Recalling the very first automation project I worked on, we were all very eager to deliver a solution that was exactly what the customer wanted. In this case the customer was very vocal in communicating his desires and, during factory acceptance testing, he demanded more changes. We gladly accommodated him. In the end, we delivered the system just as the customer described.
It did not take the customer long, however, to realize that some of his demands left no room for flexibility. Plus, as new controls engineers, the design we created did not easily accommodate the required changes. While the control system performed exactly as the customer wanted, it was not able to accommodate the dynamics and unforeseen events that happen daily in production.
当一个基本系统集成商的合作伙伴rer or OEM to deliver an automated controls solution, the integrator not only has to understand the needs of the customer but should consider: standards, industry best practices, and experience. The integrator can then help the customer make well-informed decisions, weigh alternatives, and work in the best interest of the customer with a goal of being recognized as a trusted advisor. The systems created in such a partnership typically have greater performance, lower cost of maintenance, increased flexibility, and a longer service life because they can more easily adapt to process changes and incorporate new technologies.
The Revelation of Standards
我现在很难相信，但是曾经有一段时间，我坐在桌子旁，教育和经验丰富的工程师讨论“停止”按钮的功能。它会立即起作用吗？完成批次然后停止？我们可以恢复生产吗？如果是这样，如果我们不想恢复生产，我们将如何实际停止流程？
This was my introduction to standards.
后来，作为新经理，我记得对控制工程组提到“标准”一词。他们沉默了。感觉就像我在创新的火上扔了一条湿毯子。许多工程师认为标准会绑住他们的手。实际上，标准使您可以更轻松地解决过程的常规部分，而不是花六个小时来辩论“停止”的含义。在标准的帮助下，您可以专注于系统的更复杂的方面，这些方面有可能为客户带来更多价值，同时又减少了整体开发时间。
像标准一样，随着时间的推移，行业最佳实践是通过经过验证的技术和主要供应商的支持而开发的。当工程师和开发人员忽略这些最佳实践时，他们开始限制支持解决方案的能力，并使在新技术中纳入进步变得更加困难。这给集成商和工程部门带来了压力，并增加了系统升级的成本。甚至可能导致疏远供应商不愿支持实施的控件解决方案。
当然，很少有专有控制最适合项目的实例。但是，大多数制造工艺和机器控制应用程序都被最佳实践所涵盖。采用行业最佳实践使您可以利用供应商的支持，增加招聘池，并使客户减少对解决方案提供商的依赖，从而使他们具有更大的独立性。让您的客户“依赖”您与让他们“依赖”对您有区别。
标准和最佳实践是任何系统集成项目开始的最佳场所。经验的关键作用在评估和应用这些标准和最佳实践中发挥了作用。简单地忽略经验是一个错误。完全依靠经验是一个错误。
Larry Asher is director of operations atBachelor Controls Inc., a certified member of theControl System Integrators Association (CSIA). For more information about Bachelor Controls visit their profile on the工业自动化交换.
