101 Tips for a Successful Automation Career

Tip #1: Always Ask “Why?” — Never Stop Learning automation.isa.org/2012/07/tip-1-always-ask-why-never-stop-learning/ automation.isa.org /2012/07/tip-1-always-ask-why-never-stop-learning/

Both Greg and I thought this tip was the perfect place to start a book li ke this. If we had to choose one trait above all others that places an engineer  on the path to success, it would be a constant quest for knowledge. We have each spent our lifetimes in pursuit of this goal and as our careers slowly fade toward retirement, we decided to pass some of our hard-fought lessons on to the next generation. Hopefully, the next group of engineers will have the wisdom to learn the easy way rather than blundering their way up the learning curve as we have! Greg and I are an interesting pair. While he has a lot of plant experience, he tends to concentrate more on process and dynamic principles and technology. I, too, have spent a great deal of time in plants but have been doing project execution and management my entire career career.. Our life experiences are very different, yet complementary, complementary, and somewhere along the way we decided we should write a book together. This is Greg’s umpteenth book – and my first, and as you can see our writing styles are quite different. The first half of the book is written by me and the second half by Greg. My tips tend to be shorter and a little lighter technically. technically. Greg’s tips tend to be more involved but provide some fantastic information. Between Between the two of us, we hope you will learn a great deal of our hard won knowledge by the end of these pages. All we ask in return is that you take the time to share your knowledge with the NEXT generation behind you.  And without further ado let let us begin… Concept: Knowledge is power and you should never stop learning. Seek to know and understand everything. Concept: Knowledge The most valuable automation professionals know hundreds of processes, are well versed in electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering, engineering, and have a breadth of knowledge in multiple industries. If an engineer is not learning something new every day, he or she is falling behind. Details: This general concept will apply throughout this book. Whenever an engineer is faced with a new Details: This process or industry, they should become a sponge. Listen and listen some more and stop listening only to ask more questions. Always Always ask “why”…even “ why”…even if you are embarrassed and think everyone else in the room understands but you. (Most of the people in the room probably do not understand either!) Constantly Constantly read technical publications, attend ISA conferences and other training seminars, and listen to your colleagues. Watch-Outs:  Evaluate your source of knowledge carefully. A person who truly understands a subject will not Watch-Outs: Evaluate mind explaining the topic in a different way until you understand it. A person person who is  pretending  to  to know will tend to be dismissive and get angry. Also beware of technical articles that have a sales and/or marketing spin to them (see Tip #2). Exceptions: None. Exceptions:  None. Insight: Some of the most useful information comes from the operations personnel who work in the plant every Insight: Some day.. They may not fully understand the technical details of their process, but their wealth of knowledge of the day day-to-day issues and dynamics of the plant can be invaluable to you. Building a strong relationship with the operators should be a top priority. If you watch their backs, they will watch yours. Rule of Thumb: The Thumb: The more knowledge an engineer masters, the more valuable he becomes. Seek to know everything and never stop. Even the most knowledgeable engineer engineer in a particular field continues to study and learn.