H. Reed Wiegle ISA Standards Contributor

Remembering H. Reed Wiegle: ISA Standards Pioneer

H. Reed Wiegle, 81, of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania, passed away on June 8, 2025. The electrical engineering professional made significant contributions to industrial automation standards throughout his distinguished career.

Early Influences and Education

Born July 10, 1943, Wiegle drew inspiration from his uncle Charlie Linnert, a nuclear engineer who contributed to the Manhattan Project and developed control systems for the USS Nautilus submarine. Wiegle earned his electrical engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965, followed by a master’s degree in 1971 with research focusing on the Muddy Run Pumped Storage Station.

Professional Career Development

Wiegle began his professional journey with Philadelphia Electric Company, working across multiple divisions including substations, fossil fuel and nuclear generation facilities, and quality management systems. His comprehensive experience spanned the full spectrum of power generation technologies before his retirement from the utility.

Reed Wiegle pursued diverse interests beyond automation including vintage automobiles, racing, and foxhunting.

Consulting and Nuclear Expertise

Following his utility career, Wiegle provided consulting services through Canus Corporation and later the Shaw Group. His nuclear expertise took him to South Africa to study modular reactors and involved him in oversight teams for restarting Comanche Peak and Davis-Besse nuclear facilities. His nuclear career concluded following the Fukushima Daiichi disaster.

ISA Standards Leadership

Wiegle served as an ISA Standards and Practices Board member through 2004 while maintaining long-term involvement with ISA67 Nuclear Power Plant Standards committee. His standards development contributions earned him an ISA Service Award in 1992 and an ISA Achievement Award in 1997 for pioneering work on ISA-TR88.0.03 and developing standards using emerging internet technologies.

Technical Contributions

His recognized work on ISA-TR88.0.03-1996 explored recipe procedure presentation formats for batch process automation, building upon ISA-88.00.01 standards and IEC guidelines. This work helped establish foundational concepts for batch control systems that remain relevant in modern industrial automation.

Personal Passions and Legacy

Colleagues remembered Wiegle’s remarkable mechanical aptitude and problem-solving capabilities. Beyond his professional achievements, he maintained diverse interests including vintage automobiles, motorsports, ancient Egyptian history, and foxhunting with the Kimberton Hunt. An accomplished marathon runner, he organized numerous running events while attending the Indianapolis 500 thirty-eight times.

Industry Perspective

From my experience in industrial automation, Wiegle’s contributions to ISA88 batch control standards continue to influence modern manufacturing systems. His work establishing standardized recipe procedures helped create the foundation for today’s batch processing automation in pharmaceutical, chemical, and food manufacturing industries.

Family and Personal Life

Wiegle is survived by his companion Vickey Ormsby, son Charles Reed Wiegle, brother Herb Wiegle, and sister Wendy Long. He was preceded in death by his former wife Anne Broomall Wiegle and son Philip Elkins Wiegle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were Reed Wiegle’s main professional contributions?

He made significant contributions to ISA nuclear power standards and batch control procedures, particularly through ISA67 and ISA88 committee work.

What educational background supported his career?

He earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

Which companies did he work with during his career?

His professional experience included Philadelphia Electric Company, Canus Corporation, and the Shaw Group.

What recognition did he receive from ISA?

He received an ISA Service Award in 1992 and an ISA Achievement Award in 1997 for his standards development work.

What were his personal interests outside work?

He enjoyed vintage cars, auto racing, foxhunting, marathon running, and ancient Egyptian history.