Activity
  • Real-World Implications of Spectral PAT for Life Sciences

    There is a growing buzz around spectral process analytical technology (PAT) for the life sciences industry. Spectral PAT sounds really fancy. What is it, and how can it affect my company’s mission to produce treatments and cures that improve the quality of life for our patients? Let’s start with the basics. The ultimate value proposition of every life sciences manufacturer is to produce goods that dramatically improve…
  • Democratizing Data can be Intuitive and Cybersecure

    The need to gather more and more data from plant systems for analytics seems to be growing exponentially, particularly as companies expand their digital transformation initiatives to improve efficiency and sustainability across their entire operations. In fact, Emerson’s boundless automation architecture is centered on this critical need for democratized data —anytime and anywhere. Whether on the plant floor or in the…
  • Today’s Modernization Technologies Eliminate Rip-and-Replace

    Modernization projects have become more important than ever as the benefits of updated control technologies such as better HMIs, advanced process control , better integration with asset management systems, improved alarm management , and more have all transitioned from “nice features” to best practices. But traditional modernizations were often expensive and required extensive downtime, two things that few plants can…
  • Expert Advice for Securing Safety Systems

    As more and more processing plant personnel begin to work remotely in the wake of cultural changes from the global pandemic and an acceleration in plants’ digital transformation initiatives, there is probably no topic more deserving of attention than cybersecurity . Fortunately, industry groups have recently increased focus on this critical topic, releasing guidelines and standards such as those from IEC 61511—the standard…
  • Reduce the Complexity and Cost of Modernization

    One of the most difficult challenges many of today’s process manufacturing plants face is modernization. Operations and maintenance teams know that they cannot drive the best possible performance and sustainability using technologies that are 20 or 30 years old; however, many feel locked into their legacy control technologies because transitioning is complex, time consuming, and expensive. Emerson’s Monil Malhotra recently…
  • The Future of Automation is Boundless—and its Foundation is Software

    As Emerson Exchange 2022 wrapped up, people were talking quite a bit about two new concepts they heard a lot about in their sessions: boundless automation and software-defined control. But as is the case with any announcement of a future vision, people were left with many questions. Fortunately, Emerson’s Claudio Fayad has been happy to answer those questions across an expansive series of expert articles and in many…
  • Module Type Package Unlocks the Flexibility Driving Pharma Innovation

    There can be little question that Industry 4.0 technologies are reshaping the way life sciences companies operate. In the wake of the rapid development of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic , more facilities than ever are being “born digital.” Some of these born-digital facilities are the result of new organizations with entirely digital strategies, and others are biopharmaceutical organizations that have been around…
  • Data Defines the Future of Control

    We hear so much today about digital transformation, but, as Emerson’s Claudio Fayad explains in his recent article in Processing magazine , digital transformation has been happening for far longer than we all imagine. In fact, “The modern distributed control system (DCS) has been digitally transforming operational technology (OT) for well over 20 years now.” What has this meant for operations teams? It has resulted…
  • Expert Advice for Alarm Management

    Many factors, both internal and external to a process, can contribute to alarms. Effective alarms are one of the most important elements of a safe plant. However, setting up an effective process alarm solution is a stumbling point for many teams. There are ways to create better alarm management, but they aren’t always intuitive. Fortunately, experts like Emerson’s Asad Malik and David Lee are ready to help, as they…
  • Modular, Sustainable Power Generation Projects

    Emerson’s Sverre Smemo and Wärtsilä ’s Raymond Walsh presented Power Plant of the Future at last week’s 2022 Emerson Exchange conference. Wärtsilä & Emerson collaboration to achieve lowest risk and reduced cost to Smart Power Generation for a 100% sustainable future using Project Certainty. Constantly improve the process and allow for new technology to be easily implemented. Need long term life cycle solution to support…
  • Guardian Digital Experience is an Evolution in Support

    The Emerson Exchange Users’ Conference is all about Emerson users, and perhaps no session better exemplified that sentiment than the Transformation of Guardian presentation on day three. Nina Golder , vice president of Emerson’s Lifecycle Services, shared with the audience that user feedback, requests, and experiences are all behind Guardian’s current evolution from a service portal to a comprehensive digital experience…
  • Mapping the Future of Industrial Software

    Day one of the Emerson Exchange Users’ Conference featured Monil Malhotra , vice president of industrial software, sharing the roadmap for Emerson’s industrial software offerings. Monil explored the reasons and the path forward for Emerson’s initiative to bring standalone software under one umbrella—meeting user needs from end to end. Today’s process manufacturers are faced with a data tsunami. More devices can collect…
  • Emerson Exhange Opens with Boundless Automation

    After more than two years, the Emerson Exchange Users’ Conference is back in person in Grapevine, Texas. At the keynote, Mike Allen , chairman of the Emerson Exchange board of directors, opened the event to a room of over 1500 people, sharing big news about the future. Mike shared that this year’s Exchange is aimed at a “forward focus” as a changing world drives new trends in automation, noting that the people in attendance…
  • DeltaV Platform Roadmap

    One of the most highly anticipated sessions at the Emerson Exchange conference is the DeltaV Platform product roadmap session. While I can’t share some of the further-out innovations to come, I can share some of the near-term advancements. DeltaV VP of Technology Claudio Fayad led this roadmap session and included DeltaV product managers Mariana Dionisio and Camilo Fadul and DeltaV product marketing director Sesh Natarajan…
  • Simplifying Control System Modernization with DeltaV IO.CONNECT Podcast

    Control systems can operate successfully for decades. But, there comes a time when they need to be replaced. Thankfully, there are ways to modernize these systems opportunistically, on the plant’s or facility’s schedule, while also minimizing downtime, risks and costs. In this podcast, Emerson’s Aaron Crews joins me to discuss the innovative DeltaV IO.CONNECT which simplifies the process of modernizing control & automation…
  • Software Simplifies Technology Transfer

    The life sciences marketplace is changing faster than nearly any other industry. Gone are the days when companies focus on a single treatment to drive their entire business. Today’s life sciences manufacturers are challenged to bring new treatments to the marketplace as quickly as possible—a trend that was magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic . As a result, innovation is key today. And innovation requires technologies…
  • Hydrogen Supply Chain Instrumentation and Automation

    Hydrogen as an energy carrier continues to receive intensive attention and research as a solution for global decarbonization efforts. In an H 2 Tech article, Scaling up green H2: Five critical steps to success , Emerson’s Nicolas Marti “…addresses five critical actions that H2 providers, particularly OEMs [original equipment manufacturers], must take for decarbonization through green H2 to become a reality.” Nicolas…
  • Unlock the Full Capabilities of Your Automation with Advanced Process Control

    Many of today’s process manufacturers face an uphill battle as global competition continues to increase. Each performance improvement engineers squeeze out of their systems can mean significant gains in both competitive advantage and in meeting today’s most important goals—goals like sustainability benchmarks. One technology provides more process improvement than most. Advanced process control (APC) uses software logic…
  • Forecasting the Future of Process Control

    Industry is moving away from the traditional model that locks the control system away from any internet connectivity. As Claudio Fayad , vice president of technology for Emerson’s process systems and solutions explains in his recent article in Process and Control magazine , “In recent years most organizations have come to realize that the connectivity of all OT systems to the internet, along with cloud connectivity…
  • Automation Solutions Across Hydrogen Value Chain

    There continues to be much focus on the idea of growing hydrogen as an energy carrier and increasing its role in the global energy mix. Much work is being done across the hydrogen value chain from production through distribution to end consumers. In a Smart Industry article, Methods to implement hydrogen across the value chain , Emerson’s Loic Charbonneau shares solutions in hydrogen production, transportation and storage…
  • Avoid the Misconceptions Leading to Poor Alarm Management

    In today’s manufacturing environment, where fewer experienced people are running the plant, well-designed alarm strategies are more important than ever. A timely, clear, accurate alarm—one that is not buried in an alarm flood—can mean the difference between safe operation through a process aberration or a disaster that impacts safety or creates an environmental incident. Plant operators know the importance of good alarm…
  • In today’s manufacturing environment, where fewer experienced people are running the plant, well-designed alarm strategies are more important than ever. A timely, clear, accurate alarm—one that is not buried in an alarm flood—can mean the difference between safe operation through a process aberration or a disaster that impacts safety or creates an environmental incident. Plant operators know the importance of good alarm…
  • BioPhorum’s Roadmap for Speed to Market with In-Line Monitoring and Real-Time Release

    Traditional manufacturing practices have served the biopharmaceutical industry well for years, but times are changing and a need for speed to market in life sciences while reducing manufacturing costs is putting a focus on enabling real-time release (RTR). Technologies such as advanced process control (APC), predictive analytics, in-line monitoring (ILM), and real-time release testing (RTRT) are critical to the new strategies…
  • Advanced Process Control for Mining Comminution and Separation

    As commodity prices surge in these inflationary times, mining activity continues to increase. Miners can increase their throughput, efficiency, and sustainability by applying advanced process control in their operations. In a North American Mining article, Optimizing all the variables related to comminution and separation requires sophisticated control strategies , Emerson’s David Harrach teamed with Devin Marshman from…
  • Faster Tech Transfer Unlocks Speed to Market

    The rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine has created a dramatic shift in the way the public and life sciences organizations view the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. In a recent Q&A with Pharma Manufacturing , Nathan Pettus , president of Emerson’s process systems and solutions business, shared how a move toward more flexibility and modularity in the industry is cutting tech transfer times to drive improved speed…