ISA NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Infantino
(919) 990-9287
jinfantino@isa.org
ISA's Wireless Conference Attracts End Users, Suppliers from 10 Countries
Research Triangle Park, NC (8 August 2007) - ISA recently hosted a two day conference entitled "Wireless Solutions for Manufacturing Automation: Insights for Technology and Business Success," at the Marriott Vancouver Airport in Richmond, BC, Canada. The event attracted 150 attendees from 10 countries, with approximately 50% of attendees representing end user companies.
The program, which included a pre-conference tutorial from Wayne Manges, DOE Industrial Wireless Program Manager, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, focused on giving enterprise management and senior technical personnel insights into the current state of wireless technologies for manufacturing and control systems.
The conference sessions included:
"ISA100.11a, Release 1- An Update on the First Wireless Standard Emerging from the Industry"
Patrick Kinney, Kinney Consulting LLC
"Mobilizing Work Processes-Are Your People Ready?"
Dan Arildson, Mobility Lead-US Manufacturing Industries Team, Microsoft "A Pilot Project-Cautiously Moving Forward with an Industrial Wireless Initiative in a Process Research and Development Facility"
James D. (Jim) Murphy, Eli Lilly
"Wireless at Boeing-The Mobile Manufacturing Enabler"
Richard H. Paine, Boeing
John Berra, President, Emerson Process Management and Executive Vice President, Emerson, presented a keynote address entitled "No Wires. No Limit." During his address, Berra said, "Wireless offers opportunities for better business and plant management, for better workforce productivity, for better plant and process information. It provides access to information that was out of reach or very expensive to access, so you can do things you couldn't do before. The technology is proven and ready to deliver results today - with more capabilities coming." He went on to discuss the importance of standards in the future of wireless technology and the opportunities that the technology presents. He described potential advances in business and plant management, workforce productivity, and plant and process information.
Harsh Chitale, Vice President of Strategy and Global Marketing, Honeywell Process Solutions, delivered a keynote address entitled "Top Considerations When Choosing a Wireless Strategy." He stressed the importance of an efficient, simple, and universal solution. Chitale also outlined the potential advancements in safety, reliability, and efficiency through the use of wireless technology.
"This conference was absolutely instrumental in giving me the information and perspective that I need to make decisions on when and where to utilize wireless solutions," said Steve Flory, IT Project Manager at Marathon Petroleum Company.
Based on the success of this year's event, ISA plans to hold another wireless summit in 2008. For more information about ISA, visit www.isa.org.
About ISA
Founded in 1945, ISA (www.isa.org) is a leading, global, nonprofit organization that is setting the standard for automation by helping over 30,000 worldwide members and other professionals solve difficult technical problems, while enhancing their leadership and personal career capabilities. Based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, ISA develops standards; certifies industry professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; and hosts the largest conference and exhibition for automation professionals in the Western Hemisphere. ISA is the founding sponsor of The Automation Federation (www.automationfederation.org).
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