Survival Training courses. Short on time to attend classroom training? Consider ISA's online courses and webinars.

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 trainingworld-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.

Featured Programs

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 June 2 in Houston, Tex.

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 June 9 in Houston, Tex.

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 June 16 in Burbank, Calif.

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 June 2 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 June 9 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Technical Skills Training – 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 June 2 in Newark, Del.

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 June 5 in Newark, Del.

Technical Skills Training – 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 June 16 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Technical Skills Training – Discrete, Sequencing, and Manufacturing Control

PLC/PAC System Integration (TC39P)
The PLC/PACs system provides three major subsections: (1) PLC/PAC hardware/software; (2) graphics; and (3) communications. This course will explore all three areas and drill down to various options. In addition, how personal computers are being used as PAC front ends and I/O is being connected will be covered. You will develop possible system requirement questions for various PLC/PAC vendors prior to the time of the implementation project. You will also be able to choose the proper programming language(s) to fit your system (RLD, ST, FBD, IL and/or SFC). The five-day class starts June 16 in Houston, Tex.

Automation and Control Training – Reliability, Safety and Electrical

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 starting on June 10.

Process Safety Fundamentals (EC50CT)
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 June 16 in Houston, Tex.

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 June 17 in Houston, Tex.

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 June 23 in Houston, Tex. with a second location also starting on June 23 in Columbia, Ill.

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 June 25 in Houston, Tex. with a second location also starting on June 25 in Columbia, Ill.

Automation and Control Training – Integration and Software

Introduction to Building Automation Systems (EA15)
This real world-based course will give you a broad introduction to the specific issues involved with building automation systems (BAS). You will explore the processes that occur at every level in the air conditioning industry, including digital controls. Learn about sensing and measurement, actuation, analog output devices, and relays. Computer interfaces are discussed including web interfaces. Your survey of the world of BAS includes: future of bas, digital direct control (DDC) basics, field devices, the human machine interface (HMI), bas design and specification, energy conservation control strategies, and system maintenance. The three-day class starts June 3 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

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 starts June 3 in Columbia, Ill.

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 June 9 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

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 June 9 in King of Prussia, Penn.

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 June 12 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Certification and Licensure Preparation

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 June 3 in Burbank, Calif.

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 June 9 in Houston, Tex.

ExamPrepChecklist_80x80Certified Maintenance and Reliability Technician (CMRT) Exam Review Course (TM00)
This course is designed as a fast-paced review for the experienced maintenance mechanic. It provides a thorough overview of the knowledge and mechanical skills required in today’s industrial maintenance environment. It is designed specifically for industrial maintenance mechanics preparing for the CMRT exam. An explanation of the examination process and practice taking a certification-type exam is provided. The three-day class starts June 17 in Columbia, Ill.

ExamPrepChecklist_80x80Certified 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 June 23 in Houston, Tex.

ISA Training at Industry Events

Overview of Setpoints For Nuclear Safety-Related Instrumentation (IC68PD)
The course will discuss the terminology and the appropriate use of the ANSI/ISA67 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 Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements is necessary. The two-day class, which is being held in conjunction with the 57th Annual Power Industry Division Symposium , starts June 5 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Introduction to Boiler Control Systems (ES15C)
This seminar will give process control system engineers, managers, project engineers, operators, and technicians in boiler houses and power plants a basic understanding of boiler operation and control. The one-day class, which is being held in conjunction with the 57th Annual Power Industry Division Symposium, starts June 5 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

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 one-day course, which is being held in conjunction with the 57th Annual Power Industry Division Symposium, starts June 6 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Online, Instructor-Assisted Courses

ISA’s CyberU online instructor-led training courses offer the benefits of high-quality ISA training courses with the added advantage of studying at your own pace in the office, at home or while traveling.  Courses use online training modules, additional text materials, online evaluations, and email discussions. Students 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.

ExamPrepChecklist_80x80OnlineCourse_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 June 2.

OnlineCourse_80x80Implementing Wireless Industrial Automation Systems (IC85E)
This course will cover the most relevant details associated with industrial wireless systems with an emphasis towards how the various technological choices coexist, interoperate, and interact with each other. Numerous examples of real-world deployments are covered for facilities such as SCADA systems, petrochemical plants, and electrical power generation and transmission systems. The operational differences posed to the wireless systems' performance by discrete manufacturing needs, monitoring of devices, and even control systems are addressed. Considerable emphasis is placed specifically on ISA100 (the standard for industrial wireless) including deep dives into some of the standard's most pertinent details. Comparisons of ISA100 with other protocols and specifications (e.g., Industrial Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wireless HART) are provided. The seven-week online course starts June 2.

OnlineCourse_80x80Overview of Industrial Flow Measurement Engineering (EI10E)
This course presents an overview of the principles and applications of modern flow measurement systems. Emphasis is on flow meter accuracy, performance, system design, sizing, specification, installation, and maintenance requirements. The nine-week online course starts June 9.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              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 June 23.

Live Webinar Series

Webinar_80x80Deployment of ISA100.11a − The First of the ISA100 Family of Standards for Wireless Industrial Automation (IC85W3)
This course provides participant an understanding of deployment approaches for ISA100.11a, expected performance, and site issues. The webinar will be held June 4.

Webinar_80x80Cybersecurity Risk Assessment for Automation Systems (IC32CW1)
Risk analysis is an important step in creating a cybersecurity plan for your automation system. Risk analysis not only identifies security vulnerabilities but also provides the business case for the countermeasures that reduce risk. This course introduces control engineers to the concepts of risk analysis and how they are applied to industrial manufacturing and control systems based on the ANSI/ISA99 standards. This course is also valuable for IT professionals who wish to learn the special considerations of automation systems in performing risk analysis. The webinar will be held June 18.

Webinar_80x80Using Firewalls and Security Zones on the Plant Floor (IC32CW2)
The network firewall is one of the most important tools in any cyber security designer’s tool box. This seminar introduces the industrial controls engineer to the world of firewall system design, focusing on how these devices can be effectively deployed on the typical plant floor to help meet the ANSI/ISA99 security standards. The webinar will be held June 25.

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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