所有自动化项目理想地遵循反映经典系统工程V模型的过程，从而确定了需求，从而驱动了需求。对要求进行分析和分解，以便可以分配到功能解决方案。这样，经典的“你怎么吃大象？”可以通过“一次咬人”策略解决问题。
一旦将所有要求分配给了一个令人愉快的解决方案，就可以意识到该解决方案可以开始。从分析和分配阶段中确定的最小子系统开始，随着子系统被整合到形成一个完整的系统，该系统不仅可以正确构建，而且还为原始需求提供了解决方案。对于任何自动化项目的最终成功至关重要，随着系统的实现，适当的测试是适当的测试。
In the industrial automation world, two very common terms are factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT). The FAT is typically performed at the facility of the system provider, either by an OEM or a control system integrator. A properly performed FAT will provide a high level of assurance that the system has been developed as intended and that it will meet the requirements, allbeforethe system leaves the supplier’s shop. Issues identified at FAT are usually much easier and less expensive to address than if they are discovered later, during the highly stressful installation, commissioning and startup phases at the end user’s facility.
SAT重复重复脂肪期间执行的测试，但系统现在安装在其操作环境中并连接到现实世界设备和接口。在脂肪期间，并非总是可以模拟这些现实世界中的条件，因此SAT是最终测试，以进一步确保在启动和操作过程中不会出现任何问题。此外，SAT可以识别出运输或存储期间可能损坏的设备等问题。
A major process chemical manufacturer recently incurred a significant financial event when a large, VFD-driven motor driving a critical piece of newly commissioned process equipment experienced a motor bearing failure after only one month in service. Although the motor bearing temperature was being monitored by the control system and should have automatically tripped the motor prior to a catastrophic failure, the trip did not occur as designed. The system did present an indication of temperature to the operators, and a pre-trip alarm was correctly generated and acknowledged. Plant engineering was consulted, by phone, regarding the bearing temperature. However, the engineer believed the operator was referring to degrees Fahrenheit, when in fact the signal had been configured in degrees Celsius. Only after the motor bearing was observed to be smoking and sparking was the process manually tripped. The bearing was completely destroyed, thus making it impossible to determine the root cause of the bearing failure. The direct cost of recovery was significant, but the opportunity cost (lost sales revenue) was an order of magnitude higher.
研究表明，电动机温度已被无意中的电动机信号及其另一个轴承的温度信号（正常起作用）。这种无意的2OO2投票计划无旅行。进一步确定的是，在脂肪和SAT期间，仅测试了其他轴承跳闸逻辑。另一个轴承的温度跳闸逻辑是正确的。
该项目的激进时间表，加上缺乏适当的资源，导致了缩短，几乎检查的脂肪和SAT。这驱使回家早期与项目管理沟通的重要性，并且通常是计划足够的时间和资源进行系统测试的重要性。如果进行了100％的逻辑测试，则会捕获并在脂肪上易于固定的副本和纸质错误。
汤姆McGreevy、PE (SC)、帽,CFSE, PMP,是南方east engineering manager atApplied Engineering Solutions Inc.（Aesolutions），Control System Integrators Association（CSIA）。有关Aesolutions的更多信息，请访问其个人资料Industrial Automation Exchange。
