FAQ - MESA/WBF Merger

Read the press release here.

Q: What is being announced?
A: Today we are announcing the planned merger of MESA International and WBF. WBF will become a part of MESA, focusing on the process Industries and associated technologies.

Q: Why are we merging?
A: MESA and WBF have a long history of working together and successful partnership. There are several key reasons for merging our two organizations, stemming from the natural synergy and existing overlaps between the groups. First, both MESA and WBF have been looking to grow and expand their membership and industry footprint to maintain relevance in the industry. We are both focused on improving our value proposition and the type of value we provide for our members.

WBF has significantly expanded beyond its original focus of promotion of the use of the ANSI/ISA 88 standard and professional networking of users of the standard. This expansion includes development of the B2MML and BatchML standards, promotion of the use of the ISA 95, ISA 99, ISA 101, and ISA 106 standards and development of training. At the same time, MESA has become a community of manufacturers, producers, industry leaders and solution providers who are focused on improving Operations Management capabilities through the effective application of technology solutions and best practices. Simplified, this means that MESA has traditionally focused on the WHAT and WHY of operations management and WBF has concentrated on the HOW. By combining, we expand to a holistic, all-encompassing focus on Operations Management.

Q: What is the opportunity and what are the benefits? 
A: For MESA, this merger extends their penetration into the process industries. WBF brings a very strong group of technical people and technical content as well as development of standards that are supporting the industry.

For WBF, this merger gives members access to world-class content, global education programs, and an expansive network of solution providers and system integrators looking for input to help influence the direction we take on their products and services.

For both, this broadens our resources and reach.

This merger also gives us more resources to address security standards, an area the end users and vendors of both organizations have been pushing for quite some time. With respect to culture and fundamental oversight, the two organizations are very similar.

Q: What is the impact for members? 
A: WBF members will move to MESA membership, and have access to all of the IP, resources, information and materials of that organization. Individual membership will be transferred and renewed for 2 years from the date of the merger (May 31, 2012). MESA members will maintain their current membership, but will gain access to the tools, technologies and resources WBF brings.

Q: What are the details? 
A: The BOD for each organization has agreed to the merger. The intent is to legally finalize the merger on May 31, 2012. Each Board is now calling for a vote of membership to confirm the merger; an electronic ballot will be included in tonight's member emails and it is critical that members vote by Friday, May 25.

Two WBF Board members - Bill Wray and Dennis Brandl -will join the MESA board to ensure continuity. The current WBF committees will join the complimentary MESA boards and work will be aligned across organizations and continue.

Q: What will happen to the B2MML standard?
A: MESA is all about "P2E" (Plant to Enterprise), and B2MML is the standard that makes that happen.  This is a prime example of the synergy between MESA and WBF and why the merger will be good for all members. 

The B2MML standard will continue to be maintained and extended by the merged organization. The B2MML technical committee will roll into the MESA technical committee structure. The license and copyright for B2MML will remain the same, with it freely available to all without royalties. 

Q: What's next?  
A: We are working on a transition plan focused on branding, website conversion, member access and other details. More details will be communicated to members as details are finalized.

Q: Who can I contact if I have questions?  
A: Please contact a member of the WBF Board of Directors, a member of the MESA Board of Directors, or Mike Yost, MESA President, with any questions or concerns.

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