The Chairman's Message

Changes, changes, changes! It's the way of the modern world.

Welcome to the Fisher-Rosemount Systems Users Group (FRSUG) new website. Any previous visitors will notice that we have evolved from a site set up to provide information about the Annual Meeting to a broader and more comprehensive communications interface between Fisher-Rosemount Systems, F-R representatives, and end users. This is just the starting point, and the evolution will continue. Your feedback will help in further developments, so keep those ideas coming.

You will note that nowhere in the opening photograph do we see a Provox, RS3 or DeltaV control system. I do this to make two points. The first is to remind us all that regardless how impressed we are by all of the bells and whistles of our control room systems, there is something at the end of those wires. The second point is the main one. All of those field devices exist solely for the purpose of doing something that the company deems valuable.

Let's face it - all of us have a bit of tech-weenie in us. Many times our hearts and minds are captured by the sheer power and glory of technology, often to the point that we can't comprehend trying to do business without the latest gizz-wizz. But what's truly important is whether or not the application of technologies adds value to what the company is trying to do. Does your shiny new toy fit within the business objectives of the company, and does it advance progress towards those objectives?

These are questions we should all be asking and answering. And this leads into the discussion about a new segment being added to the 2000 Annual Meeting in Austin (Sept. 24-27) - Quantifiable Business Results.

In past annual meetings, the focus has been on sharing new technologies by Fisher-Rosemount and user technical application experiences. This is an important aspect of the meetings and will continue to be so. Without knowledge of the direction that technologies are taking, we run an increased risk of slamming into technical obsolescence before our time. This can be a costly experience for our companies. We also gain value from the experiences of others in applying new technologies. Often, this could help reduce our own costs of implementation.

The thing we have been missing was the economic value, in the purest business sense, of the application of new technologies. What did all of this do in light of the company's business objectives? To answer this question, we have added Quantifiable Business Results as a major topic to this year's program. We ask each of you to consider sharing with the users group your economic successes. You may choose the format of a formal presentation or an informal discussion. Formal presentations will generally be more lengthy, with supporting visual aids, and involve limited presenters. The informal discussions will probably take the form of round-tables or panels, with visual aids optional.

We want to know what you've accomplished in terms of business impact. If you have something you are willing to share with the group, please let us know by contacting your Fisher-Rosemount Systems Representative or Stacey Cloud at FRS (stacey.cloud@emersonprocess.com). We look forward to your participation in September, either as a presenter or an attendee. In the meantime, you can contact me at ksimpson@continentalcarbon.com.


Keith Simpson
Chairman

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