In today’s no-spend environment, it may be very tempting to continue repairing your aging or even outmoded process controls, rather than upgrade to today’s powerful microprocessor based systems. Budget constraints and maintenance contracts may simply preempt any discussion about upgrading your controls until you reach the point where you simply can’t fix them anymore. However, in reality, if you are
trying to save money by prolonging the life of an outdated process control system, you’re not only investing in false economies, but you are missing out on technology advancements that can pay you a sizable return on investment (ROI) in several forms. That ROI could be derived from savings on downtime, improved system efficiencies, remote system capabilities, energy savings, increased safety, or a combination of those benefits.
