From the president's desk

SAIMC

IBG - SA Instrumentation & Control Buyers' Guide

December 2006 SAIMC

One of America's brightest thinkers, Warren Bennis, got it only partially right when he suggested some time ago that, "The factory of the future will have two employees: a man and a dog. The man's job will be to feed the dog. The dog's job will be to prevent the man from touching any of the automated equipment."

Vivian MacFadyen

He forgot the instrumentation technologist; and unfortunately, this is a common occurrence.

To implement automation, it is necessary to understand the building blocks for this process. This requires a special type of individual, able to understand elements of many different engineering disciplines, and at the same time able to analyse situations and think laterally.

Unfortunately, these individuals are rare, and they are absorbed in more important things than their financial worth. They do not have the time or the inclination to market themselves - hence they are relegated to the back room.

Recently, I ended up in discussion with a retired senior manager of probably the largest mining house in South Africa. He related that at a management conference, he had overheard a discussion between two financial whizz-kids who were close to retirement. The essence of this discussion was that they were unable to understand the need for engineers in any enterprise. This prompted me to think in two different directions at once.

For those unable to follow this simultaneously, I will mention them in succession.

I firstly lamented the unfortunate result of learning by rote. This results in tunnel thinking where alien concepts are discarded as unimportant. To conceptualise unfamiliar issues hurts and upsets their padded environment. This thought is a subject that we cannot pursue any further due to time restraints. I must hasten to add that engineers do appreciate that the financial aspects of their enterprises are adequately controlled.

The other avenue of thought is that how beneficial the SAIMC can be to the individual who specialises in this field. The obvious advantage is the opportunity to participate in technical updates and discussions. Another aspect is the promotion of the industry and those working in it, as an important aspect of modern life.

By our efforts, we are helping others to appreciate that modern industry is impossible without automation and control; in fact, it would be highly dangerous to thousands of lives if our equipment and expertise did not exist.

One of the missions of the institute is to achieve the highest possible industry recognition for the Institute and its members.

This is achieved by our public exposure in the press and other media highlighting our benefits to society. We have to maintain this pressure, and to do so, we need you all to support the SAIMC, and take an active part in its many activities.

Please support your local branch by membership and assistance with their many activities.

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From the president's desk

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