Industrial Automation Engineering Course Details
In the days gone by, engineering was the forte of the specialists say a mechanical or an electrical engineer. As long as the process was human centric, this division in work culture was fine. Then the age of automation dawned and this meant multiple people got involved in the activity. This proved costly and unnecessary, as people acquired skills in several areas and subjects. They became versatile in controlling processes, by integrating mechanical, electronics, electrical, instrumentation and several specialized areas of learning such as hydraulics, pneumatics, embedded systems and so on. These were the first multitasking engineers and technicians, who could wield the spanners and the multi-meter with equal ease and dexterity. Thus was born the automation technician and this field has broadened to such an extent that they have taken automation to levels never dreamt of, even about say a quarter of a century ago. This course attempts at introducing the concepts and situations frequently encountered by automation engineers and technicians and gives a learning on the various theoretical and practical aspects of automation in industry. Course Benefits
- You may be eligible to claim CPD points through your local engineering association.
- Learn to design & troubleshoot simple electrical, electronic, manufacturing, hydraulic & pneumatic circuits.
- Gain in-depth knowledge of various systems & elements used in the automation of industrial processes.
- Understand if a process qualifies for automation by analyzing the requirements of the manufacturing methods and processing.
Instrumentation Automation Process Control Short Course Details
This course is for individuals primarily involved in the design, specification, and implementation of control and measurement equipment. It will help you achieve effective results for industrial processes, by going over new technologies such as smart instrumentation and Fieldbus.
We will cover instrumentation terms, concepts, diagrams, and symbols, as well as an overview of the use of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) in industrial applications. You will also learn about control valve principles and common valve types.
This course will also help you understand how to implement an instrument and wiring number system, and how to integrate a complete system (considering instrumentation and total errors) as well as selection criteria, commissioning and testing.
The course focuses on real applications, with attention to special installation considerations and application limitations when selecting or installing different measurement or control equipment. It will help you appreciate factory and site acceptance testing. You will also learn about reliability centered maintenance and spare parts analysis and considerations for building in-house panels and installations.
Course Benefits
- Receive a Certificate of Completion from EIT.
- Learn from well-known faculty and industry experts from around the globe.
- Flexibility of attending anytime from anywhere, even when you are working full-time.
- Interact with industry experts during the webinars and get the latest updates/announcements on the subject.
- Experience a global learning with students from various backgrounds and experience which is a great networking opportunity.
- Gain in-depth knowledge in selection, installation, and commissioning of industrial instrumentation and control valves.
- Understand fundamental concepts required in plant monitoring and control like level, pressure temperature and flow measurements.
- Understand the implementation of instrument and wiring number system as well as its integration to the complete system.
- Learn from industry experts on PLC system, ISO, HAZOP, Reliability Centered Maintenance, Spare Parts Analysis, Testing and Panel Design, HMI, SCADA and DCS systems.
Module 1: Introduction
- History of automation
- Need for automation
- Simple automatic systems
- Basic elements
- Types of automation
- Basic measurements and data acquisition
- Introduction to PLC, SCADA and DCS
- Process block diagrams and system requirements
Module 2: Control Systems
- Introduction and need
- On/off control
- Open loop
- Closed loop
- PLC
- SCADA
- Hardware and software
Module 3: Process Control
- Introduction to control engineering
- Modelling
- PID control and tuning
- Ziegler–Nichols methods
- Time delay systems
- Sequence controls
- Components in process control systems
- Industrial case studies
Module 4: Instrumentation
- Basic measurements
- Element symbols
- Types of measurements
- Control valves
- Transducers
- Sensors, actuators, meters and transmitters
Module 5: Mechanical Systems – Hydraulics & Pneumatics
- Introduction
- Symbols (both hydraulic and pneumatic)
- Pumps and air compressors
- Hydraulic and pneumatic valves
- Heat exchangers and FRPs
- Hydro-motors and cylinders (both hydraulic and pneumatic)
- Design/troubleshoot hydraulic and pneumatic circuits/problems
Module 6: Electrical Systems
- Introduction
- Power sources
- AC and DC drives
- Limit switches
- Proximity switches
- Relays and contactors
- Variable speed drives
Module 7: Electronic Systems
- Introduction
- Active and passive elements
- Logic circuits and gates
- Transistors
- Integrated circuit chips
- FET and MOSFET
- Embedded systems
- Feedback systems
Module 8: Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
- Need
- Types
- Input /output devices
- Control systems
- Display units
- HMI
- UPS
- Remote terminal units (RTU)
- Basic programming
Module 9: SCADA and DCS
- Introduction and basic objectives
- Architecture – Hardware and software
- Components
- Types
- SCADA programming
- Applications of SCADA and DCS
Module 10: Safety and Reliability
- Need for safety in automation
- Risk assessment and components for safety
- In-built design for safety and reliability of various components
- Role of automation in safety systems
- Functional ISO safety standards
- CIP safety
- Training in machinery safety
Module 11: Networking
- Basics
- Industrial networks topology
- Ethernet
- Internet of things – working, applications, cloud, edge computing etc.
- Threats and vulnerabilities
- Types
- Security systems and encryption
Module 12: Cyber Physical Systems
- Introduction
- Industry 4.0
- Robotics
- Industrial automation use cases
- a) Pharmaceuticals, b) Material handling
- c) Steel mills, d) Plastics processing
- e) Packaging, f) Printing, g) 3-D printing
- Design/build simple automatic circuits using basic elements.
- Simulate their working by constructing models for the above.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to appreciate the role of automation to boost productivity with greater degree of reliability, repeatability and efficiency. Students will be able to design/troubleshoot simple electrical, electronic, manufacturing, hydraulic and pneumatic circuits/problems. He/she will be able to decide on operating sequences and make schematic operating methods for different industrial control systems, machineries and processes. Students will also be able to decide if a process qualifies for automation by analyzing the requirements of the manufacturing methods and processing. This forms the basis for further advanced study and research in the field of automation.
To obtain a certificate of completion for EIT’s Professional Certificate of Competency course, students must achieve a 65% attendance rate at the live, online fortnightly webinars. Detailed summaries or notes can be submitted in lieu of attendance. In addition, students must obtain a mark of 60% in the set assignments which could take the form of written assignments and practical assignments. Students must also obtain a mark of 100% in quizzes. If a student does not achieve the required score, they will be given an opportunity to resubmit the assignment to obtain the required score.
Please note: The Engineering College of Technology (ECT) is affiliated to the Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT), an accredited Australian education and training provider which has been providing engineering qualifications and professional development to students worldwide since 2008.
You will be required to pay for your tuition fees of £933 upfront before the program start date.
Payment can be made by credit card (Visa and Mastercard only). Upfront payments must be received prior to the program’s start date.
Please note that if the course does not proceed, you will be issued with a full refund.
Automation personnel are in great demand throughout the world. Manufacturing, networking, transportation, safety, defense, utilities and so on are some areas where they are much sought after. Skilled people are either absorbed in such units or they can freelance their skills as automation professionals.
This course may use the following software:
- Codesys
Due to ongoing unit and course reviews, software may change from the list provided. Learn more about the Practical Learning at EIT here
Deepak Pais is a highly experienced electrical engineer who has worked across the globe. His career has spanned multiple industries, including zinc mining and smelting, marine and logistics, automobile, and electricity distribution.
Dr. Rodney Jacobs is based in the middle regions of South Africa and has been involved as an instructor for the EIT group since 2004. His area of expertise includes all aspects of process control (PLC, SCADA, DCS, Loop tuning), as well as multiple facets of electrical engineering.
Hadi Harb has more than 15 years of experience in the development and management of Artificial Intelligence and Audio Signal Processing projects.
Learn about our instructors.
You are expected to spend approximately 5-8 hours per week learning the course content. This includes attending fortnightly webinars that run for about 90 minutes to facilitate class discussion and allow you to ask questions. This program has a 65% attendance requirement in the live webinars in order to graduate from the program. If you are unable to attend the live webinars, you have the option of watching the recording of completed webinars and sending a summary of what you have learnt from the webinar to the Learning Support officer. The summaries go towards your attendance requirement for the program.
This program is run online on an intensive part-time basis and has been designed to fit around full-time work. It will take three months to complete.
We understand that sometimes work commitments and personal circumstances can get in the way of your studies, so if at any point you feel that you are struggling with the pace of the course or finding a particular module challenging, you are encouraged to contact your designated Learning Support Officer for assistance.
Registrations are open for our upcoming intakes. Please ensure you book your place at least one week before the start date of the program.