IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURE OF AN ADVANCED SUPERVISORY AND CONTROL STRATEGY IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
Abstract This paper describes the different steps followed in implementing a temperature controller and a supervisory controller in a Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to control a 60 and 160 l reactor in a pharmaceutical factory. These reactors are used to produce the initial quantities of drugs needed to perform clinical tests. The chemical reactions involved are often changed (several times a week). The different steps of the project will be presented: • design of a new heating–cooling system, • design of the predictive and Supervisory Control Algorithm (SCA), • connection of the SCA to the SCADA system, • experimental validation according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). 
This SCA has been in daily use as the standard control system for more than 2 years.
A new strategy for temperature control of batch reactors: experimental application
In this paper, a new strategy for temperature control of multipurpose batch reactors using a cascaded model based control is presented. This strategy is based on the use of the thermal flux as the manipulated variable. At each sampling time, the master controller computes the thermal flux to be exchanged between the reactor content and the thermal fluid flowing inside the jacket. This information is then used to determine the right fluid and to evaluate the opening value of the control valve. For this purpose a physical modelling of the thermal system has been developed. Finally, the control valve opening degree is computed and applied to the plant.
Project management education: The human skills imperative
Abstract This paper is intended to provide an insight into the importance of human skills in project management success and the apparent lack of emphasis placed on this within the context of university education. The discussion will call upon the viewpoints of many notable authors in respect to the human or ‘soft’ skills that are necessary in the management of projects. Against this background a review will be conducted into how well project management literature and university education equips potential project managers in the area of human skills. As the PMBOK ® Guide is one of the major recommended texts in Australian universities offering project management education, the paper will identify that it predominantly emphasises the required ‘hard (technical) skills’ at the expense of the ‘soft (human) skills’. Subsequent discussion will highlight the need for a balance between hard and soft skills within project management education in universities. It will conclude that educators within this discipline should recognise the importance of incorporating greater human skills aspects into their educational programs.