The Power of Integration

Featured White Papers

The Role of Automation Systems in Management of Change

Similar to changing lanes in an automobile in a winter storm, with change enters risk. Everyone has most likely experienced that feeling of changing lanes in bad weather where you find yourself weighing the risk vs. the benefit that the new lane provides. The same principle can be found when considering making changes to control applications and automation configurations in an industrial plant. In order for the change to have a positive impact as was originally intended, the risk that is associated with making the change must be mitigated. There are multiple ways that risk can be reduced such as following good management of change processes and procedures, personnel training programs and certifications, and having a safety minded corporate culture. However, one of the best assets that those responsible for implementing change has is the automation system itself. Download now.

Assess Complex Process Situations

The concept of Mass Data Displays has been around for quite some time, however usage in the process industries has been limited due to the effort of configuration and calibration. This white paper will provide a summary of the work done at ABB Corporate Research in Ladenburg, Germany to develop and test tools that could provide efficient calibration of Mass Data Displays. Download now.

Transforming your data into actionable information

Since the early 1990s, manufacturers and vendors of automation or manufacturing software have been talking about the value of moving from "islands of information" to a collaborative model in which the right information is available to the right person, at the right time. While progress has been made to help manufacturers move in this direction, the reality is that many are still in a position similar to that of three decades ago. What is the situation in manufacturing today? And what products are available that can be used by a manufacturer as building blocks in a true collaborative environment? Download now.

PAS 55 and Enterprise Asset Management

Many of ABB's clients are involved in asset-intensive industries like mining, energy, public infrastructure and transportation. A holistic, efficient and whole life approach to the management of physical assets is vital to be able to manage costs and risk and align operations with business strategy. Download now.

Improving operations and maintenance with remote optimization

For companies in the power and water businesses, keeping plants running, and running efficiently, is of vital importance. Effective maintenance programs and finely tuned operations are two elements that are critical in achieving this goal. That is why companies are increasingly turning to remote services as a source of cost-effective and efficient expertise. Download now.

Collaborating in a New Dimension

New technology is being deployed into Control Rooms every day; technology that brings significant increases in productivity as well as the ability to troubleshoot and do root cause analysis. Download this white paper to learn more about how the application of 3-D technology at SCA's pulp and paper plant in Sweden enables operators and managers alike to visualize data in a way that is relevant to their job function. Download now.

Benefits of FF HSE with System 800xA

FOUNDATION Fieldbus High Speed Ethernet (FF HSE) has been a technology available to automation system suppliers since 1999, but very few of these suppliers have provided the full features and functionality offered by this technology to their clients. Download this white paper to learn how ABB's System 800xA utilizes FF HSE more extensively than other control systems. See how utilizing ABB's system, results in a true networked system that allows the process owner to design an overall control infrastructure that reflects both the functional and geographic requirements of the process. Download now to learn more.

Collaborative Process Automation Systems

Providing a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in Collaborative Process Automation Systems (CPAS), this book (published by ISA in 2009) discusses topics such as engineering, security, enterprise connectivity, advanced process control, plant asset management, and operator efficiency. This in-depth reference focuses on the differences between a CPAS and traditional automation systems. Implications on modern automation systems are outlined in theory and practice. This book is ideal for industrial engineers, as well as graduate students in control and automation. Buy Now.

The Power of Integration

In order to be competitive, various plant entities, departments and personnel have to work as one flexible, integrated, collaborative team. For this to be accomplished, an automation platform with incredible connectivity capabilities is necessary. Integration of systems and applications where all actionable information is available for use in the system can be provided to users in a variety of roles. System 800xA Extended Automation is an integration platform with unparalleled connectivity to enterprise and plant systems, applications, and devices that improves operations, engineering, control and maintenance and provides a collaborative environment where real-time decision making is a reality. This is the Power of Integration. Read more.

Key Articles

Best Practices in Industrial Information System Security

Modern automation systems provide high levels of interconnectivity, often implemented via commercial IT platforms that are vulnerable to electronic attack. This three-part tutorial explains security objectives, attack types and countermeasures; best practices in protecting against certain types of attacks, and emerging standards for automation system security. Download now

System 800xA Helps Wed Process Control and Safety

ABB reaps benefits of process control and safety integration — without compromising either one.

Rapid growth of ABB's Safety Execution Centers underscores global demand for reliable safety solutions

Dedicated expert teams provide flawless safety project execution, solutions, consulting services

Functional Safety in Machinery - especially AC Drives

Configurable safety systems today can be used to realize numerous standard safety functions for drives according to EN 61800-5-2. Download now.

Videos and Podcasts

Integrated Approach to Process Safety

The System 800xA High Integrity safety system allows the safety system designer to choose the level of integration appropriate for the specific application and control philosophy. From fully segregated, to network integration to fully integrated within the same control hardware, 800xA HI enables users to improve operator effectiveness and promote collaboration through the Power of Integration. Watch now.

Value, Safety, and Security of State-Based Control

Walt Boyes talks with ABB's Dave Huffman about the value, safety and security of state-based control. Don't know what state-based control is? Then you should listen to this three part podcast and find out. Listen now.

For More Safety Video's Click Here.

Archived White Papers

RFID Helps Track Assets, Manage Safety

Complex manufacturing processes together with hazardous materials and sophisticated equipment present a unique combination of safety and asset management concerns. Access must be limited to only those employees fully trained and accredited, and physical location tracking of people and assets is key, especially in emergency conditions. Leading process manufacturers are using RFID technology and advanced location sensing algorithms to achieve these goals. Download now.

Ground-up Strategies for Asset Performance Management

This Aberdeen Group benchmarking report investigates the ways top-performing companies develop corporate cultures of reliability and leverage investments in advanced performance management capabilities to improve operational performance. Download now.

Four Keys to Keeping your Plant Running

As manufacturing processes are increasingly integrated with, and managed by, process automation, a key part of maintenance is directed towards automation systems. Download now.

Technical Overview and Benefits of the IEC61850 standard

The Challenge of Device Integration

The Practical Application of Aspect Object Technology in a Distributed Control System

Industrial energy efficiency: Strategic investments can pay for themselves

Maximize Process Automation Lifecycle

Reliability: A disciplined approach improves asset availability, plant performance and profitability

Three Steps to Improving Your Process

Power Up Your Plant