Recognition

“Recognition,” we all want it…crave it…need it. Even if you’re the type of person that shuns public displays of recognition (and many “techy” types are of this ilk) we all like having something we’ve done recognized. Taking this concept one step further, corporate executives love having their employees recognized. Hey! It’s free advertising, positive press, and good human interest all rolled up into one neat little package.

Although we, as automation professionals, may not receive enough recognition, there are opportunities for recognition going untapped. Many organizations, including ISA, have extensive Honors and Awards programs designed to recognize technical expertise and achievement, as well as the dedication of volunteers. Sadly, a shortage of nominations leaves many awards unclaimed.

How timely that ISA has just announced the availability of ISA Transactions in electronic form, free to all Members as a new benefit for 2008. Take a look at the papers in this publication. These authors are smart, innovative, and have documented several notable, new ideas. If ever there was a golden source of potential award recipients, it is here!

Most people will tell you that there is nothing better than being honored by one’s peers, with the exception, of course, of being honored by one’s kids. But for most of us, being honored by our peers is the crowning achievement—the éclat if you will—of our careers. Having our esteemed colleagues recognize our capabilities and talents is very uplifting.

Recognition of excellence in our industry is also a way of promoting our profession. So, do automation professionals around the world a favor: nominate a fellow professional—someone who has impressed you and is deserving of recognition. It could be an ISA award (www.isa.org/honors) or that of any other association you choose. Your efforts will be helping the nominee, his or her company, the Society, and most importantly, the profession as a whole.
Kim

The Big Tent of Automation

During my term as ISA President, I would like to get ISA to a point where we don’t argue over semantics of automation, instrumentation, control systems, and process control. It’s all one big happy family and should be. One example is the name change that didn’t happen. You’ve got control system engineers and instrument technicians who don’t think they’re part of automation. Automation should be the one big embracing term, but unfortunately we have a lot of people who just don’t think that. ISA needs to look forward and define our profession; it’s what our members have been wanting for many years. ISA and members of the Automation Federation are trying to say we’re all about automation at the end of the day. We’re trying to make sure plants can run without 10 million people standing there to manually do things. And our goal is to communicate that and define that profession, raising the awareness of who we are, not just the Society but the people who are part of it. As automation professionals, we all feel under-appreciated in the companies we work for in that we don’t get enough recognition in what we do and the important role we play. ISA needs to change that.
Kim