New Assn. Committed To Open Networks On Factory Floor

The newly formed Industrial Automation Open Networking Alliance (IAONA) is composed of leaders from the industrial automation industry who are committed to the advancement of Ethernet and Internet-based networks on the factory floor. The 21-member alliance says it will encourage the growth of open networking on the factory floor by identifying and resolving issues, hosting forums, forming committees, sponsoring education programs, promoting issues, and making recommendations to standards groups. IAONA defined its mission and elected board members at its first meeting during ISA TECH/99 on Oct. 6 in Philadelphia.