28 May 2009

Pinto’s Point

The 'genome' of your automation system

By Jim Pinto

Consider all the different products and systems and software that work together to operate an entire plant or factory. These include not only DCS and PLC systems, but also the accumulated variations and software patches and custom modifications, control strategies, diagnostics, and more. Each product or system has its documentation, but the combinations and adaptations must be tracked; it is like keeping track of a living, changing entity.

Monitoring and control systems operate through the correlation, aggregation, display, and adjustment of diverse information: set-points and adjustments, desired outputs, review of real-time and historical data, monitoring of failures, minimizing downtime, and the like.

System complexity tends to increase in the continuous drive for better efficiency and productivity, as automation systems pursue increased effectiveness through monitoring and control of increasing numbers of input/output points.

Factory, plant, and process complexity is described with what Eddie Habibi, of PAS Inc., in Houston, Tex., calls the process and control systems “genome.” The analogy relates to DNA and the genome that makes each living entity unique.

Just as living beings mutate, the control system genome keeps changing and adapting with modifications, additions of equipment and controls, and “learned” control strategies. Keeping track of the automation system genome is something PAS has been doing since 1996.

To follow the analogy further, “sequencing” the control system genome involves tracking different instrumentation, measurement, and control systems purchased from several different suppliers—large automation majors as well as smaller independent equipment suppliers and systems integrators.

Because of the multiple sources, automation system genome tracking cannot be provided by just one of the major suppliers (who typically can only optimize their own equipment). It must be provided by an independent company that specializes in tracking the performance and adaptations of multi-vendor systems through genome tracking.

Related links

• The “Genome” of Your Automation System:
  http://jimpinto.com/writings/automationgenome.html
• PAS web site:
  http://www.pas.com/

Behind the byline

Jim Pinto is an industry analyst and founder of Action Instruments. You can e-mail him at jim@jimpinto.com or view his writings at www.JimPinto.com. Read the Table of Contents of his book, Pinto’s Points, at www.jimpinto.com/writings/points.html.