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Specifying FDT Technology and operational benefits. One way to achieve
Putting Your Assets to Work! these results is to make certain that all installed
assets are maximized to the best of their ability.
Overview This is particularly true with regard to smart
measurement and control instrumentation.
Preventing unplanned shutdowns, reducing Going forward, if suppliers and end users can tie
downtime, and lowering maintenance costs better asset performance to corporate goals,
have been shown to provide significant financial such as improving compliance, plant and
benefits. One way to achieve these results is to workforce safety, sustainability and other
make certain that all installed assets are used to critical issues, while increasing plant availability,
the best of their ability. it would secure the interest of C‐level
investments. Moving fixed cost to a variable
FDT Technology can be easily used in existing or cost using available technology may also be
new plants and can bring significant operational desirable.
and financial benefits throughout the plant life
cycle. For more than 10 years, the majority of
instrumentation purchased and installed
This paper provides an overview of FDT around the world is smart – meaning that the
Technology and suggests text to use as part of devices are intelligent and can provide
your proposal or ordering specifications to information beyond just the PV (process
make sure you are putting your assets to work. variable). Likewise, control systems (DCS, PLC
and others) have also become more intelligent,
being able to access and use the information
from these smart field devices.
Introduction
A real need for companies in the automation
industry today is to become or remain It’s in there!
competitive. In our global economy,
competition for investments comes from both Over the past several years, FDT Technology has
external and internal entities. Looking at just been available in the majority of distributed
the internal competition, we see budgets control systems and smart field devices – often
having to be allocated among such activities as; without being utilized by the user. FDT
regulatory compliance, safety, quality Technology, an IEC international standard (IEC
improvements, energy conservation and other 62453) and an ISA standard (ISA 103), provides
sustainable initiatives. With capital investments a standard means to easily access intelligent
in control systems or process upgrades seeming device information independent of the field
almost impossible to acquire, users are forced communication protocol or control system
to look within their existing operations to supplier.
discover operational improvements that can
positively impact the profitability of the By being supplier and protocol neutral, FDT
business. Technology is viewed by many companies as
one well on its way to becoming a universal,
Preventing unplanned shutdowns, reducing life‐cycle management tool that is supported by
downtime, and lowering maintenance costs device and automation systems suppliers
have been shown to provide significant financial around the globe. This level of adoption goes
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beyond international or regional to intelligence from a wide variety of process
standardization because it is quickly becoming a equipment.
de facto device standard in both the process
and factory automation industries. The key features of FDT are its independence
from any communication protocol and the
The most compelling gain is that many facilities software environment of the host system. FDT
can start taking advantage of this technology Technology allows any FDT enabled device to be
with little investment and very low risk. accessed from any compliant host using any
Surprisingly, many users are just now learning field communication protocol.
that most of the devices installed in their
facilities over the past few years are FDT The technology consists of two main
Technology enabled – ready to contribute to components; the Frame and the DTM. The
lower operating cost and improved asset frame is either an embedded component of the
management. control system suite or a standalone
application, whereas the DTM is a device‐
FDT Group (the keeper of the FDT Technology specific application that launches within the
standards) has certified hundreds of DTMs that frame itself. Simply put, DTMs give device
support over 3,000 different devices from most manufacturers complete control of the
of the world’s leading measurement and control attributes displayed for their device in any of
suppliers. Many more continue to be developed more than 15 Host Frame Applications, thus
and are in various stages of certification. providing the user with access to the full power
Additionally, Frame Applications that are a part and capabilities offered in their device. Without
of a process automation or asset management FDT Technology, device information access may
system are available to help users maximize be restricted by the host / control system
device intelligence by providing actionable supplier and may not offer full access to device
information. Automation professionals are capability.
already inundated with data but DTMs provide
much more than just data. It displays valuable
information that is relevant and timely,
improving asset performance.
FDT Basics
So what exactly is FDT Technology? FDT
Technology provides a standardized
communication interface between field devices
and control or monitoring systems used to
configure, operate, maintain and diagnose
intelligent field instrumentation assets for both
factory and process automation applications.
The versatility of FDT Technology makes it Figure 1. Example of a DTM Graphical Visualization
suitable for communication protocols deployed
With FDT, the “heavy lifting” has been done and
in all industry segments, and allow users access
integration will be seamless between field
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devices and the Frame Application, regardless gateways. A single FDT Frame Application
of its manufacturer. supports more than 15 of the world’s most
popular field communication protocols
including; HART, PROFIBUS, FOUNDATION
The DTM Fieldbus, Modbus, DeviceNet, Interbus, AS‐
Interface, PROFINET, IO‐Link, CC‐Link and more.
A DTM is a software component specific to a A mixture of any number of networks is
device which contains the application software supported by FDT Technology and
that defines all of the parameters and communications can tunnel through any
capabilities included in that device (similar to a number of networks to reach the end device.
device driver for a printer). The DTM provides
access and the graphical interfaces needed to
easily configure simple or even complex Host Data Integration
devices. See Figure 1. It further aids the user
when commissioning devices preventing costly Many of today’s control and host applications
trips to the field and permitting maintenance of are enabled to access intelligent device
devices with sophisticated diagnostic tools information because they include FDT
Technology. This allows easy access to device
By using a single Frame Application, you can information from within the host application.
minimize technician training and avoid mistakes
since all DTM’s will operate using a similar
As Applied to the As Applied to
menu and visualization scheme. Since the Item
Internet FDT Technology
device manufacturer is the provider of the DTM,
you are granted access to the full device Independent of
Independent of
capabilities that best exploit the device Internet
Internet access
automation
capabilities. All DTMs will work in a common method ‐ Dial‐up,
Connection protocol – HART,
DSL, T1, Ethernet,
Frame Application but not all DTMs are created Wireless, etc.
FF, Profibus, etc.
equal. Astute suppliers will develop innovative
DTMs with broader functionality that can help Created by the
Created by the
users improve troubleshooting and owner of the
owner of the
device to look the
maintenance allowing the manufacturer to webpage to look
same, independent
further differentiate their products from their Webpage the same,
of the control or
independent of the
competition. Frame Application ‐
browser or
DTM defines device
connection method
visualization
The Frame Applications Created by a
Created by an
browser supplier,
application
A DTM is displayed or accessed from a Frame selected by the user
supplier, selected
Application which is a software window that to properly display
by the user to
Browser webpage and page
provides the user interface between the device functionality –
properly display
DTM and various applications such as device device capability –
Internet Explorer,
Frame Application
configuration tools, engineering work stations, Firefox, Netscape,
or Host Application
operator consoles or asset management tools. etc.
The Frame Application initializes the DTMs and
connects it to the correct communication
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Think of your computer accessing the Internet Here are a few of the many benefits that have
and then, think of the information on a been realized by users:
particular website. The computer (the host • Faster device configuration and
system) using the Internet via dial‐up, DSL, etc. commissioning
(using a field communication protocol like • Reduced ‐
HART, FF, Profibus, etc.) opening a browser like ¾ maintenance cost by only
Internet Explorer (a Frame Application) to repairing devices such as
access the valuable information located on a control valves and transmitters
website (a DTM accessing the device). See table that need repair rather than
above for more details. The website owner based upon a pre‐determined
wants the website to be displayed in a certain maintenance schedule
way, independent of the browser being used by ¾ down‐time
the computer. Likewise, a device supplier ¾ commissioning time
wants its device information displayed and ¾ change management
presented the same way, independent of the ¾ training and development cost
control or asset management system, and • Avoid unscheduled shut‐downs
independent of the field communication • Reduced number of trips into the field –
protocol being used to access the device. improving safety
• Improved product quality
• Superior scheduling of the operation
The Case for Device Information Access
In many cases, these benefits can be realized
The information sitting in intelligent field with little investment and little risk. As
devices is most often stranded – only to be mentioned, FDT Technology may already be
accessed during device configuration or included with the systems or devices you
troubleshooting. The full benefit of this currently have. If not, new applications can be
information is only realized when devices are added without requiring a complete
regularly scanned to verify the reliability of the replacement of your existing control system or
process measurement, device health or field devices. There are many well documented
potential process problems. Users around the case studies that identity significant benefits
world have discovered the significant benefits from using FDT Technology – see
of improved asset management when they use www.fdtgroup.org.
FDT Technology to help manage their intelligent
field assets.
Specifying FDT Technology ‐ Getting the
Instead of routinely checking the health of Real Thing
devices manually, using FDT Technology, you
can put your assets to work and better manage Now that you better understand the use and
them to increase workforce availability to allow application of FDT Technology, how do you
them to focus on the “real” critical issues. specify it to make sure you are getting the real
Allowing FDT enabled asset management to thing? There are just a few basic requirements
help identify and assist the user to effectively that can be included in your purchasing
schedule appropriate work orders, can increase specifications to ensure you are getting FDT
reliability of assets while reducing labor and certified and tested equipment. By including
maintenance costs. these requirements as part of your purchasing
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specifications, you can protect your assets and • All required instrument/device interaction
provide the foundation for improved asset and configuration shall be presented via an
management – putting your assets to work. integrated Human Machine Interface
utilizing FDT/DTM Technology in its current
• Supplier shall support FDT Technology form and shall be maintained upwardly
and shall be an FDT Group Member compatible. Example: Applications(s) ‐
• All DTMs shall be certified by the FDT Visual Process Configuration, Resource
Group Managers, Builders, Configurators, etc.
• Frame Application shall be certified by
the FDT Group
• Product shall comply with IEC 62453 Getting Started
and ISA 103 standards
• Device DTMs shall be latest revision There are a few recommended steps to getting
available started with FDT Technology.
• Frame Application shall include the
current DTM library First, review your current suppliers to see if
• DTM’s shall be available for download they are members of the FDT Group. If so, ask
from the supplier’s website or the FDT them if DTMs have been developed for your
Group website currently installed devices and ask for a copy of
• Control systems and host applications each DTM. You can also search the Certified
shall be DTM‐enabled (preferred) or DTM catalog on the FDT Group website (see
support a platform independent Frame References for link).
Application
• Asset Management and configuration Likewise, speak with your control or asset
applications shall be DTM‐enabled management system supplier to see if your
system is FDT enabled. If so, find out what it
By specifying the above requirements, the will take to access the FDT enabled tools. If not
project will be assured of getting the real thing. enabled, ask for a solution to upgrade your
The devices currently on the projects approved application.
product lists will most likely not change since
most devices are provided with DTMs. Next, identify a process problem or application
However, don’t automatically assume that the that could be improved. Start small! You can
products are compliant. Be sure to articulate upgrade your work processes to include the
the specific project requirements to ensure that entire plant all at once, but that might not be
your project is successful. realistic. Get a Frame Application if needed
(some are available at no charge), and start to
Here is suggested text for your specification: access the information from your intelligent
field devices.
• All required functionality shall be
presented via the Human Machine Then, get educated! Ask your suppliers to help
Interface utilizing FDT/DTM Technology in you learn more about their devices using FDT
its current form and shall be maintained Technology. Also check the FDT Group website
upwardly compatible. Example: Laptop and for seminars, newsletters and other educational
Tablet based systems, Maintenance opportunities.
consoles / systems etc.
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Lastly, share this new information with others in
order to quickly learn how improved asset
management can help you lower operating
costs to help you become or remain
competitive by putting your assets to work.
References
For more information about the FDT
technology, please visit: www.fdtgroup.org
To see if your suppliers are members of the FDT
Group, please visit:
http://www.fdtgroup.org/members‐directory.
For a listing of FDT enabled products visit:
http://www.fdtgroup.org/product‐
catalog/certified‐dtms
Contact Information
For more information on FDT Technology please
contact:
FDT Group AISBL
info@fdtgroup.com
FDT Group North America
na.marketing@fdtgroup.org
www.fdtgroup.org
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