The Mathematics of Integrity

These days, not a conference or industry gathering goes by without some talk of the coming shortage of engineers. 

So what’s behind all the talk of engineering shortages?

>> a lower appeal of engineering versus other fields of study to the students of today,

>> prior period cost-cutting to “make the numbers” by most operating companies,

and,

>> the pending tidal wave of retirements by the existing engineers.

All three of these combine to paint a gloomy picture…

Some may view that we can “automate our way out of the problem” with feature-rich systems and higher-level software applications, but these bring problems of their own.

Trends in the industry over the last twenty years show an ever-widening variety of systems and applications in the plant with each automation “asset” bringing with it more complexity to manage the increased functionality.

This means that the automation and optimization infrastructure in the plant looks like this:

Combining the two charts – seemingly-unrelated industry trends – brew up the perfect storm for the automation engineer:

While it might still be somewhat feasible for control engineers and their colleagues to manage the automation infrastructure today, the challenges that they face become more difficult with each passing year.

We cannot afford to continue in this way…  something is needed, and I propose that a multi-system, multi-application configuration management software is needed.... something we at PAS call Integrity.

The prior tongue-in-cheek appeal of Captain Integrity, is now backed by what I call the “Mathematics of Integrity” – which simply state that a configuration management solution like our Integrity software is a must-have for control and application engineers – lowering job demands by increasing capabilities.

   

Engineers face an ever more varied and complex infrastructure, and must protect it against an ever-widening range of threats.  Without a solution like Integrity, they face an extremely difficult, if not an insurmountable, challenge.

Configuration management software like Integrity is specifically designed to bring relief – so the automation and optimization infrastructure on which we have come to rely on in today's plants can be sustained.

In today's environment, Integrity is a must-have solution for safety, reliability and profitability.

Read more on our website, in my blog, or by attending a webinar.

Do so today, because there is less time in every tomorrow…

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