Integration tops the agenda

It's no secret that in the world of industrial automation and process control one of the hottest topics of debate is that of interoperability and integration. For many users of automation it's an issue that needs further clarification and development. More importantly, if you're a vendor, it's small and medium sized manufacturers in the UK that have not yet set off down the road to automation. These form an important new business sector that needs to be educated in the ways and benefits of automation and they need a consistent message from the industry.

An independent survey of 107 automation specifiers from across UK industry conducted during the first three months of 2002 has revealed some interesting trends. Talking to companies as diverse as 3M and BP, Glaxo Smithkline and Delphi Automotive, all had automation purchasing authority in common. The top line results were as follows:

• 65% said their most important issue was that of integration of controls, hardware and IT systems
• 40% were unhappy with the links they have between the shop floor and controls
• 37% were yet to integrate their controls with their ERP systems
• 67% registered to attend CIM 2002.

CIM 2002 will incorporate an area called Automate IT, aimed at serving the overall automation market. For the first time CIM is running as part of Total Engineering and Manufacturing (TEAM), a new combined manufacturing event with ten separate shows including Factory Automation, Drives Motors & Controls and Contract Manufacturing. Automation can be shown right alongside practical examples of the way it is used - a huge advantage to visitors looking for new ways to improve their processes.

A feature within Automate IT will be the Open Networking Exchange (ONE) Lounge designed to encourage meetings and debate between automation vendors, their systems integrators and both end users and specifiers. The theme of the lounge will be integration, as according to our research that's what most users are concerned about, but there will also be scope to explore new technologies and effectiveness. A free Automation University will run alongside the Lounge with three days of conference-quality seminars focusing on Industrial Automation, Process Control and Fieldbus.

Sponsored by Industrial Networking and Open Control, the ONE Lounge will be manned by component and systems suppliers, systems integrators and consultants all specialising in automation. Entry will be free and visitors will be able to make appointments to see participants to discuss specific problems or with particular challenges in mind.

Chris Hazlewood, Customer Marketing Manager at Mitsubishi Electric, believes that the ONE initiative has come at exactly the right time. "It follows on Patricia Hewitt's recent announcement that the UK government is launching a new productivity drive to complement other steps taken to support manufacturing," he says. "ONE offers an environment in which to bring together a range of vendors, trade associations, technology suppliers, system integrators and customers. New technology can be debated and best in class identified, and both system integrator and customer can find out the 'how, what and why' of making automation integrate efficiently with their business structure."

The automation market in the UK now has a central forum in which to pursue its educational and marketing ambitions. A market of this size and of such importance to UK manufacturing competitiveness deserves an event to call its own and through the ONE Lounge we aim to provide just that. The major thrust of this year's event needs to be educational content and getting a critical mass of the industry taking part. The ONE Lounge and the Seminar programme ensure we can deliver knowledge to buyers and give suppliers direct access to user requirements as an aid to sales.

Computers in Manufacturing
h101@industrialnetworking.co.uk