Jon Frank

𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 - 𝐀 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐢𝐩. 👀

If you're like me and have spent (too) much of your career in quagmires troubleshooting technology, this activity is especially daunting in an industrial control system.

It goes deeper than, "... is X plugged in, turned on," and so on.

Coordinating the efforts of an operational technician, information technology professional, and electrician is a challenge (to say the least) when the plant is down.

It must get up and running (right now!).

But no worries! We will help you understand how Industrial Control System Integration technicians analyze errors from various systems and use that information to determine the root cause.

⚙️ LAYERS

One of our esteemed Account Managers called a control system "a SCADA Onion."

This difficulty may be because, when troubleshooting, cutting through the layers can lead to tears!

A key aspect of control systems is that they are comprised of layers. These layers interact with one another to provide the functionality an organization requires.

In the graphic for this post, I've shown one example of how these different components interact and in what layer they lie in relation to other parts of the system.

⚙️ PROBLEMS PRESENT IN DIFFERENT PLACES

The SCADA layer is just one place. The problems presented in this layer may be caused by various issues in other layers, such as the instruments and control layer or the PLC layer, or the cause may lie within the same layer.

For example:

A network problem could result in corrupt data being sent to your SCADA system and causing it to fail.

An issue with one of your devices could cause unexpected results when communicating with others on the network, causing additional instruments to fail.

However, we often see the issue at the instrument and control layers.

⚙️ TROUBLESHOOTING TIP

The first step I recommend in troubleshooting a control system is to ensure you're getting a signal from the devices responsible for providing information to the SCADA, beginning at the instrument or control.

Look outside if you can't find the problem in an instrument or control. Then, move to the next layer: the Programmable Logic Controller and the control cabinet.

This inspection may include checking communication lines and power supplies or inspecting components like cables or switches.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆: Start at the bottom (layer 1) and then up through the rest of the layers (2-5).

Troubleshooting industrial control systems can be challenging, but I'm confident that we can make our jobs more manageable with the right tools and knowledge!

If you want to learn more about control system integration, contact me here: https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/9e6150aa1ff349778bebb597f5fc50d2%40advancedcontrol.com?anonymous

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐝𝐚𝐡𝐨'𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐭𝐬

If you've ever hiked the Idaho Centennial Trail, you know how critical trail maintenance is.

Encountering a fallen tree on a steep incline can turn a great adventure into an impossible obstacle. The reality is that fewer workers now stand between you and those barriers.

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is facing significant budget cuts, with Idaho taking a heavy hit. Over 3,400 USFS positions were eliminated nationwide, many in Region 6, including Idaho (Refer to comment sources: 1,2,3).

The Payette National Forest alone lost 34 workers, slashing trail crews, timber production teams, and watershed restoration staff.

Recreation programs in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest are already feeling the strain. Crew sizes for maintaining trails and campgrounds have dropped by as much as 70% (Refer to comment source: 4).

While volunteers do their best, they can't fully replace trained professionals. Some trails may close without proper upkeep, and bridges or roads could become unsafe.

Fire prevention efforts are also in question beyond access to Idaho's natural beauty.

The cuts halted fuel reduction projects, raising concerns about wildfire risk (See comment source: 5).

Economically, communities relying on seasonal forestry jobs are experiencing a loss of income, forcing workers to relocate or reconsider their careers.

What gaps stand out?

[1] Fewer professionals to clear debris and maintain trails.

[2] Limited capacity to monitor and reinforce fire-prone areas.

[3] Increased reliance on volunteers, with no long-term solution in place.

[4] A lack of real-time data and automation to help manage reduced resources.

The question is: How can technology help bridge these gaps and ensure safe access to our public lands?

Advanced automation solutions can improve resource planning, real-time monitoring, and operational efficiency—factors that can help keep our forests safer even in times of reduced funding.

Set up a meeting to explore how control systems can support conservation efforts while making operations more reliable.





Sources:
1. U.S. Forest Service Budget Performance: https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/budget-performance
2. Government Executive: https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2024/09/forest-service-chief-signals-budget-belt-tightening-horizon-fy2025/399242/
3. High Country News: https://www.hcn.org/articles/the-forest-service-is-cutting-its-seasonal-workforce-and-public-lands-will-suffer/
4. BoiseDev: https://boisedev.com/2025/02/18/boise-payette-forest-cuts/
5. USFS Inside-FS (FY25 Updates): https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/leadership/fy25-budget-updates

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

George Washington wasn't just a leader but an engineer and land surveyor.

That's why National Engineers Week, founded in 1951, aligns with his birthday.

It's a time to recognize the people who turn scientific principles into practical solutions, driving industries forward and solving the complex problems we face every day.

Every innovation you rely on—clean water, reliable automation, sustainable energy—has engineers behind it.

Their work ensures that control systems remain secure, efficient, and adaptable.

In the third act of my career now, I reminisce that how I got here has much to do with the engineers who have mentored and worked with me.

In fact, one of these engineers I find myself working with again here at ACS was also present in the first act. I turn to him for answers to the difficult questions.

Where Sciences transform into Engineering and solutions that are useful for resolving, engineers are invaluable.

These engineers provide new solutions to our problems, benefiting our customers. I am grateful for all the engineers in my life and am celebrating them this week.

Every industry relies on them to ask the right questions and solve the most complex problems. How do we improve efficiency without sacrificing reliability? How do we integrate automation while maintaining security?

Engineers bridge those gaps with practical, tested solutions.

What's one engineering breakthrough that's impacted your business the most?

Integrated control systems play a vital role in optimizing industrial processes.

If you're looking for a custom, complete, and easy-to-use system tailored to your needs, set up a meeting with me today: https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/9e6150aa1ff349778bebb597f5fc50d2%40advancedcontrol.com?anonymous

Advanced Control Systems is here to support the next generation of innovation.

These folks are champions for Idaho water!