Program places emphasis on improving safety and security in chemical, petrochemical, and oil and gas processing

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA (13 October 2015) - The International Society of Automation (ISA) today released the advance program for its 2015 Process Control & Safety Symposium, featuring world-class presentations, paper sessions, panel discussions, tutorials, training courses, vendor exhibitions, and other value-packed activities—all designed to help process measurement and control professionals in chemical and energy processing and other process industry sectors operate more safely and securely.

Leveraging the global expertise of seven ISA technical divisions, the symposium is expected to draw more than 200 registrants 9-12 October 2015 in Houston, Texas USA. Attendees will learn how everyday decisions can have significant downstream results—both positively and negatively—on plant safety and security as well as on key quality and efficiency metrics. Download the complete conference program of the 2015 ISA Process Control & Safety Symposium (PCS) by clicking here.

Held for the first time last year, the symposium brings ISAs world-class technical content, training and exhibiting opportunities back to Houston in response to strong demand among the areas automation professionals. Highlights include:

* Four targeted ISA courses, led by ISAs globally recognized subject matter experts.
* Three renowned keynote speakers: Maurice Wilkins, Ph.D., Vice President of Yokogawas Strategic Marketing Center; Lloyd F. Colegrove, Ph.D., Director of Data Services and Fundamental Problem Solving at the Analytical Technology Center within The Dow Chemical Company; and Paul Gruhn, Global Process Safety Consultant at Rockwell Automation.
* An extensive, content-rich technical program. (All sessions, segmented by topic, are listed further down in this press release.)
* An outstanding vendor exhibit demonstrating the latest technologies and solutions from 25 industry leaders. (A complete list of exhibitors is included further down in this press release.) A special feature is Tech Day, to be held on Tuesday, 10 November, when the exhibit hall will be open to all automation professionals in the Houston area at no charge, and a reception, with cash bar, will be offered.

Industry-proven ISA training in process safety, security and wireless systems

Attendees can choose from four industry-proven ISA courses (and earn valuable CEUs) encompassing the critical components of safety, security and wireless communications. The training courses, all of which will be conducted on Monday, 9 November, include:

* Introduction to the Management of Alarm Systems (IC39C) - Focuses on the key activities of the alarm management lifecycle provided in the ANSI/ISA18.00.02 standard, Management of Alarm Systems for the Process Industries.
* Introduction to Industrial Automation Security and the ANSI/ISA99 (IEC 62443) Standards (IC32C) - Concentrates on the fundamentals of the ANSI/ISA99 Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems standards and how these can be applied in the typical factory or plant.
* An Introduction to Safety Instrumented Systems (EC50C) - Covers the basics of the design and selection of safety systems, examining proper use of technology, level of redundancy, testing, field devices, and other considerations.
* Industrial Wireless Systems (IC85C) - Examines the most relevant details of industrial wireless systems with an emphasis on how various technologies coexist, interoperate, and interact with each other. Numerous real-world examples are illustrated.

An expert-driven program of technical and tutorial sessions

Attendees are sure to gain practical knowledge they can immediately apply in the workplace through expert-delivered tutorials and incisive, thought-provoking paper sessions on safety, communications, chemicals, instrumentation and control, and other vital topics

Learn all about the latest developments and emerging trends in process control and industrial cybersecurity that are determining future operational needs, expectations, and requirements. Below are some of the truly outstanding sessions on the conference agenda, segmented by topic.

Chemical and Petroleum Sessions

* Automation Infrastructure Upgrades at an Oil Storage Terminal
* Integrating Multi-generational Automation Systems
* How to Beat your Start-up Date
* Report from the Trenches-Current Alarm Management Practices

Communications Sessions

* Internet-of-Things for Automation Presentation and Panel Session
* Wireless Networks for Industrial Automation and Smart Manufacturing
* Panel Session
* Adoption of Wireless for Safety
* Safety and Alarming Applications Based on ISA100 Wireless system
* Ethernet Backbone Improves Design, Implementation, and Lifecycle Management of Safety Systems
* Best Practices to Improve the Safety and Productivity of Plant Operations
Education Sessions

* How to Use ISA: Guiding Engineers/Technicians Use of Resources
* Distance Automation Engineering Labs
* Deterministic Process Analysis

Instrumentation Sessions

* Gas Void Fraction Eliminator: How Much Money are You Paying for Air?
* Modifying Protection Method from Non-incentive to Intrinsically Safe Installation
* New Technology for Toxic and Flammable Gas Detection
* Toxic Gas Detectors for Shelter In Place (SIP)
* Advanced Control and Simulation Session
* Reliability in Measurements: Common Misconceptions in Calibration Management
* Novel Design of Ubiquitous Data-Centric Automation and Control Architecture
Process Measurement and Control Sessions

* ISA106, Procedure Automation for Continuous Process Operations
* Procedural Automation in Continuous Processes—A Dow Chemical Success story
* Using Procedural Automation to Standardize and Improve Operations in Continuous Processes

Pulp and Paper Industry Sessions

* Is Process Control Training REALLY No Longer Necessary?
* Addressing Cycling Problems in Pulp and Paper Processes
* Tutorial: Diagnosing the Root Cause of Oscillations
* Industrial Advances in Wireless Control
* Virtualization—A powerful tool for process control
* Big Data Improves Plant Safety

Safety Sessions

* Testing of Safety Instrumented Systems: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Panel Session
* Workshop: Performance-Based Gas Detection System Design using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling of Gas Dispersion
* FMEDA Predictions and OREDA Estimations for Mechanical Failure Rates: Explaining the Differences
* Workshop: Fire and Gas Design for the Process Industry: Are there Real Dangers behind the Smoke and Mirrors of F&G Detection Mapping?
* Panel Session - IEC61511 Updates: What's New in the Next Release and What Does it mean to You?

Security Sessions

* Adapting NIST Cybersecurity Framework for Conformance Assessment
* Open Discussion Regarding NIST Cybersecurity Framework in ICS Applications
* Performing an IACS Cyber Risk Assessment per ISA 62443
* Applying ISA/IEC 62443-3-2 for Assessing Cybersecurity Risks of Drilling Assets (including Existing and New Drilling Rigs)
* ICS Cybersecurity Risk Assessment Panel Session
* Hardening Industrial Control Systems (ICS) to Avoid a Cyber Attack
* Demystifying Government-Validated Solutions: Navy Case Study Shows How Critical
* Looking for Trouble on OT Networks: Tools and Techniques to Identify Threats to ICS Communications

A sold-out vendor exhibit featuring premier companies and leading-edge solutions

The premier companies serving the oil and gas, chemical, petrochemical, and related markets will present and demonstrate their products and services at the exhibit component of the symposium.

Discover the latest technologies and applications across all core solution areas, including:

* Control systems
* Chemical and energy processing
* Data management instrumentation
* Wireless networks
* Process and functional safety
* Safety Instrumented Systems
* Cybersecurity

The list of corporate sponsors and exhibitors includes

* aeSolutions
* BakerRisk
* Beamex
* CSA Group
* CSE w-Industries
* Emerson Process Management
* ENMET
* ePlan
* Evans Consoles
* Honeywell
* ISA Security Compliance Institute
* GE
* ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute
* Mangan
* MAVERICK Technologies
* MESA International
* MicroPack Detection
* Opto 22
* PR Electronics
* Radix
* Rockwell Automation
* Schneider Electric
* Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
* Senscient
* Siemens Industry
* SIS Tech
* The Modal Shop, Inc.
* Trinity Integrated Systems
* Ultra Electroni

Register today!
Given the depth and breadth of topics and issues to be explored, the 2015 Process and Safety Symposium is truly a cant-miss event. Be sure to make your plans now. To register and to gain all the details on the symposium, visit the conference website. For more information or immediate assistance, email info@isa.org or call +1 919-549-8411.

About ISA
The International Society of Automation (www.isa.org) is a nonprofit professional association that sets the standard for those who apply engineering and technology to improve the management, safety, and cybersecurity of modern automation and control systems used across industry and critical infrastructure. Founded in 1945, ISA develops widely used global standards; certifies industry professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; hosts conferences and exhibits; and provides networking and career development programs for its 36,000 members and 350,000 customers around the world.

ISA owns Automation.com, a leading online publisher of automation-related content, and is the founding sponsor of The Automation Federation (www.automationfederation.org), an association of non-profit organizations serving as "The Voice of Automation." Through a wholly owned subsidiary, ISA bridges the gap between standards and their implementation with the ISA Security Compliance Institute (www.isasecure.org) and the ISA Wireless Compliance Institute (www.isa100wci.org).