After a quick glance at the plant floor, it is very easy to see the industrial automation industry interoperates with other functions within the enterprise. Trying to keep up with changing technologies, however, is never easy and the industrial automation environment is no exception. Whether you are a student just starting out or are a top-level executive or manager well-versed in one domain, but have limited knowledge of the industrial automation industry, it's easy to find yourself adrift in this evolving industry. That is where this easy-to-read book comes in; it provides a basic functional understanding in the field of industrial automation. In an effort to understand this industry, the authors break down the barriers and confusion surrounding the technical details and terminology used in this converging field. They provide an introductory-level approach, covering most of the major industrial automation topics, such as distributed control systems (DCSs), programmable logic controllers (PLCs), manufacturing execution systems (MESs), and so on. You may even learn a recipe or two. This book is ideal for executives, business managers, information technologists, accountants, maintenance professionals, operators, production planners, just to name a few, and provides an in-depth but easy overview for people new to the field who want to quickly educate themselves.