Blog

What Methods are Available for Accessing OSIsoft’s PI Server?

By Control Guru | March 21, 2017

When someone jumps into a project without thinking things through we’ll often say that he or she took the “hard way”. While the easy way usually involves a little more thought at the start, it typically results in a faster and more satisfactory finish. Racing into a project often results in delays, cost overruns, and general dissatisfaction. This is especially true in the world of software application development. Most every software technology firm can share stories to corroborate the value of a well-planned project versus the hazards of a poorly planned effort.

What Methods are Available for Accessing OSIsoft's PI Server?

By Control Guru | March 21, 2017

When someone jumps into a project without thinking things through we’ll often say that he or she took the “hard way”. While the easy way usually involves a little more thought at the start, it typically results in a faster and more satisfactory finish. Racing into a project often results in delays, cost overruns, and general dissatisfaction. This is especially true in the world of software application development. Most every software technology firm can share stories to corroborate the value of a well-planned project versus the hazards of a poorly planned effort.

The Benefits of Feed Forward Control

By Control Guru | March 14, 2017

By nature most people are reactive when it comes to dealing with life’s big expenditures. Think of happy occasions such as graduations and weddings. Then consider more somber milestones like retirement. By most accounts the average worker is wholly unprepared to absorb the costs linked to these and other of life’s events. Even though the timing and amount of those costs can be forecasted, the typical approach to saving for the future isn’t up to the task. Face it: As a species we’re wired to be reactive!

What is Feed Forward Control?

By Control Guru | March 7, 2017

To no practitioner’s surprise, process control exists as a discipline because manufacturing is complex. It’s erratic and occasionally unpredictable. At many facilities it is highly hazardous. Variability – whether localized to a single process or reverberated throughout a plant – can transform production from a well-managed operation to a highly turbulent task. Variability is a key reason why manufacturing is difficult. So it’s no wonder that process engineers focus their efforts on controlling disturbances – those unplanned upsets which drive variability from one process to the next.