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World Batch Forum announces its 2005 award winners

04/05/2005

he World Batch Forum (WBF) has announced its 2005 award winners: Dr. John F. MacGregor and Lynn Craig. The WBF presents two prestigious awards to leading professionals throughout the world. Each award is named after a leading luminary in the development of process automation and their support of the WBF. The Dr. Guido Carlo-Stella Award is presented to Dr. John F. MacGregor, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University. The Thomas G. Fisher Award is presented to Lynn Craig, President, Manufacturing Automation Associates. These distinguished awards will be presented at the upcoming WBF 2005 North American Conference May 15-18 in Atlantic City, NJ.

The Dr. Guido Carlo-Stella Award, created in 1999 in honor of its namesake, is presented every year to individuals who have demonstrated technical excellence or have mentored and inspired others in the field of automation and information integration in the manufacturing industries. This year’s award is presented to Dr. John F. MacGregor, University Professor and Dofasco Chair in Process Automation and Information Technology at McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. MacGregor is a co-founder of the McMaster Advance Control Consortium that is sponsored by many international companies. His research interests have spanned a wide range of areas, from polymer reaction engineering to process systems engineering, and statistical methods. In recent years he has concentrated on the development of multivariate statistical methods for use in process monitoring, fault detection, and control using the very large multivariate databases available from industrial processes. Dr. MacGregor developed the basic methodology for applying multivariate statistical process control (MVSPC) to batch processes. 

The Thomas G. Fisher Award, first awarded in 2003, is not presented every year, but is given on merit to individuals who have demonstrated notable leadership in the development, teaching, and popularization of technologies, services and techniques in the field of process manufacturing. The award will be presented this year to Lynn Craig, President of Manufacturing Automation Associates, Medford, NJ. Craig is well known for his work and contributions within the batch industry and specifically with regard to the ISA Batch Standard (S88) and his passion for the WBF. He joined the SP88 committee in 1989 at the invitation of Tom Fisher, and became chairman of the committee when Mr. Fisher stepped down. Craig, still the current chairman, was at the helm when Part 1 of the S88 Standard was approved in 1995 and Part 2 in 2001. Craig continues to drive the standard process for Parts 3, 4 and 5. A member of the CONTROL Hall of Fame, Craig’s enthusiasm and passion  for the teaching, advancement and promotion of batch technology, said, “The work’s not done, but I think we’re starting to get it right.”

“I recommend Lynn for WBF’s highest honor,” said Maurice J. Wilkins, PhD, Manager Process Automation and Control Systems, Millennium Specialty Chemicals, a Lyondell Company and Chairman of the WBF. ”It could not be more fitting that Tom was part of getting Lynn into all of this. The Thomas Fisher Award was inaugurated in recognition of true leadership in batch. I cannot think of anyone who has shown more leadership and motivation in batch than Lynn Craig,” he said.

Recipients of the Tom Fisher Award are enrolled as life members of WBF, entitling them to automatically renewed individual memberships.

WBF’s annual conference is open to all interested participants and is an excellent opportunity to learn about the practical experiences of other professionals and to take advantage of what others have learned without repeating their mistakes. In addition to the learning experience, attendees have the opportunity to speak with experts from all areas of the automation industry on critical and current topics. The agenda is designed to allow ample networking time with industry experts and peers.

The complete conference program and the most current information can be found by clicking on the conference link on the WBF website. Conference Registration can be done online or by calling the WBF at 407-774-5764.