Breaking down information overload

InTech, Jul 2005 by Hale, Gregory

Playing in a baseball game can overload anyone with an abundance of information on any given play. On every pitch, a fielder has to know what type of pitch the pitcher is throwing and where he should position himself.

Take a third baseman. If the pitcher is throwing a fastball to an average righthanded hitter, then he should play off the foul line. But, if the hurler is tossing a slower off-speed pitch, then third baseman should most likely guard the line. All nine players on the field, plus the team's manager, have to take in all the data and compute the results before every pitch.

So, for every pitch for every batter in every inning of every game, a boatload of information is rushing into players' brains. The manager and players have to screen out the poor data and focus only on their true mission: to be in the proper position to field the ball and get the batter out. Any lapse in concentration, or forgetting to be in the proper position, could lead to a mistake that could help cost the team the game.

In the automation environment, it is difficult to control and understand the crush of data available to engineers in every aspect of a process. Obviously, manufacturers want as much relevant data as possible to ensure an efficiently run process. But sorting out the truly important information is key. All need to understand the choices so they can make an informed decision.

Let's face it, part of the automation environment means technology is taking over to the point of culling data from just about every point in a process and giving you more information than ever before. Last month, one engineer received 12 pages of information on one process and said all he really used was a portion of two pages.

The human side of automation puts you in the position to take that data and use it to your company's advantage. Wading through the data deluge, while understanding the big picture and where your company should be, is part of what Jack Bolick, president of Honeywell Process Solutions, talked about at the Honeywell Users Group Symposium in Scottsdale, Ariz.

"The big thing is what is the 'want/ or what is it we are trying to solve. We believe it is a much bigger problem than just continuing the process. It is by getting that knowledge or data through the sensors that we gain through a process putting that knowledge or data up and turning it into knowledge which will help your business performance," Bolick said

Isn't that the Holy Grail of technologygiving users as much data as possible so they will have the information to allow them to make better business decisions that will lead to the company performing better?

Technology has brought the industry unprecedented data on flows of fluids in various pipes and fluctuations of levels of product in tanks, to name a few. The next level of technology will focus on how users can properly field the onslaught of information to ensure their companies are in the right position. Are you ready?

Talk to me: ghale@isa.org or (919) 990-9275.

GREGORY HALE, EDITOR