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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November ISA Training and Education Opportunities

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

November training and education programs from ISA deliver a variety of topics and specialties, including exam preparation courses for the Certified Control Systems Technician and Certified Automation Professional certifications.raise hands

Do you need an introduction to measurement and control methodologies and terminology? The end-of-year offering of these five seminars, the first of which begins in late October, include: Introduction to Process Control, Introduction to Temperature Measurement, Introduction to Level Measurement, Introduction to Flow Measurement, and Introduction to Pressure Measurement.

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

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 November 3 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

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 November 10 in Burbank, Calif.

Automation and Control Training – Industrial Communications

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 November 3 in Houston, Tex.

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 November 17 in Houston, Tex.

Automation and Control Training – 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 November 10 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-67.04.01has 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 November 12 in Newark, Del.

Automation and Control Training – Plant Maintenance

Applying Motor Controls and Drives (SP15)
This course gives you a broad perspective of DC motors, AC motors (single and three-phase), and Variable Speed Drives (for AC Induction Motors and DC Motors). Industrial applications of Variable Speed Drives for constant torque, constant horsepower, and variable torque/variable horsepower are included. Also covered are Motor Starter Circuits and Reduced Voltage Starting techniques. Stepper Motors and Servo Motors are discussed along with their advantages and applications. The three-day class starts November 12 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Automation and Control Training – Safety

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 November 3 in Burbank, Calif.

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 November 4 in Burbank, Calif.

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

Certification and Licensure Preparation

ExamPrepChecklist_80x80Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®) Level I Review Course (TS00)
This 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 CCST Level I exam. An explanation of the examination process and practice certification-type exams are provided. The four-day course starts November 10 in King Of Prussia, Penn.

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 November 11 Columbia, Ill.

Live Webinar Series – October to December – Introduction to Measurement & Control Series

Webinar_80x80Introduction to Process Control (FG05W1)
In this webinar, the importance of and an introduction to the methodology of measurement in control will be discussed and process control will be defined. The definition and technology of a loop and of the control loop will be covered. This seminar will also discuss control strategies and provide an introduction to controller tuning. ISA standard piping and instrument diagram (P&ID) symbols are introduced and used throughout the seminar materials. The webinar will be held October 29.

Webinar_80x80Introduction to Temperature Measurement (FG05W2)
This webinar provides an introduction to and overview of temperature measurement as current practice in measurement and control systems. Terminology, technology and applications are covered in this concise presentation. The webinar will be held November 5.

Webinar_80x80Introduction to Level Measurement (FG05W3)
This webinar provides an introduction and overview of level measurement as current practice in measurement and control systems. Terminology, technology, and applications are covered in this concise presentation. The webinar will be held November 12.

Webinar_80x80Introduction to Flow Measurement (FG05W4)
This webinar provides an introduction and overview of flow measurement as current practice in measurement and control systems. Terminology, technology, and applications are covered in this concise presentation. The webinar will be held November 19.

Webinar_80x80Introduction to Pressure Measurement (FG05W5)
This is an introduction and overview of pressure measurement as current practice in measurement and control systems. Terminology, technology and applications are covered in this concise presentation. The webinar will be held December 3.

ISA Training Partner: IDC Technologies

ISA has teamed up with IDC Technologies to bring an array of technical-related training courses to various U.S. locations, with special discounts for ISA members.

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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