Sharing automation best practice

For the 14th year, Rockwell Automation rallied the faithful at its RSTechED event. The conference, which took place within the confines of the imposing Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida, is a week-long software training event for end-users, systems integrators, distributors, partners, machine builders, and Rockwell Automation technical and sales personnel. Attendees from around the globe gathered to learn how their peers tackle day-to-day engineering challenges. According to Rockwell Automation, more than 1,350 delegates, many with family in tow, made it to Orlando this year, making it one of the most highly attended events in the events history. Coming from 43 countries, delegates proved to be a diverse group of manufacturers, system integrators, machine builders and distributors gathered principally for training and educational sessions. With the latest products and technology solutions available in a classroom environment, the idea is that participants gain an in-depth understanding of how the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture system is helping companies across the globe. RSTechED 2011 included more than 120 educational sessions, discussions, demonstrations, hands-on labs and customer presentations in an interactive, classroom-style environment. On the first two mornings of RSTechED, keynote presentations were made by Rockwell Automation senior vice president, architecture & software Frank Kulaszewicz who shared his vision on how companies around the world are harnessing the power of control systems data; and retired US Navy flight surgeon and veteran NASA astronaut Jerry Linenger whose experiences on a five month mission on the Russian Mir Space Station – one of the most dramatic and dangerous missions in the history of space exploration - provided an often hair-raising but always inspirational counterpoint to the technical sessions. In his address, Frank Kulaszewicz expounded on Rockwell's vision of innovation. "Our vision starts with the integrated architecture," he said. "The integrated architecture has been out in the market now for ten years, it allows us and our customers to be more successful. We continue to build on that architecture, but it is important for us to think about it in a different way as we apply new technologies to it." Many of the week's customer speakers addressed the application of new technologies, and clearly the whole RSTechED experience is a two-way process. "This week we hope we can help you answer a few questions," Kulaszewicz confirmed, addressing the practicalities of production engineering. "Questions like, how effective is my machine? And how do I drive more throughput with less energy and less material? This week you will see how to turn data into information that you can act on." He didn't just tackle the production phase though. "In the design phase, imagine if you could take time out of the cycle; imagine if you could reduce your risk in the design using simulation," he said. "Everybody in this room has the ability to affect productivity across the spectrum of design, operation and maintenance. Imagine if you could take 40% of the time out of a design cycle; imagine if you could get the machine up and running and production optimised in half the time. Those things add real value and they are some of the concepts and ideas you are going to see this week. "Ten years ago we released the Logix integrated architecture into the marketplace. What's next? Many things are happening… This year you're going to see a lot of fun things coming out. You'll see new capabilities come into the architecture. You're going to see new network infrastructure; we're going to release a whole family of new controllers for Compact Logix and we're going to introduce new electronic operator interfaces which will be demonstrated in some of the sessions this week. All these things will be coming out in the next years not only to help drive capability into the architecture but also more innovation and creativity for you and your control environment." With over 120 different sessions offered over the week, Rockwell Automation states the goal of RSTechED is to provide each attendee the opportunity to get a hands-on experience of its solutions — from beginner level overviews to in-depth, advanced hands-on labs — all while networking with peers throughout the industry. The event brings together diverse view points from within organisations such as control engineers, manufacturing IT, plant, operations and maintenance managers, all hailing from companies of different sizes and market niches from around the world. Sessions covered a range of subject areas from components to manufacturing intelligence; networks, infrastructure and security to safety; sustainability; process; service and support and many others. Generating much interest were the Customer Speakers presentations with a range of topics covered by a broad spectrum of Rockwell Automation customers. Although many were commercially sensitive and thus understandably closed to the press, a number of sessions related how Rockwell Automation is helping customers meet a diverse selection of modern production challenges. In a typical customer session, Kimberly Clarke's ITS team leader Missy Jakusz explained how her company was using the virtualisation of Rockwell Automation's FactoryTalk AssetCentre to overcome the challenges of increased engineering requirements and the growing need for vendor support. "Working within a separate manufacturing domain, we have leveraged the use of virtualisation and wireless technology to more effectively deliver AssetCentre," she said. "Through virtualisation we are able to deploy virtual desktops to use AssetCentre and increase both on-site and remote access capacity. Specific machine VLAN wireless provides security, hardware flexibility and roaming capability. The use of AssetCentre along with other technology has significantly increased connectivity and productivity from project startup through day-to-day troubleshooting." A large number of the sessions took the form of interactive training where those participating could actually earn points towards viable (US) qualifications on completion. After a description of what they could expect and what was expected of them, delegates followed instructions on one monitor while carrying out tasks in Rockwell (and other) software on another. The Integrated Architecture and Automation Software sessions were run in this way. Eureka sat in on the 'Motion Control Design Using RSLogix 5000, Motion Analyzer and SolidWorks' session which was chaired by the product marketing manager for Kinetix Motion Control, John Pritchard. Participants were invited to discover how the latest version of Motion Analyzer could help machine builders optimise mechanical, electrical and control systems design. The course took delegates through the newest features in Motion Analyzer and demonstrated the software's integration with SolidWorks mechanical 3D software as well as RSLogix 5000 control program software. There were staff on hand to guide delegates through the process and help them get to grips with the software's capabilities.