Top 5 Control Engineering articles June 5-11: Salary and Career Survey, improve system safety, coding efficient sequential programs, more

Articles about the 2017 Salary and Career Survey, diagnostic functions for improved system safety, coding efficient sequential control programs, additive manufacturing and 3-D printing, and IIoT's potential for maintenance were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from June 5-11. Miss something? You can catch up here.

By Chris Vavra June 12, 2017

The top 5 most read articles online, from Jun. 5-11 for Control Engineering, covered the 2017 Salary and Career Survey, diagnostic functions for improved system safety, coding efficient sequential control programs, additive manufacturing and 3-D printing, and IIoT’s potential for maintenance. Links to each article below. 

1. Control Engineering Salary and Career Survey, 2017

Control Engineering salary and career survey research shows an average salary of $96,045 in 2017, up slightly from the 2016 results; job satisfaction continues among respondents. Life-long learning remains critically important. To get youth interested in engineering, more investments in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and high-profile projects need to be made, respondents said.

2. Using diagnostic functions to improve system safety

Some diagnostic capabilities are built into smart instruments, while others are designed into a process.

3. Three keys for coding efficient sequential control programs

Sequential control programs, which are usually a part of medium to complex control strategies involving either batch applications or any procedure-based applications can be an easier and more streamlined if the engineer ensures that the sequences have the same architectural model. 

4. Controls for additive manufacturing, 3-D printing

Cover Story: The software tools for 3-D printing, also used for additive manufacturing, are getting more sophisticated and integrated to increase speed, quality, limit material waste, and accommodate material diversity. How are automation and controls helping to advance additive manufacturing?

5. How to navigate the future of IIoT systems

It’s critical to understand which IIoT connectivity technologies to use for each application in the IIoT space. 

The list was developed using CFE Media’s web analytics for stories viewed on controleng.com, June 5-11, for articles published within the last two months.

Chris Vavra, production editor, CFE Media, cvavra@cfemedia.com.


Author Bio: Chris Vavra is web content manager for CFE Media and Technology.