News

Posted On: 01/21/2005

OMAC, ISA Announce Intent to Merge

OMAC–The Open Modular Architecture Controls Users’ Group, and ISA–The Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society, announced Jan. 21 that they plan to combine their missions to aid industry in the successful development and application of automation technologies.

The merger will allow both organizations to build on their respective strengths. The two organizations are working through the final stages of a merger that would result in OMAC functioning as a subsidiary of ISA. Remaining steps of the merger should be completed in the first half of 2005.

OMAC’s mission, past activities, and future activities align well with those of ISA.

OMAC’s work with representatives from discrete manufacturing companies complements ISA’s traditional strengths in the process and batch sectors.

OMAC’s focus on satisfying the technical needs of end-users enhances ISA’s mission to serve the information needs of automation professionals.

OMAC’s rapid development of guidelines can serve as a valuable first step towards the adoption of ANSI or IEC standards through ISA’s accredited process.

OMAC’s collaborations with other industry organizations complement similar ISA relationships.

OMAC was formed to create an organization through which companies could work together to: establish a repository of open architecture control requirements and operating experience from users, software developers, hardware builders and OEMs; facilitate accelerated convergence of industry and government developed APIs (Application Program Interfaces) to one set, satisfying common use requirements; collaborate with European and Japanese user groups in pursuit of a common international API standard; promote open architecture control development among control builders; and derive common solutions collectively for both technical and non-technical issues in the development, implementation, and commercialization of open architecture control technologies.

ISA is a global, nonprofit, educational organization connecting people and ideas in automation. The Society fosters advancement in the theory, design, manufacture, and use of sensors, instruments, computers, and systems for automation in a wide variety of applications. In addition to hosting the largest conferences and exhibitions for automation in the Western Hemisphere, ISA is a technical training organization and a publisher of books, magazines, and standards. ISA also serves the professional development and certification needs of industry professionals and practitioners with its Certified Automation Professional (CAP), Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST), and Certified Industrial Maintenance Mechanics (CIMM) programs; as well as the Control Systems Engineers (CSE) license.