仪器，系统和自动化协会（ISA）于3月24日宣布，其执行委员会已批准建立自动化联合会为伞组织，协会和社会从事制造和流程自动化活动可以更有效地履行其任务。ISA说，自动化联合会将在6月底运作。
自动化联合会的两个初始宪章成员是WBF，以前是世界批处理论坛和OMAC，OMAC是Open Modular Architecture Control用户组。自去年3月以来，OMAC与ISA有正式隶属关系。
建立自动化联合会的意图首次于3月6日在亚特兰大举行的WBF 2006北美会议上公开。在该会议上，WBF成员资格批准了加入自动化联合会的概念，尽管当时的新机构被称为自动化联盟。
操作结构
在WBF会议上，ISA总裁肯·贝克（Ken Baker）将新机构描述为“运营结构”，其中WBF和OMAC都将在ISA结构之外放置。贝克说，该安排将使WBF和OMAC能够像过去一样运作，同时获得社会管理和获得资金的利益。预计ISA将为工作人员提供自动化联合会活动以及其他便利设施。
During private conversations at the WBF Conference, various WBF members said that the arrangement will be good for WBF as a way to obtain funding to improve marketing, training and other activities—as long at the WBF is able to maintain independence, and not come under “control” of the ISA. The arrangement will allow for that independence, they said.
In its March 24 announcement, the ISA said that The Automation Federation will coordinate the work of member organizations engaged in advancement of the science and engineering of automation technologies and applications. The common objectives of the member organizations are to:
•促进自动化行业的价值和形象，以促进制造效率和效率
•促进旨在发展新一代自动化专业人员的教育和信息资源的发展和传播，提高现有专业人员的有效性并提高自动化专业
•促进颁布行业标准，以提高自动化技术和应用的效率，成本效益和安全性。
自动化联盟将提供行业wide strategic analysis and coordination through its member organizations, the ISA said. The Federation will provide technical management, administration and integrated services such as seminars, Web conferences, training and conference services to be shared among participating organizations.
向所有人开放
贝克说：“我对自动化形成的形成感到兴奋。”“联邦的成员将向所有有兴趣促进自动化技术开发，实施和商业化的组织开放。我很高兴WBF选择与ISA和OMAC一起建立新的伞组。我们的合作肯定会为全球自动化专业人员创造附加价值。”
Maurice Wilkins, WBF Chairman, added, “By joining with other non-profit organizations with similar interests, WBF and the other alliance organizations can better collaborate, interact and leverage the resources of a common support staff to provide better services to all their respective members.”
