Virtualization is a Reality at Emerson Exchange

Virtualization hits the big time at this year’s Emerson Global User Exchange in Anaheim, CA, October 8^th to the 12^th.

First up are the workshops, covering a variety of topics “all things virtual”:

9-1773 – Virtualization Technology and Virus Detection

3-1760 – SLC and CSV Concepts for System Virtualization

5-1160 – Syncade Virtualization

5-1847 – DeltaV Virtualization – Product Update

Next, John Caldwell and I will be hosting a technology forum on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons entitled “Virtualization in Process Control – Advancements and Developing Trends”.  We'll have Emerson's Mark Nixon and Dirk Thiele along with Derek Pound from Microsoft as our guest speakers.

Then be sure to visit the Technology Exhibits Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings and stop by the virtualization booths for some hands on time.

Finally, stick around on Friday morning and catch the “Virtualization for DeltaV” Meet the Experts session.  John, Dirk, Brian Crandall, and I will be there to answer your questions and provide insight into the upcoming V12 virtualization projects.

See you in Anaheim!

Cuts Like a Knife

Everyone’s had a Swiss Army knife at some point in their lives (I guess the North American version is the Leatherman Multi-tool - we always have to do things bigger, huh?). A Swiss Army knife with one or two screwdrivers, LED flashlight, a nail file, pliers and a toothpick is commonplace. I’ve seen models that had so many features, you couldn't find the blade.

I’ve known Bob Engel for at least 8 years now. Bob is Vice President of Informetric Systems (http://www.informetric.com/). InfoBatch is Informetric’s batch reporting package, and I’ve been sweet on InfoBatch ever since I first kicked its tires at the Emerson Exchange in Dallas back in 2004.

InfoBatch generates batch reports. And it does it very well. It allows you to connect to a multitude of data sources and aggregate them into a single, unified report. It doesn’t force you to replicate your data into yet another location (the “many versions of the truth” paradox). And if you don’t have another datastore to worry about, you don’t have to worry about all those pliers, toothpicks and nail files to manage it.

InfoBatch inherently understands the S88 model, from phases to recipes. It handles the concept of sub-phase triggers (for example, just show me a plot of a tank's temperature during the relevant portion of a phase). And it has connectors that understand the structure of the views from your data sources. Simple drop-down selections as opposed to flashlights and screwdrivers for managing custom SQL queries from software packages that don’t care if you’re creating batch end reports or your monthly bank statement.

Of course there has to be a shameless plug in one of my posts, so here it is: be sure and attend session 2-3041 at this year’s Emerson Global User Exchange, October 24th to 28th in Nashville. Bob and I will be presenting “Integrating Syncade S95 Orders, DeltaV S88 Batch Recipes and Continuous Data”. Please leave your knives at the door.

Hot Topic for Emerson Exchange?

I’ve been following a very interesting discussion thread out on LinkedIn. It’s in the Process Analytical Technology group and it’s entitled “Dangling a Carrot: Should PAT Be Mandated, or Incentivized?” The discussion was started by Paul Thomas, Senior Editor at Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, based on comments made back in May at the PAT and QbD Conference in Bethesda.

While I am infinitely under-qualified to comment, I’ve found the opinions on both sides to be quite passionate. And maybe that’ll be the catalyst to finally get some traction going within the Life Sciences community.

I think this could make a great discussion topic in the Life Sciences Industry Forum at the upcoming Emerson Global User Exchange in San Antonio. Gawayne Mahboubian-Jones (the man from Optimal) has been chiming in on the LinkedIn thread and is one of this year’s presenters at Exchange, so this could be a lively discussion.

And if you haven't gone out and looked at the Workshops and Short Courses being offered at this year's Exchange, you should.  I've already highlighted 30 sessions I want to attend, and with presenting one myself (how's that for another shameless plug?), I'm going to have to make some tough choices on how to spend my time.  And you'll also find me in the exhibit hall from 4 to 8 pm in the DeltaV Batch area - I'm a Booth Babe!

Emerson Exchange 2009 Preview

I finished up 3 days of Emerson Sales training yesterday, moved over to the Gaylord Palms today, and begin 5 days of the Emerson Global Users Exchange tomorrow (yes, my wife is a saint – the gift shop better have something really nice).

I don’t want to steal any of the thunder about what folks are going to see tomorrow from Emerson, but I thought I’d a least post the updated DeltaV logo:

More to come from Exchange over the next several days – stay tuned…