Reader Feedback: Time for Team Building

Aug. 16, 2012
The Conflicting Relationship Between Business IT vs. Control Engineers

Interestingly, earlier this year, I was asked by an Africa-based colleague about the relationship between business IT vs. control engineers within our North America-based chemical plant operations. I answered, "We manage our environments with the intent that our computer environments support all our chemical manufacturing and business objects in a safe, secure and highly available basis. On some occasions, we collaborate, such as when we change out firewall appliances or need special firewall rules. Why do you ask?"

The answer surprised me, though I should have expected it. The colleague explained that in their huge Africa complexes, they outsourced both IT and controls engineering functions, and selected different vendors for each area. These two vendors are to provide managed services for business IT and control environments. "The two teams work in just below a state of open hostilities," he said.

I must be living with my head in the sand, but this conversation was my first instance of the conflict between business IT and control engineers that you describe in your recent article. Obviously, the two companies are competitors and see their opportunity for business on these sites as a zero sum game. This concept is hardly conducive to team building.

From my viewpoint, the situation described by my colleague was caused by a combination of scale and operating model. Our North American operations are less than 10% the scale of the African operations. And both business IT and control engineering groups are primarily staffed by company employees. We are small from the viewpoint of chemical plant operators. Thus, employees are part of a chemical company, not an IT or controls technology group. We strategically use contractors and service providers for both generic and specialty services, but our intent is to have intellectual property owned by company employees because they have a vested interest in creating conditions conducive to company success.

In any event, I would say that we are fortunate to have such cooperation between our technology teams, and would like to think this is not the exception to the rule.

Name and company withheld by request

Sponsored Recommendations

Enhancing HMI Security and Accessibility with Cloud VPN Solutions

Enhance HMI security and remote access with Beijer’s cloud VPN solution. Enjoy advanced encryption, easy setup, and secure access via laptops, smartphones, or tablets. Cut costs...

Motor Encoders: What They Are and How They Work

Motor encoders are rotary encoders adapted to provide information about an electric motor shaft's speed and/or position. Like rotary encoders, motor encoders are most commonly...

C-Face Solutions for Motor Feedback

EPC's C-face encoders use an internal flex mount that accommodates shaft run-out while maintaining alignment.

Selecting Digital Encoder Outputs

Closed-loop feedback is where the encoder signals control the motor without any user inputs. Open loop feedback is where the encoder signal runs to a display and the user adjusts...