Claudio, There is a lot of discussion as to whether or not using a loop count or # of controller count per operating technician is an effective way of measuring technician utilization but I know it varies widely based on the amount of control coordination and automation installed and it also makes a big difference as to whether the processes are continuous like many distillation trains, or batch like many reactor systems. I have an easy way to document how many analog controllers, (such as PID, DGAP, PTC), each of our operators are controlling and it ranges from 148 to 246 per operating technician in our plant. That doesn't include any of the discrete controllers used for discrete valves and motors but I have found that our discrete functions are generally twice the number of the analog controllers for our processes so you can do the math. I would be interested in hearing comparisons from other plant operations throughout the world and this is a great forum for it. Via automation over the years the number of board operating technicians required to run the plant has been reduced. This can allow the freed up resources to focus more on improving the reliability of the field equipment via increased preventive maintenance activities. Tom VandeWater Control Systems Developer/Analyst Dow Corning Corporation Carrollton, KY USA -----Original Message----- From: foxboro-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:foxboro-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Perez, Claudio Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 11:25 AM To: 'foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx' Subject: [foxboro] Control loops per operator Gentlemen: Do somebody have some figures about the right number of operators per control loops (pid, hand controls, i/o, etc). Is there some = standard to follow? Till now I couldn't find good information. Thanks in advance. Claudio A. Perez Control Systems Eng. PROFERTIL S.A. (54) 291 459-8139 cperez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.profertil.com.ar Esta informaci=F3n es privada y confidencial y est=E1 dirigida = =FAnicamente a su destinatario. Si usted no es el destinatario original de este mensaje = y por este medio ha tenido acceso a dicha informaci=F3n, por favor elimine el mensaje. La distribuci=F3n o copia de este mensaje est=E1 estrictamente prohibida. Esta comunicaci=F3n es s=F3lo para prop=F3sitos de = informaci=F3n y no debe ser considerada como propuesta, aceptaci=F3n ni como una = declaraci=F3n de voluntad oficial emanada de Profertil S.A. La transmisi=F3n de e-mails = no garantiza que el correo electr=F3nico sea seguro o libre de error. Por consiguiente, no manifestamos que esta informaci=F3n sea completa o = precisa. Toda informaci=F3n estar=E1 sujeta a alteraciones sin previo aviso.=20 This information is private and confidential and intended for the = recipient only. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you are = hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of = this message is strictly prohibited. This communication is for information purposes only and shall not be regarded neither as a proposal, = acceptance nor as a statement of will or official statement from Profertil S.A. = and/or subsidiaries and/or affiliates. Email transmission cannot be guaranteed = to be secure or error-free. Therefore, we do not represent that this information is complete or accurate and it should not be relied upon as such. All information is subject to change without notice. _______________________________________________________________________ This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html foxboro mailing list: //www.freelists.org/list/foxboro to subscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=join to unsubscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=leave _______________________________________________________________________ This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html foxboro mailing list: //www.freelists.org/list/foxboro to subscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=join to unsubscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=leave