Yokogawa Field-Device Integration Program

Yokogawa Electric Corporation (www.yokogawa.com) and its group companies launched the Vigilant Integration Partners (VIP) initiative, an open, nonexclusive, standards-based, and interoperability-driven partner program designed to enable Yokogawa customers to integrate field devices supplied by VIP member companies with Yokogawa’s CENTUM series production control system and the PRM asset management system. As part of its announcement of the program, Yokogawa introduced Dresser Masoneilan, Flowserve, Metso Automation, and Samson AG — all suppliers of control valves — as the first members of the VIP initiative.

According to Yokogawa, the VIP initiative will benefit its customers by assuring smooth integration and full interoperability through the Field Device Tool (FDT) and Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) integration standards. Through its guarantee of open, standards-based interoperability, Yokogawa says its customers will be able to implement state-of-the-art plant asset management solutions flexibly and efficiently, avoiding compatibility concerns and supplier-enforced limitation of choice.

As part of its VIP program Yokogawa will also be working with VIP member companies to develop plant asset management solutions such as predictive diagnostics and process performance diagnostics that customers will be able to deploy using open, standard-based production control systems and plant asset management systems.

To qualify for VIP member status, the applicant must be a supplier of best-in-class field devices and must support both FDT and EDDL. In addition to control valve suppliers, Yokogawa is looking for VIP members that supply other types of field devices that complement the company’s field-device portfolio.