April Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 4

To download the April newsletter in PDF format, click here.

Contents:

Wonderware Achieves Business Milestone with more than 500,000 Software Licenses Deployed in over 100,000 Global Locations

On March 27, 2008, Wonderware announced that it has achieved a significant milestone by having its customers actively deploying more than 500,000 software licenses around the globe.

Approximately one-third of the world’s plants run Wonderware software solutions. Software licenses have been sold to more than 100,000 plants/facilities worldwide, which accounts for 33 percent of the world’s 305,544 plants with 20 or more employees.

“To our knowledge, no other industrial software company has achieved this type of success as evidenced by the number of software licenses and customers,” said Steven Garbrecht, Wonderware Director of Product Marketing. “This is a testament to the wide-scale adoption of Wonderware applications in many industries around the world. By having such a large installed base, Wonderware is able to build upon the collective experiences of our customers, channel, and partners to deliver innovative software that enables the best possible operations and information management solutions in the industry.”

Wonderware has alliances with a wide range of system integrators, original equipment manufacturers, value-added resellers, and independent software vendors to provide manufacturing and industrial customers with efficient ways to design and build competitive information and automation solutions. Wonderware has customers in virtually every global industry representing both manufacturing and industrial market segments which include water/wastewater, oil and gas, food and beverage, utilities, pharmaceuticals, electronics, metals, and automotive.

“Wonderware commands a large installed base of customers, so users can feel confident in purchasing software from the company because we have a proven industry track record of delivery and quality,” Garbrecht said. “They can be secure in the fact that Wonderware will be around for the long haul to evolve the value of their software solution investments by providing the same ease of use, advanced functionality, and underlying value in its current and future software offerings.”

For more information on Wonderware, please contact your Wonderware Southeast Account Executive or the marketing department at marketing@insourcess.com.

Wonderware Announces New Customer First Support Program

Wonderware has announced plans to dramatically expand their Customer Support offerings. The Wonderware Customer First Support program provides a menu of support offerings to Wonderware software customers. These new offerings are designed to increase customer satisfaction with Wonderware Solutions and give post-sale support options to a broad range of customers. The programs are being rolled out worldwide and will be fully available beginning July 1st, 2008.

The NEW Customer First Support program provides 4 expanded levels of support: Primary, Standard, Premium, and Elite. Highlights include:

The Primary Level of Support includes: Local phone or Email only Technical support, 25% discount on upgrades.
The Standard Level of Support includes: Local phone or Email Technical support (Level 2 support from Wonderware), AND includes free software upgrades.
The Premium Level of Support includes the benefits of the Standard Support level plus: Phone Support directly from Wonderware for 2 named contacts, Emergency 24/7 Support, and discounted training and consulting services.
The Elite Level of Support includes the benefits of the Premium Support level plus: Onsite Critical Incident Assistance.

All four programs provide access to Wonderware’s NEW Online Developer Network and enhanced self service Web Support. The Wonderware Developer Network (available July 1st) has been designed as an engineering eco system providing in depth discussion and user documentation, such as Architecture Deployment Guides, Online Technical Forums, Solution Packs for Vertical Industries, ArchestrA objects for download, etc. “Wonderware and its distribution partners are creating a flourishing dynamic community for Wonderware Users,” said Ann Croom, InSource Solutions President.

Additionally, customers that participate in the Premium and Elite levels of support may qualify for further benefits depending upon the level of customer support contract expenditure. These include:

Technical Account Management
Business Success Technical Account Management (Elite customers only)
Application consulting
Dedicated Customer Portal

For more information on these new support levels and how they can help your company, please contact your Wonderware Southeast Account Executive or the marketing department at marketing@insourcess.com.

InSource Solutions Enterprise Events Module Takes Note of Industrial Events

The InSource Solutions Enterprise Events Module (EEM), when combined with Wonderware System Platform software, monitors, captures and reports on industrial events. It is as simple as that. Commonly, as engineers, we have quite a few “events” in our manufacturing or facility environments that we would like to track. In fact, many times we have too many events to manually keep our eyes on.

Let’s take a look at a few applications of event tracking in manufacturing where EEM could help:

Equipment Failure Notification:

The Event(s): We want to know if a pump is running. Further, we want to know whether a Pump Run bit in a PLC is high OR the pressure discharge from the same pump is normal, OR if the pump is not drawing as many amps as it should.
Why we might care: These conditions may indicate pump failure and it is important to monitor all 3 events simultaneously because most often a single bit from the starter may not be adequate to detect if the pump is really performing or not. For example, if the coupling between the pump and motor brakes, the starter bit will still be on although the pump is not effectively working. The pump impeller could also be damaged causing poor performance. Both of these would be indicated by the low pressure condition above.
What we can do: EEM can be configured to send an email notification and log the condition to a database for further analysis.

New Batch Notification:

The Event(s): A new Batch is ready to run.
Why we might care: We want to make sure the appropriate operators are available when necessary to keep our batches running efficiently.
What we can do: EEM can be configured to detect when a new batch is ready to be run by examining the previous batch complete bit, the new recipe has been received and loaded into the controller bit. EEM will simultaneously verify that the process is not in the maintenance override mode. EEM can then be configured to send an email to an operator or supervisor or execute a command line and automatically start the next batch and write the sequence of events to a database for later analysis.

Equipment Run Hours Report:

The Event(s): How long has a motor been running?
Why we might care: If our preventative maintenance program triggers and schedules maintenance on run-hours rather than timed intervals, maintenance dollars and production time can be saved. In this example, we used EEM to record motor run hours by monitoring the current draw of the motor. If it exceeded 10 amps for at least 30 seconds EEM recorded the motor as running. Note that EEM ignores this if the motor has been put in maintenance mode.
What we can do: EEM can be configured to record this information to a database for reporting or send an email to a maintenance supervisor once run hour targets are reached.

Set-up Time Report:

The Event(s): The amount of time needed to set up a punch press.
Why we might care: A supervisor can look at a simple report at the end of a shift to see how much time was spent setting up machines. If operator coaching or training is necessary, the supervisor will have specifics to work with before valuable production time is lost.
What we can do: EEM can be configured to send an email to a supervisor if the standard amount of set-up time is exceeded and log the time periods to a database for reporting purposes.

Emissions Excursion Alarm:

The Event(s): Stack emissions reach a dangerous level.
Why we might care: The EPA requires manufacturers to monitor and record stack emission excursions based on low stack temperature. (among other conditions)
What we can do: EEM can be configured to send an email, set an alarm, execute a script to contain the emission, and write to the database to make sure the event is recorded and available for EPA reports.

Computer Health Notification:

The Event(s): A computer critical for production is in danger of failing.
Why we might care: Every production line has key control computers that will impact production if they “go down” or “lock up”. High CPU utilization, low RAM or disk space, or high CPU temperature could cause failure.
What we can do: EEM can be configured to monitor several critical parameters on a server box that could impact operations. EEM can be configured to send an email, set an alarm and write to the database if the event is true.

Equipment Condition Monitoring:

The Event(s): Monitor certain combined events that predict equipment failure.
Why we might care: It is always better to predict and plan to deal with a failed piece of equipment rather than react after it has failed.
What we can do: EEM can be configured to monitor Equipment conditions for predictive failure notification. For example, if a turbine bearing gets above 10g for more than 5 seconds and the turbine is actually running (but not by the turning gear) EEM can send an email, set an alarm, and write to the database. Through some additional reporting, EEM could also easily create an emergency work order that the maintenance department could use to schedule immediate work before the bearing fails causing catastrophic failures in the turbine.

If you can think of it, you can capture it and report on it! So if you can think of yet another example of an industrial event that you would like to monitor, give us a call. We can discuss if InSource’s Enterprise Events Module (EEM) can help you achieve your goal. Contact your Wonderware Southeast Account Executive or the marketing department at marketing@insourcess.com to arrange a consultative phone call.

InSource Solutions Releases Improved Tech Support Site

InSource Solutions is pleased to announce the release of an improved Tech Support site at www.insourcess.com/techsupport. This site will now provide 24 hour access to assist our active support contract subscribers.

Active support customers can now access:

Technical issue searches against our tech support database
Tech Notes covering common issues and how-to’s
Tech Tips that include code snippets to reduce the learning curve on common questions
Links to our vendors technical support sites
Links to training schedules and training registration
Links back to pertinent areas of the InSource Solutions website

For more information about the improved Tech Support website or to become an active comprehensive support customer, please contact your Wonderware Southeast Account Executive or the marketing department at marketing@insourcess.com.

BradCommunications Direct-Link Industrial Ethernet Switches Now Available with 16- and 18-Port Configurations

Industrial Network Switches are an important piece of the Industrial Ethernet architecture. They allow all the devices to transmit simultaneously without collision, which is essential in a plant-floor environment where deterministic delivery of time-critical information is key. Switches are intelligent devices, keeping track of device locations, ensuring messages are transmitted only from the necessary port, resulting in improved network performance.

BradCommunications Direct-Link Industrial Ethernet switches for in-cabinet applications are now available with 16 and 18 ports.

Both supporting managed applications, the 16-port version has 16 copper RJ45 ports and the 18-port has 16 copper RJ45 ports and 2 ports that can be configured as copper RJ45 or fiber optic.

The switches are DIN rail or direct panel mountable and are rated for IP30 protection.

For more information on these new BradCommunications Ethernet Switches or any other Molex product, please contact your InSource Solutions I2 Infrastructure Specialist or the marketing department at marketing@insourcess.com.

Advantech Releases New Rack Mount UNO
Intel Celeron M UNO with 3 x LAN, 8 x COM, PC/104

Advantech has released a new rack mount UNO. The main features of the UNO-4678 are:

Onboard Celeron M 1 GHz processor and supports 512 MB Memory
Supports Lm sensor, which can retrieve CPU and board temperature for monitoring purposes
8 x isolated RS-232/422/485 ports with automatic flow control
3 x 10/100 Base-T RJ-45 ports
Supports 2 USB and 1 x type I/II CF card
Windows CE 5.0 and Windows XP Embedded ready solution
Windows 2000/XP driver ready and Linux driver support
Windows XP Embedded (SP2) ready platform with write protection (EWF)
Onboard system and I/O LED indicators
Fanless and no internal cabling

For more information on the UNO-4678 or any other Advantech product, please contact your InSource Solutions I2 Infrastructure Specialist or the marketing department at marketing@insourcess.com.

Congratulations to InSource Solutions - ACP Distributor of the Year 2007 & Arista Gold Level Distributor

InSource Solutions receiving the ACP Distributor of the Year Award 2007

InSource Solutions receiving the Arista Gold Level Distributor Award

The Case for Fault Tolerant Computing in Manufacturing

The following article is an excerpt from the Stratus Special Edition Fault Tolerance for Dummies Booklet.

Whether the need is uninterrupted data collection at a pharmaceutical maker, the always-on imperative at a utility company, real-time execution at an automaker, or Lucy Ricardo filling boxes of candy on the assembly line, time-critical demands in manufacturing or utilities environments place rigorous requirements on IT and on the people supporting the technology.

Complex integrated IT solutions, which are fundamental to running production lines and maintaining required records, dramatically increase the risk of unplanned downtime. When you’re running applications such as manufacturing execution systems (MES) and electronic batch records (EBR), IT failures result in the loss of production time at a minimum.

Losing data or control of your operations during a critical task, such as drug making, can cause you to lose entire batches of in-process product – and even create a safety concern. For instance, temporary system outages may call into question the validity of the chemical solution. So you wind up tossing all the carefully measured and timed formulations; then, you need to figure our how to explain the cost of failure.

The ramifications of system-wide downtime is a big driver for manufacturers and utility managers, who look to fault-tolerant computing to help them sustain their critical operations.

Many manufacturers seek a Continuous Availability (CA) solution when they contemplate the cost of a potential crash. For example, an international beverage can maker runs a heavily customized SAP solution in its data center. Seeking to ensure that its 17 North American plants could survive a network crash, as well as continue to operate during system upgrades and software patching, the company adopted an innovative solution: Distribute the IT functions necessary for the plants to operate without connecting to the central data center. Stratus ftServer systems are now installed in each plant, funning distributed applications. Because the facilities have no IT staff, the servers themselves must be capable of:

Surviving a malfunction

Operating unattended

Being managed remotely

Stratus ftServer systems fit the bill!

To learn more about Stratus ftServer, please contact your I2 Infrastructure Specialist or the marketing department at marketing@insourcess.com. If you would like to receive a free copy of the “Fault Tolerance for Dummies” booklet, courtesy of Stratus Technologies, please contact Rachel Blucher at rblucher@insourcess.com. In your email, please include the following: Name, Company, Address, Email, Phone, and the number of copies you would like to receive.

Frost & Sullivan Awards Wonderware Product of the Year

For the fifth consecutive year, Wonderware has received Frost & Sullivan’s 2008 “Product of the Year” Award in the human-machine interface (HMI) category. Wonderware InTouch 10.0 and System Platform 3.0 software also were recognized for their ability to assist manufacturers in achieving operational excellence by maximizing equipment utilization and operational effectiveness.

In writing the award, Frost & Sullivan said that customers using InTouch 10.0 HMI and System Platform 3.0 software identified several outstanding features including ease-of-use offered by ArchestrA graphics, scalability via object-based creation, interoperability with other hardware, and robust customer support. These factors were cited as key to reducing engineering time and lowering overall lifecycle costs.

According to Frost & Sullivan, Wonderware InTouch 10.0 HMI and System Platform 3.0 software solutions are likely to emerge as a benchmark for innovative approaches to real-time operational challenges faced by customers in the discrete, hybrid, and process industries. The global growth consulting company also noted that InTouch 10.0 HMI and System Platform 3.0 software provide the necessary tools to help companies build applications that address the business complexities of the entire enterprise. Instead of different software for supervisory control, predictive maintenance, quality control, batch processing, product genealogy, recipe management, and downtime analysis, Frost & Sullivan said customers benefit from the single integrated solution.

“Wonderware continues to have a solid understanding of challenges faced by companies in the expansive automation and information industry and continues to develop solutions that successfully integrate automation systems with business applications,” said Sivakali Prasad Dasari, Frost & Sullivan industry analyst. “Wonderware has consistently stayed ahead of competition by quickly identifying new trends and developing innovative approaches that go beyond customer expectations.”

InTouch 10.0 HMI and System Platform 3.0 software also were recognized for interoperability which enables manufacturers with pants worldwide to easily integrate global operations. Wonderware solutions can be used to develop the required tools to effectively view plant and business performance, enabling customers to improve execution and quality, streamline business strategy, and provide performance analysis to increase competitiveness through greater speed, efficiency, and innovation.

For more information about Wonderware, please contact your Wonderware Southeast Account Executive or the marketing department at marketing@insourcess.com.

New Wonderware Software Patches and Device Integration Releases

Wonderware Application Server 3.0 Patch 02

Registered users can view and download this and other patchfix releases on the Wonderware eSupport website at http://www.wonderware.com/support/web/secure/downloads/esdownload.asp.

New Wonderware Tech Alerts and Notes

Tech Alert 107: Potential Safety Issue When Using ArchestrA Symbols Embedded in InTouch® 10.0 Applications

Tech Note 525: Re-creating the Factelligence Middleware COM+ Application when the Server Name is Changed
Tech Note 526: Automating Object Configuration Tasks Using GRAccess: Configuring the OPCClient DIObject
Tech Note 527: Generating an ActiveFactory Workbook Report within InTouch®
Tech Note 528: Automating Object Configuration Tasks Using GRAccess: Creating and Configuring Field Attributes
Tech Note 529: InTouch® Language Switching for Windows and Alarms
Tech Note 530: Manually Creating a Factelligence Proxy
Tech Note 531: Changing the Tooltip of a 3rd Party Composite .NET Control
Tech Note 532: Troubleshooting Communication Issues Between Historian InSQL Server and Remote IDAS
Tech Note 533: Application Object Containment Practices for Wonderware Application Server
Tech Note 534: 1784PKTX Hardware Compatibility Issue with DASABDHPlus
Tech Note 537: Creating an Application Object Script Using GRAccess
Tech Note 538: InTouch© TSE version 10.0 Application Configuration: Managed, Published and Standalone Methods
Tech Note 539: Trend WebPart Does Not Connect to Remote IndustrialSQL Servers on Different Domains
Tech Note 540: Migrating to SQLData Object 3.0

Registered users can view and download archived Tech Notes and Alerts from the Wonderware website at http://www.wonderware.com/support/web/secure/selfsupport/estechalerts.asp.

Upcoming Events

2008 American Water Works Association Annual Conference and Exposition

Come see InSource Solutions at booth # 2847 at the AWWA ACE 08 Event!

When: June 8th - 12th

Where: Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia

For more information, please visit www.awwa.org/ace08.

ThinManager Integration Partners Symposium 2008

When: July 14th - 15th

Where: Gaylord Palms Resort, Orlando, Florida

This 2 day event offers training on the newest ThinManager product technologies.

For more information, contact your InSource Solutions I2 Infrastructure Specialist or the marketing department at marketing@insourcess.com.

OPC Training Seminars

Nashville Seminar - June 11th
Richmond Seminar - November 13th

For more information, please visit http://www.opcfoundation.org/Events/Events.aspx.

MESA 2008 - North American Plant-to-Enterprise Conference: Delivering on Strategies

When: September 21st - 23rd

Where: Orlando, Florida

Please visit www.mesa.org for more details.

Save the Date - 2008 WonderWorld!

When: October 7th - 9th

Where: Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

For more information, please visit www.wonderware.com/wworld08na.


InSource Solutions receiving the ACP Distributor of the Year Award 2007	InSource Solutions receiving the Arista Gold Level Distributor Award