In a Wednesday afternoon Technology Enablers session at INTERPHEX 2008, Scott Sommer of Jacobs Engineering Group presented a workshop titled “Automation of ‘Plug and Play’ Process Skids and Components.” The central question was: what if your automation system understood the device that you just plugged in? The definition of plug and play explains that the automation system should be able to detect, identify and know what to do with a device once it’s plugged in to the system. Focusing on plug and play equipment like portable tanks, portable skids, and bench-top units, Sommer walked the audience through the many decisions and details to consider when setting up user requirements and implementing plug and play equipment. The session concluded with a class exercise that invited us to prepare user requirements for our own plug and play skid.