Customer Reviews

A Guide to the Automation Body of Knowledge

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In the few months since the release of the first edition of this book it has become a standard overview of the field. 'Overview' because this is a brief introduction to virtually all of the subjects which when lumped together can be called automation.

The subjects covered include instrumentation, process control, motors, process modeling, reliability, safety, and of course a great deal about computer controls. In the computer area (about 40% of the book), the subjects include networks, security, operator interfaces, data management, software, operator training, troubleshooting and more.

This book is intended for use by automation professionals, academicians either for their own knowledge or for teaching, and is probably the best single source to use in preparing for the ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP) exam.

Because of the large number of subjects covered and the depth given to each subject (which is not to say that if you want to go further you wouldn't find whole books on each of these subjects) the individual chapters are written by an expert in that particular field.

In the short time that this book has been available, it has become the standard in the field. I know of no other book that goes into as many different subject areas in automation with as much depth as this one.

The term "automation" includes all topics that have traditionally been identified as instrumentation, process control, and system integration, for example. Automation professionals are those individuals who are responsible for the direction, design, and deployment of systems and equipment for manufacturing and control systems. This book emerged from the work to develop ISA's Certified Automation Professional (CAP) program. However, it should be beneficial to more than those that wish to pass the CAP exam. While this book attempts to cover all of the topics in the scope of the CAP exam, many CAP exam questions will not be covered in this book since CAP questions can be drawn from any book or referred paper in automation. Still a good knowledge of the material in this book should be very helpful in preparing for the CAP exam. Since there are only approximately 13 pages per subject, you may need to go to one of the listed references in a particular section to get a more complete understanding of that topic. Also, note that this book reads more like a reference book than a textbook with lots of densely packed information. The table of contents is listed below:

Part 1 - BASIC CONTINUOUS CONTROL
1. Process Instrumentation
2. Analytical Instrumentation
3. Continuous Control
4. Control Valves
5. Analog Communications
6. Control System Documentation
7. Control Equipment

Part 2 - BASIC DISCRETE, SEQUENCING, AND MANUFACTURING CONTROL
8. Discrete Input and Output Devices and General Manufacturing Measurements
9. Discrete and Sequencing Control
10. Motor and Drive Control
11. Motion Control

Part 3 - ADVANCED CONTROL TOPICS
12. Process Modeling
13. Advanced Process Control
14. Control of Batch Processes
15. Environmental
16. Building Automation

Part 4 - RELIABILITY, SAFETY, AND ELECTRICAL
17. Alarm Management
18. Reliability
19. Process Safety and Safety Instrumented Systems
20. Electrical Installations
21. Safe Use and Application of Electrical Apparatus

Part 5 - INTEGRATION AND SOFTWARE
22. Digital Communications
23. Industrial Networks
24. Manufacturing Execution Systems and Business Integration
25. System and Network Security
26. Operator Interface
27. Data Management
28. Software

PART 6 - DEPLOYMENT AND MAINTENANCE
29. Operator Training
30. Checkout, System Testing, and Startup
31. Troubleshooting
32. Maintenance, Long Term Support, and System Management

PART 7 - WORK STRUCTURE
33. Automation Benefits and Project Justifications
34. Project Management and Execution
35. Interpersonal Skills

Its a good technical overview of automation , I believe it can be used as a text book on a technical school.

For me this book has been the gateway to what you need to understand for the CAP exam. If you understand all the diffrent sectors of automation covered by this book, then your well on your way to passing the CAP exam. This book has helped me to see and appreciate the Automation Industry as a whole.

Good up to date information and give a good overview, very useful for control and System professionals and students in the process control field.

If you're working anywhere in the field of automation, you need this reference: it's the updated second edition of the popular Guide to the Automation Body of Knowledge, and it packs in writings from nearly thirty leading experts in the field on such diverse subjects as control system documentation, motion control pros and cons, system and network security issues, and more. Students seeking to pass the CAP exam as well as field engineers will find it an essential reference filled with discussions linked to real-life needs and situations.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch