Control Automation Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

19/04/2022 Risk FACtor Flow-accelerated corrosion is an important effect that can result in catastrophic failures in high-pressure and high-temperature pipe systems. It is therefore critical that it is properly managed. This involves feedwater chemistry control, ... » Read More

19/04/2022 Tackling the challenges of data Digitalisation projects aim to connect sensors to machines and then use that data to monitor, analyse, and control the process. The currency in this market is data, and only if it is organised and managed properly can any gains be made. ... » Read More

19/04/2022 Auditing and standardising inventory The benefit of a spare parts strategy has as much to do with accurate and efficient records – clean data – as it does with the parts themselves. By David Thompson, MRO spares parts specialist, Ramsoft » Read More

19/04/2022 Digital together: project profiles Two projects supported by the UK Digital Catapult both involve reconfiguring a slow manual measurement process, recording the results digitally, and inserting that information into other digital systems. It’s a template for digitalisation ... » Read More

19/04/2022 Inside vibration sensors Condition monitoring of mechanical equipment – anything with rotating, oscillating or otherwise moving components – relies on vibration measurement. The sensors that pick up vibration have their own requirements. By Toby Clark » Read More

19/04/2022 The post-COVID rise of pre-fabricated plants The urgent need for COVID vaccines spurred the use of modular, pre-fab laboratory spaces. Can the same structures equally benefit industry? The urgent need for COVID vaccines spurred the use of modular, pre-fab laboratory spaces. Can the ... » Read More

19/04/2022 I&C project profile: Lisi Aerospace A Rugby aerospace fastenings manufacturer is half-way through reengineering its high-volume production. So innovative is the work that the company has obtained part government funding. So keen is it that even the global pandemic hasn’t put ... » Read More

19/04/2022 All hands to the (heat) pump To meet the government’s net zero target, 19m heat pumps must be installed by 2050. That means that heating installer numbers must now grow, and keep on growing. Tom Austin-Morgan looks at what is being done to achieve this. By Tom ... » Read More

19/04/2022 A basic guide to legal liability When something goes wrong on site there are usually two routes by which legal liability could follow: contract and tort. By Susan Hopcraft, partner, Wright Hassall » Read More

13/04/2022 PPE changes for the workforce: guidance for employers With new PPE regulations that came into force on 6th April, under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022, employers that supply safety equipment to employees must carefully assess their health and safety ... » Read More

30/03/2022 A guide to improved gas feeding in water treatment Accurate gas dosing and the ability to control the feed to match changing conditions are vital for water treatment applications such as pH control using CO2 or removing iron with oxidation. From the outset, the system requires accurate ... » Read More

28/03/2022 Getting under the skin of sausage manufacturing efficiency As the popularity of sausages continues to grow, manufacturers are increasingly looking for ways to improve speed, efficiency and quality by utilizing artificial casings. Markus Huuhtanen from Vaisala (Finland) explains how these ... » Read More

14/03/2022 The greening of steel Has the UK blown its chance to be a main player in the ‘green steel’ economy? As Europe forges ahead, the government’s £250m Clean Steel Fund is still ‘on hold’ – with no clear future strategy emerging. By Brian Wall » Read More

14/03/2022 Leading the way in digital transformation The UK’s first Schneider Electric smart factory, in Flint, Wales, provides a model for revolutionising ageing infrastructure to deliver operational effectiveness and sustainability, reports Will Dalrymple » Read More

14/03/2022 Learning about additive manufacturing As additive manufacturing (AM) matures into a technology that produces finished products instead of prototypes, MTC has launched an apprenticeship, reports Tom Austin-Morgan » Read More

14/03/2022 Tool and equipment preventive maintenance Reducing or eliminating the risk of unplanned downtime, manufacturing interruptions and missing repair stock is an issue for every manufacturing company. An effective way to achieve best practice is to focus on implementing a service ... » Read More

14/03/2022 What is stiction? If you have ever tried to push a box across a floor, building up effort only for it to suddenly slide rapidly and easily, you have experienced ‘stiction’; it can lead to mechanical motion control problems in valves and elsewhere » Read More

14/03/2022 Valve performance How can engineers ensure that valves are performing efficiently and correctly on a process line? By Steed Webzell » Read More

14/03/2022 Train wreck In January, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch released its report into the derailment and fire involving a tanker train at Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, 26 August 2020. The report, which blames the incident on inadequate maintenance, ... » Read More

14/03/2022 Workplace permitting and digital safety Yokogawa makes the case for a digital approach to safety management of plant operations, as it launches a new version of its RAP control-to-work software » Read More

14/03/2022 Condition monitoring for wind turbines In any application, condition monitoring makes maintenance more efficient by preventing catastrophic failures and unplanned downtime, enabling efficient scheduling of maintenance operations with parts ordered in advance, and performing ... » Read More

14/03/2022 Understanding light measurement Users looking to understand the brightness of a light may come across various terms, some of which date back to the candle. Although lighting technology may have moved on (to LEDs), measurements of light remain unchanged, explains vehicle ... » Read More

14/03/2022 COSHH software overview How can plants manage their COSHH assessments effectively? Using software is one option that may reduce the burden. By Steed Webzell » Read More

09/03/2022 Prevention is better than cure: caring for compressors Well-planned maintenance of any equipment is essential for long-term reliability and efficiency. Following the routine servicing carefully detailed in the operator’s manual may seem obvious, but this is crucial to preventing potential ... » Read More

14/02/2022 Steam trap management Crucial parts of the steam supply system, these simple components let out water and condensate, but their failure could have a significant effect. By Toby Clark » Read More