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.

28/12/2017 Living with obsolescence Obsolescence of components can be a constant headache for plant managers, but there are several ways around the problem, as Mark Venables discovers » Read More

28/10/2017 What is DDMRP and how can business planners use it? Demand-driven material requirements planning (DDMRP) has been going from strength to strength since its conception in 2011, with adoption by leading companies around the world, as Mark Venables explains. » Read More

28/10/2017 Industrial vending – vote or veto Industrial vending machines can be used to stock a range of items and tools, but would they work on your site? Adam Offord explores the options » Read More

28/10/2017 Protecting the protective equipment Everyone knows the importance of wearing the correct PPE at all times. However, Chris Beck discovers there is a worrying knowledge gap when it comes to caring for this vital equipment » Read More

28/10/2017 The height of good sense More than 4,000 people a year in the UK suffer major injuries from falls while working at height and it is a major cause of workplace death. Mark Venables explains that, while most of these incidents occur in construction, other sectors of ... » Read More

28/10/2017 Creating a safe warehouse Manufacturers are being hit with large fines and suffering reputational damage following entirely preventable forklift truck accidents. Training operators in the safe use of these ‘warehouse workhorses’ is paramount, as James Clark, ... » Read More

28/10/2017 From local to cloud-based condition monitoring Condition Monitoring (CM) no longer needs to be restricted to highly skilled, experienced engineers. With the advent of cloud-based CM systems, users can now share data with experts via the cloud, enabling improved fault diagnosis, faster ... » Read More

28/10/2017 Planning for the unknown Accidents will happen. It is a fact of life. When they do, it is best to be prepared. Knowing how to respond can make a big difference in mitigating the impact on a business and its most precious asset – the people who work for it. Mark ... » Read More

26/08/2017 Six ways smart plastics can strengthen UK productivity The advent of smart plastics could play a crucial role in helping UK manufacturers move towards the connectivity of Industry 4.0, as Mark Venables discovered when he visited igus, the motion plastics specialist, at its Cologne ... » Read More

26/08/2017 Breaking the barrier Accidents do happen and for this reason safety showers and eye baths are essential first aid equipment in minimising the damage caused by contamination of workers with harmful materials, as Mark Venables reveals » Read More

26/08/2017 Peril of particles Mark Venables examines the issues facing managers as they balance the needs of people and productivity associated with laser and 3D printing processes, particularly in meeting their health and safety obligations in the light of recent ... » Read More

26/08/2017 Factories get smarter Many companies are now harnessing the benefits of digitalisation and will rely on smart factories in the future. However, the required budget is not always available or, due to short production cycles, complete machinery replacement is ... » Read More

26/08/2017 Powering the plant Today’s under-pressure facilities managers have to become smarter than ever before to keep abreast of the ever-changing challenges of the role, as Chris Beck explains » Read More

26/08/2017 Banishing unplanned downtime Predictive maintenance is the best answer to minimising the risks of equipment failure. However, monitoring practices in the past have been expensive, problematic and, at worst, unreliable. The solution is to switch to smart condition ... » Read More

26/08/2017 Sound advice (in association with Casella) Noise-Induced Hearing Loss is a growing concern for many manufacturers, but more can be done to raise awareness of the risks amongst workers – particularly the youth. Chris Beck reports on the latest Works Management roundtable event » Read More

26/08/2017 Fit for future Effective and well-planned factory design and layout can impact operational efficiency, as Mark Venables explains. » Read More

26/08/2017 Right here, right now Industry 4.0 is more than just a flashy catchphrase. A confluence of trends and technologies promises to reshape the way things are made – and it’s finally happening, as Mark Venables discovers » Read More

13/02/2017 Changing times It’s time to think seriously about joining the Fourth Industrial Revolution before UK manufacturers get left behind by more progressive nations, warns Chris Beck » Read More

13/02/2017 Keeping guard When it comes to machine safety, failure to adhere to regulations can be an expensive business, but compliance need not be such an onerous task, as Mark Venables explains » Read More

31/01/2017 Under pressure Chris Beck learns how, when it comes to compressed air savings, even a small change can make a big difference » Read More

18/10/2016 On the meter In the ongoing drive for business to increase efficiency, understanding exactly what energy is being used where is at the heart of any solution, as Mark Venables discovers » Read More

22/05/2016 Safety first for wireless networks New regulatory requirements come into force this year that will affect the burgeoning industrial wireless industry as Mark Venables explains. » Read More

21/05/2016 Fixing the future Thermography and vibration monitoring can be invaluable in detecting problems with machinery. But how can plant engineers get the most value? Hywel Roberts investigates » Read More

16/05/2016 Bureau Veritas create PATH for engineers Here CEO Ken Smith talks about the new PATH initiative and the importance of training and development » Read More

18/01/2016 Getting to the root There are many tools that can be utilised to improve performance of plant, one such methodology is Root Cause Analysis. But as Mark Venables discovers it is not as widely used as many believe. » Read More