Automation Unplugged: Pinto's Perspectives, Pointers, & Prognostications (Paperback)

by Jim Pinto (Author), Dick Morley (Introduction) "I have been involved in the industrial instrumentation and controls business since I joined an old and established British company-Everett Edgcumbe & Co.-in the early..." (more)
Key Phrases: industrial automation business, industrial automation companies, fieldbus wars, Automation Unplugged, Emerson Process, Rockwell Automation (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
If you have heard industry pundit Jim Pinto speak, or read his barbed writings or laugh-out-loud poems, or subscribe to his popular e-newsletter, you'll enjoy his new book. It's loaded with critical analysis of the changing face of industrial automation; predictions about future automation technology trends – including Pinto’s provoking prognostications on what major supplier companies will survive, and what ones won’t; the best of his articles on marketing & distribution; and his highly rated fieldbus commentary. Of course, the book also includes the best-of-the-best poems from the recognized "poet laureate of instrumentation."

The book has a special Introduction by Dick Morley, noted technology guru and father of the PLC. Each of 5 sections is introduced by a noted automation industry personality.

* Industrial Automation Majors, the good, the bad and the ugly - Introduced by John Berra, President Emerson Process
* Marketing, Sales & Distribution Perspectives - Introduced by Frank Williams, CEO of I/O Select
* Future of Automation Technology Technology - Gee Whiz! - Introduced by Bud Keyes, Senior Vice President, Emerson Process
* Industrial Networks - this bus is for you - Introduced by Dick Caro, CMC Associates, Chairman of ISA SP50 and formerly of IEC Fieldbus Standards Committees
* Pinto's Industrial Poetry - Introduced by Greg Hale, Editor, InTech

Product Details

• Paperback: 205 pages
• Publisher: ISA (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556178646
• ISBN-13: 978-1556178641
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #465,291 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History, Development, and Prediction about Automation, December 1, 2003

By	Albert McCauley (Cleveland, Ohio) - See all my reviews

Usually, when I read "This is a must-read book," I put it down to publishers' hype. Now that I have read Automation Unplugged, I will say that a person in the instrument/control system business should read it. The book gives some history that provides insight into the present conditions in the systems business.

The marketing section is truly required reading for today's environment in the systems business. When you finish reading, you say to yourself "I knew that," but you had not developed the thesis as logically nor as completely. As to the forecasting of the future, if only 50 percent of Mr. Pinto's predictions come true, major changes in management thinking will be required.

Dick Caro's introduction to the Fieldbus chapter clearly explains why the ISO and IEC standards are as irrational as they are. The chapter titled "How do I catch the Fieldbus" presents a logical explanation of all the varying standards for the buses.

Put this book in your library for reference along Bella Liptak's series of books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Automation Intelligence for the rest of us., November 19, 2003

By	B. W. Lovell (Incline Village, NV United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For those of us outside the close knit world of automation, Jim Pinto is at his futuristic best in his poetry and political commentary. He rebels against the trend toward group think and bland commentary. He offers a prismatic view of the industry of automation which is neither too focused nor too general nor, we come to understand, viewed from every angle captured by Mr. Pinto. He has more facets of his intellect to share (perhaps political commentary will make up all or a larger portion of his next book?).

Mr. Pinto writes unselfconsciously and without apparent concern for the backlash that might face anyone less well regarded in the industry. In twenty years, Mr. Pinto built Action Instruments from nothing to industry greatness. That is to say, it was a great company until he sold it five years ago.

His entrepreneurial success, financial independence, and intellectual prowess are readily evident in his seemingly unguarded and thought provoking views. I found it refreshing to read intellectual commentary from a man with a sense of humor.

Wade Lovell
President & CEO

Ski Tote LLC

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Few know the automation industry like Jim Pinto, October 27, 2003

By	Shari Worthintgon (Worcester, MA USA) - See all my reviews

You haven't heard anything til you've heard industry pundit Jim Pinto jump on his soapbox. The Founder and former CEO of Invensys' Action Instruments, Jim takes a hard look at what's working and what's not in the industrial automation market.

He asks...and answers...the right questions. Who are the top 10 suppliers in the industry and will any survive? Who's best managed, who's mis-managed? What's the Achilles heel of the top players (hint: it's spelled M-A-R-K-E-T-I-N-G)? What does the future hold? Is Microsoft about to take over Fieldbus?!?! This book is a must-read for anyone in the business.