Remembering H. Reed Wiegle: ISA Standards Pioneer and Automation Visionary

The industrial automation community recently lost a significant contributor. H. Reed Wiegle passed away at 81, leaving behind a substantial legacy in control systems and automation standards. His career spanned decades of technological evolution in industrial automation.

Early Influences and Engineering Education

Reed Wiegle’s engineering journey began with family inspiration. His uncle, Charlie Linnert, worked on groundbreaking nuclear projects. These included the Manhattan Project and the USS Nautilus submarine.

Consequently, Wiegle pursued electrical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1965 and earned his master’s degree in 1971. His thesis focused on the Muddy Run Pumped Storage Station, demonstrating early interest in power systems.

Professional Career in Power and Automation

Philadelphia Electric Company hired Wiegle after graduation. There, he gained comprehensive experience across multiple domains:

• Substation operations and maintenance
• Fossil fuel power generation systems
• Hydroelectric and nuclear power facilities
• Quality management systems implementation

This diverse background provided practical control systems knowledge. It also established his expertise in industrial automation applications.

Contributions to ISA Standards Development

Wiegle made significant impacts through ISA involvement. He served on the ISA Standards and Practices Board until 2004. Additionally, he managed ISA67 committee for nuclear power plant standards.

His work earned him an ISA Service Award in 1992. Moreover, he received an ISA Achievement Award in 1997 for pioneering contributions.

Batch Process Automation Innovations

Wiegle contributed to crucial batch control standards. He helped develop ISA-TR88.0.03 on recipe procedure formats. This technical report supported ISA-88 standards for batch process control.

According to PLCDCSHUB, “Wiegle’s work on ISA-88 helped standardize batch control across industries. These standards remain fundamental to modern PLC and DCS implementations in pharmaceutical and chemical processing.”

Consulting Career and Nuclear Expertise

After Philadelphia Electric, Wiegle transitioned to consulting. He worked with Canus Corporation and later Shaw Group. His nuclear expertise took him to international projects.

Notable consulting assignments included:

• South African modular reactor observation
• Comanche Peak nuclear plant restart oversight
• Davis-Besse nuclear facility restart team

Reed Wiegle had many interests besides automation standards, including vintage cars, auto racing and foxhunting.

Lasting Impact on Industrial Automation

Wiegle’s standards work continues influencing modern control systems. ISA-88 remains essential for batch process automation. Furthermore, his nuclear standards work enhanced plant safety worldwide.

The global industrial automation market now exceeds $200 billion annually. Standards development like Wiegle’s enables this growth through interoperability and safety.

Personal Passions and Character

Colleagues remembered Wiegle’s remarkable problem-solving ability. He could understand and fix virtually any mechanical or technical system. This talent extended beyond professional work to personal passions.

His diverse interests included:

• Vintage automobile restoration and racing
• Foxhunting with Kimberton Hunt organization
• Marathon running and event organization
• Ancient Egyptian history and culture

Continuing the Legacy in Modern Automation

Today’s automation professionals build upon Wiegle’s foundational work. Modern control systems integrate his standards contributions while adding new technologies. Current systems leverage IIoT and cloud connectivity while maintaining standards compliance.

As PLCDCSHUB observes, “Standards development requires balancing innovation with reliability. Wiegle understood that robust automation depends on both technical excellence and practical implementation.”

Honoring Automation Pioneers Through Modern Practice

The best tribute to automation pioneers involves continuing their work. Modern engineers can honor this legacy by:

• Participating in standards development organizations
• Mentoring new automation professionals
• Balancing innovation with proven practices
• Maintaining safety as the highest priority

Exploring Modern Control Systems

Today’s automation builds upon foundational work by professionals like Wiegle. PLCDCSHUB continues this tradition by providing reliable control system components. Our PLC and DCS solutions incorporate decades of industry standards development while embracing modern capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ISA-88 and why is it important in industrial automation?
ISA-88 provides standards for batch process control systems. It establishes common models and terminology that ensure interoperability between equipment from different manufacturers in pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries.

How do standards contributions impact daily automation operations?
Standards ensure equipment interoperability, reduce implementation costs, enhance safety, and simplify maintenance. They provide common frameworks that engineers across companies and countries can understand and apply consistently.

What career paths exist in automation standards development?
Professionals can participate through professional organizations like ISA, contribute to technical committees, work for standards development organizations, or represent companies in industry consortiums shaping future automation frameworks.