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Potent mix at World Batch Forum conference

ControlGlobal.com
06/14/2007

World Batch Forum (WBF) reports that more than 150 professionals from seven nations participated in its recent 2007 North American Conference at the Tremont Plaza Hotel in Baltimore, Md. Automation attendees from North and South America, Europe and Asia listened to keynote speakers and industry experts, including Dr. Paul McKenzie, VP and technical operations general manager of Bristol Myers Squibb’s Worldwide Medicines Group, and Walt Boyes, CONTROL editor-in-chief. This 14th annual event was sponsored by WBF and the Automation Federation.

McKenzie’s keynote, “ISA-88—It’s Not Just for Batch Anymore” showed how ISA-88/ISA-95 integrated recipes work in the manufacturing orchestration engine and the batch orchestration engine with unit operations, using common vocabulary and parameters. He reported that recipes have replaced +100-page log sheets, eliminated documentation errors and added that electronic execution provides consistency and compliance oversight on materials and operations. McKenzie reported that he expects ISA-88 to bridge the gap between research and production and help with analytical control technology.

Boyes’ keynote indicated that automation and standards will help alleviate projected problems caused by upcoming baby-boomer retirements.

The conference agenda included more than 30 technical presentations that facilitated exchange of information related to management, operations and automation of continuous and batch process manufacturing, especially by using the ISA-88 and ISA-95 standards.

“The quality and value of information the participants can quickly apply to their individual businesses isn’t available at any other conference in our industry,” says Maurice Wilkins, WBF’s chairman. “We believe the content of WBF’s North American and European conferences and the opportunity to learn from other manufacturing professionals raises the bar and provides a unique opportunity for companies of all sizes to share their successes and learn from the experience of others.”

WBF makes the conference’s technical papers available at its website and provides ongoing education via webcasts. For more information call (919) 314-3970 or visit www.wbf.org.