45 Years of Engineering Excellence: How ISA Standards Deliver Environmental and Economic Benefits
A Lifetime of ISA Contribution
As a California Registered Professional Engineer, my 45-year ISA journey has been incredibly rewarding. ISA recognized my contributions with Life Member and Fellow Member status in 2005. This honors my work in advanced control and networking systems for process and aerospace industries.
Global Knowledge Transfer
My ISA involvement began through instructing courses worldwide. Teaching TS06 and TS12 courses created business opportunities to help clients upgrade control systems. These projects consistently improve plant performance, safety, and security while reducing operating costs and ensuring environmental compliance.
Chevron Refinery: Turning Waste into Value
The Chevron El Segundo refinery faced shutting down a catalytic cracking unit to meet emission standards. This would reduce capacity by 25%. Through innovative negotiation, we modified gas processing to extract natural gas from waste streams. We built a 6-mile pipeline to supply a new power station, increasing refinery profits by $1.2 million annually while significantly reducing air pollution.
LAX Fuel Management: Precision and Accountability
At Los Angeles Airport, I designed and installed a new SCADA system for jet fuel management. The project involved coordinating four fuel suppliers while ensuring precise accounting and quality control. The system measures flow rates, tank levels, and fuel quality, with documentation approved by all stakeholders including the US Department of Energy.
BP Marine Terminals: Cleaning Harbor Operations
Supertankers unloading at Long Beach terminals traditionally used shipboard pumps, causing significant pollution. I managed installation of a custody transfer system with 0.10% accuracy. More importantly, we implemented shore power connections, eliminating ship emissions during unloading operations while maintaining precise measurement standards.
Water District Management: SCADA for Sustainability
The Coachella Valley Water District project earned the 2021 MISAC Excellence Award. We implemented an MPLS network with 26 wireless WAN channels connecting 400 field devices. This $4.56 million project improved water management across 1,000 square miles, serving 600,000 residents while meeting state environmental requirements.
Cybersecurity Leadership
As an original ISA99 committee member, I helped establish industrial cybersecurity standards that evolved into ISA/IEC 62443. I subsequently developed and taught cybersecurity courses IC32-34 and contributed to US Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security training programs.
Educational Impact
I annually teach a four-day PE review course in Southern California, achieving over 75% pass rates. At Cal State Fullerton, I developed and instructed industrial networks courses. Additionally, I authored five chapters in the premier Instrumentation and Automation Engineers’ Handbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do ISA standards benefit industrial projects?
They provide proven frameworks that improve safety, ensure regulatory compliance, reduce costs, and minimize environmental impact across multiple industries.
What was the most significant environmental achievement?
The Chevron project transformed waste gas into valuable natural gas, increasing profits by $1.2 million annually while dramatically reducing emissions.
How does cybersecurity integrate with industrial automation?
ISA/IEC 62443 standards provide comprehensive security frameworks that protect critical infrastructure while maintaining operational efficiency and safety.
What role does education play in engineering excellence?
Teaching ISA courses and PE preparation ensures knowledge transfer and maintains high professional standards across generations of engineers.
How can automation reduce operational costs?
Through precise measurement, optimized processes, reduced waste, and improved energy efficiency – as demonstrated across all case studies.
Proven Results Through Collaboration
These examples demonstrate how ISA standards and technologies create cleaner environments while lowering operating costs. The success stems from collaborative approaches that balance technical excellence with stakeholder engagement and regulatory compliance.
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