In this issue, Automation World takes a look at industrial safety and security, and how companies are dealing with the threats.
As factory networks rely more on open systems as a way to reduce costs, boost efficiency and communicate more effectively with enterprise systems, they also become more susceptible to cyber attacks. But plant operations and information technology departments often view the problem differently. In an article beginning on page 30, Contributing Editor Rob Spiegel examines the issues and provides tips for bridging the gap.
Watch out! That disgruntled employee may be packing a pistol. New camera technology based on millimeter wave imaging can help head off the problem by detecting concealed weapons. And it can help stop employee pilferage as well. Automation World Managing Editor Wes Iversen describes the technology in an article that starts on page 35.
When machines run at high speed, protecting people from the moving apparatus is paramount. That’s why discrete-parts manufacturers are increasingly looking at the latest in safety networking technology. Contributing Editor James R. Koelsch explains the options—including integrated safety and control networks—in a story beginning on page 38.
Driven by changing standards and improved technology, process manufacturers are also moving toward wider use of systems that integrate safety with process control. These approaches can maintain safety ratings while also reducing costs. Koelsch describes the specifics in an article that begins on page 42.
When end-users of systems and equipment from Siemens AG gathered recently for a conference in Florida, they heard first-hand reports of how others are using automation successfully. Automation World Editorial Director Jane Gerold was there. She looks at the strategies of two of those users in an article beginning on page 46.
