Server Room Extreme Makeover

While we consolidated all our project servers and mimic simulation equipment into a single location awhile back and took care of HVAC issues (thanks to wireless technology and our RegReports package), the space was in desperate need of a cleanup and makeover.

With our extensive use of VMWare, we’ve been able to add more than 50% server capacity without increasing our hardware footprint (not to mention our electrical load – how’s that for being green). And now we’ve made the layout and access easier and simpler for all our engineers to use. Easier to use = less time spent on non-value add activities and a better value for our customers.

One issue we always faced in the past was changing up DeltaV controllers from one system to another as project requirements change. With the new network and switch layout, we’ve eliminated all the confusion.

Scott Thompson did a great job getting all this organized (Ty Pennington’s been calling to see if Scott’s got any free time).

Oh, and just in case you were wondering how we were handling all those SI dongles in a VMWare environment, take a look at this:

anybody jealous out there?

Sync With Syncade 2.0

We’re putting the finishing touches on version 2.0 of our Sync With Syncade utility. We developed Sync about a year ago to allow DeltaV and other automation platforms with OPC servers to trigger Events on Equipment in Emerson’s Syncade ET module.

Of course one of the first things I heard when I presented Sync With Syncade at the 2009 Emerson Exchange was “can you reverse the process and have Syncade trigger DeltaV?” Well, now we can. In version 2.0, you can configure Sync to monitor Event states and write values into parameters via OPC when an Event changes state.

 

This could come in handy for a deployment of Syncade and ET without workflow. By using Sync, a tripped event on a piece of equipment in ET can cause a parameter in a DeltaV module to be set, thereby causing an SFC to start running.

Checkout a short demo video on my YouTube site – www.youtube.com/acmebiotech

New Year, New Look

Well, happy New Year to everyone (a little late, but I've been busy).

And Larry Wolfe has been busy as well - dressing up our DeltaV batch demo system by engineering a great looking wall mounting system for our big, HD monitors.

So let's think up a good reason for you to come, pay us a visit, and check this bad boy out.  And if you're interested in how we put a live IP camera view in the lower right display panel, drop me a line.

Think Customer - Cell Phone Addition

This is somewhat off-topic from a strict process control sense, but a company named Asurion deserves a shout-out. Let me explain.

I have a 14 year old son who is on his second cell phone. When we replaced phone #1, the saleswoman at the Verizon store suggested we get the insurance plan on his phone. For something like $2 a month, we’d have the peace of mind of a $50 replacement program. Sure, what the heck. But the cynic in me thought “wait until they need to make good on this, the fine print will contain a loophole the size of Montana”.

Now fast forward almost a year. I come home from work one evening and there’re a long, sad face looking at me. Apparently, my son’s cell phone attempted to pull a Michael Phelps in the washing machine. And while now very clean, it was also very non-functional.

But wait – I have insurance! I went out to the Verizon web site and found the online link for submitting a claim. The link opened a new tab to the Asurion web site. Oh boy, passing the buck, this can’t be good.

Well I was dead wrong. The Asurion web site was the most intuitive and easy to use experience I have ever had online. It was obvious these guys had done their homework. And the spin cycle seems to be a common ELE (extinction level event) for cell phones.

And the best part? Even though I filled out the information at 7 pm, I got a confirmation email that the replacement phone was on its way for next day delivery! That’s think customer.

Work Order Integration, the Sequel

Hollywood usually waits months if not years to come out with a sequel, especially when the first movie is a blockbuster. Now my DeltaV to SAP integration video won’t win an Oscar (maybe a Golden Globe or Duncan), but I wanted to get the companion video out quick.

The DeltaV to Maximo integration video isn’t as exciting the original, but what’s neat about it is that there’s no operator or technician intervention required when a HART or Foundation Fieldbus device alert is triggered. The work order is automatically generated in Maximo using AMS and Asset Portal.

Check it out at www.YouTube.com/AcmeBiotech or at the Process Automation Usability Project.

Grab a Bucket of Popcorn...

I went ahead and setup a YouTube site - www.YouTube.com/AcmeBiotech

You can check out the first Work Order Request video - DeltaV to SAP integration.

One Stop Shopping

We’ve just finished putting together a couple of very compelling demos that really showcase the tight vertical integration that’s possible with DeltaV. I’ll describe them below, but I’ll be posting a couple of videos on the Process Automation Usability Project YouTube web site.

First, we configured a Rosemount HART temperature transmitter in DeltaV and enabled its device alerts. Since DeltaV and AMS Device Manager are fully integrated with each other, we only had to configure Asset Portal 3.2 and connect it, via a web service, to Maximo. The result? A device alert from a broken RTD wire automatically generates a work order in Maximo. No intervention required.

For the second demo, we simulated a drive fault in an AB Powerflex 70. When the alarm comes into the module in DeltaV, the operator can navigate to the detail display, determine the exact fault, and press the Create WO button.

The module then builds up a URL string and issues it to AMS Asset Portal 4.0 (powered by Meridium). A work order screen pops up, with many of the required fields already populated for the drive. The operator then enters some additional information and saves the work order request. Asset Portal then automatically transmits the request to SAP, which returns the WO number.

So why is this important? It demonstrates the power and simplicity of a single interface for operating and maintaining your plant. So now when you’re ready to start an order, DeltaV can check if the operator is trained, the equipment is clean, the instruments are calibrated, and there are no outstanding work orders. Just like going to Wal-Mart.

SharePoint and the iPhone

Things have been really busy lately – trips to Austin, strategic project wins, and lots of proposals. But I still make time to cross-pollinate technology.

No, I’m not doing anything like on “Fringe” – I try to find different, cutting edge technologies and get them working together. So you know I’m already a huge SharePoint fan. And I’m constantly looking for cool apps for my iPod Touch. Now typically, SharePoint doesn’t work well outside of Internet Explorer. But I’ve found an app that joins these two – Attaché.

The blurb from the App Store said it worked with WSS 3.0, but I’ve found it also works with 2.0. Setup is easy, but don’t expect the results to look like your site – it’s more of a folder view of your libraries and lists.

What’s cool is it understands the nature of the data in your lists and provides the interoperability with other functions of the iPhone or Touch, like contacts and phone numbers. It also understands most file types and allows them to be opened.

Be Careful What You Ask For...

Dawn Marruchella, DeltaV Batch Marketing Manger, sent me this user suggestions link for Emerson Process Management.  I thought I'd pass it along to everybody - http://www.userideas-emerson.com/

Surfin Safari

Here's just another reason to run out and get yourself an iPhone or iPod Touch:

A SharePoint dashboard insdie the Safari browser.  Or how about a SharePoint-based, web part enabled batch cycle time comparison screen: