“We also view ourselves as problem solvers. With our customers’ valuable input, we can continue to develop innovative solutions.”
This theme of supplier-customer partnership—“Partners in Innovation”—was carried throughout the five-day event, which was held in Phoenix in mid-June. A record attendance of more then 600 process industry users from 26 countries, as well as about 400 Honeywell professionals, gathered to discuss topics ranging from control system migration to wireless applications to the “process control plant of the future.”
Honeywell’s 2003 revenue of $23 billion is divided among four business units. These are Aerospace, with $8.8 billion in 2003 sales; Automation and Control Solutions, with $7.5 billion revenue; Transportation Systems, with $3.7 billion revenue; and Specialty Materials, with $3.2 billion. “Our diversity is allowing us to put technologies developed for one industry to work across multiple applications,” said Cote, citing as examples, sensing, wireless and security technologies.
ACS Plans
Cote said he considers the Automation and Control Solutions (ACS, www.honeywell.com/acs) business to be one of Honeywell’s “sweet spots,” contributing one-third of Honeywell’s revenue and profits. The Process Solutions business, which sponsored the Users’ Group meeting, is part of ACS, and, according to Cote, is on the forefront of listening to its customers’ needs. Last year, Honeywell invested $250 million of research and development funds in the ACS business, $75 million of which went directly to the Process Solutions group. “We intend to expand and grow our installed base,” said Cote, and expand geographically and in new markets.
Jack Bolick, president of Honeywell Process Solutions, identifies the top six industry markets for Honeywell’s Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS) as downstream refining, upstream refining, batch chemistry, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, and power. In positioning Experion PKS, Bolick cites the five-layer automation model, developed by Purdue University. At the bottom of this model is the field layer of instruments and devices. Layer 2 is the distributed control system (DCS). Layer 3 includes the advanced control applications. Layer 4 is the Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) layer. At the top is the Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) layer.
“The Experion PKS platform addresses Layers 2 and 3 of this model,” says Bolick. “I think of the DCS as the foundation module for PKS.” Honeywell also offers several MES products, including BusinessFlex software.
Jane Gerold
