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Industrial Automation Technology Course

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Industrial Automation Technology Course

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Industrial Automation Technology Course

Name: Industrial Automation Technology Course
Price: 1794 ZAR
Rating: 4.3 (19 reviews)

4,3

Master the full spectrum of industrial automation technology, from PLC programming and HMI design to motion control, process control, and industrial networking. This course delivers the hands-on technical skills employers demand in modern manufacturing environments. Whether you're entering the field or advancing your career, you'll graduate ready to engineer, commission, and maintain real automation systems.

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What you will learn:

This course covers every core discipline in industrial automation, starting with electrical fundamentals and sensor wiring, then advancing through PLC programming, HMI design, and industrial networking. You will configure variable frequency drives and servo systems, apply PID control strategies, and program sequential function charts for complex processes. Supplementary modules introduce industrial cybersecurity, robotics integration, SCADA systems, IIoT connectivity, and predictive maintenance. You will also build the professional documentation and project management skills that automation engineers use every day on the job.

How you study in practice Industrial Automation Technology Course

How you practise Industrial Automation Technology Course

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Course content

8 Chapters • 42 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)

Chapter 1See details

Foundations of Industrial Automation

Lesson 1 • History and Evolution of Automation
Traces automation from mechanical relay logic to modern cyber-physical systems. Establishes context for understanding why current technologies exist and how they interconnect.
Lesson 2 • Core Automation System Architecture
Defines the layered structure of field devices, controllers, and supervisory systems. Connects hardware roles to overall system performance and reliability.
Lesson 3 • Types of Industrial Control Systems
Differentiates discrete, process, batch, and hybrid control paradigms. Enables correct system selection based on production requirements.
Lesson 4 • Safety and Regulatory Frameworks
Introduces functional safety standards, hazard identification, and compliance obligations. Grounds all subsequent technical work in safe engineering practice.
Lesson 5 • Automation Project Lifecycle
Outlines phases from feasibility through commissioning and decommissioning. Provides a project management lens applied throughout the course.

Chapter 2See details

Electrical Fundamentals for Automation

Lesson 1 • Electrical Safety Practices
Covers lockout/tagout procedures, arc flash awareness, and personal protective equipment selection. Establishes non-negotiable safety habits before hands-on lab work begins.
Lesson 2 • Grounding, Shielding, and Noise Reduction
Explains proper grounding strategies and cable shielding to prevent signal interference. Directly supports reliable sensor and communication system performance.
Lesson 3 • DC and AC Circuit Principles
Covers Ohm's law, power calculations, and AC waveform characteristics essential for automation wiring. Provides the mathematical basis for all subsequent electrical work.
Lesson 4 • Industrial Electrical Components
Identifies contactors, relays, fuses, circuit breakers, and terminal blocks used in control panels. Links component selection to protection and control requirements.
Lesson 5 • Reading Electrical and Ladder Diagrams
Teaches interpretation of schematic, wiring, and ladder logic diagrams used in automation documentation. Builds the reading skills needed for PLC programming sections.

Chapter 3See details

Sensors, Actuators, and Field Devices

Lesson 1 • Actuator Types and Selection
Examines electric, pneumatic, and hydraulic actuators including solenoids, cylinders, and motors. Guides selection based on force, speed, precision, and environmental requirements.
Lesson 2 • Troubleshooting Field Device Faults
Applies systematic fault-finding methods to common sensor and actuator failures. Reinforces electrical fundamentals while introducing process-specific diagnostic strategies.
Lesson 3 • Calibration and Verification Procedures
Teaches zero/span calibration, loop checks, and documentation practices for field instruments. Connects calibration accuracy to process quality and safety outcomes.
Lesson 4 • Sensor Technologies and Signal Types
Surveys proximity, photoelectric, temperature, pressure, and flow sensors with their output signal types. Establishes the vocabulary for specifying and troubleshooting field instrumentation.
Lesson 5 • Sensor Wiring and Signal Conditioning
Covers two-wire, three-wire, and four-wire sensor connections and signal conditioning circuits. Ensures accurate signal transmission from field to controller input modules.

Chapter 4See details

Programmable Logic Controllers

Lesson 1 • Advanced PLC Instructions
Introduces function block, structured text, and data manipulation instructions beyond basic ladder. Expands programming capability for complex sequencing and data handling tasks.
Lesson 2 • I/O Addressing and Tag Databases
Explains fixed and slot-based addressing schemes and tag-based programming conventions. Establishes consistent naming practices that improve programme readability and maintenance.
Lesson 3 • PLC Hardware Architecture
Describes CPU, power supply, I/O modules, and backplane communication in a PLC chassis. Provides the hardware knowledge needed to configure and expand PLC systems.
Lesson 4 • Programme Structure and Organisation
Introduces tasks, programmes, routines, and subroutines for modular PLC code design. Promotes maintainable, scalable programmes aligned with industrial coding standards.
Lesson 5 • PLC Configuration and Commissioning
Walks through hardware configuration, I/O forcing, online monitoring, and programme download. Prepares students to bring a PLC system from bench setup to live operation.
Lesson 6 • Ladder Logic Programming Fundamentals
Covers contacts, coils, timers, counters, and comparison instructions in ladder logic. Builds core programming skills applied in every subsequent automation application.

Chapter 5See details

Human-Machine Interface Design

Lesson 1 • Alarm Management and Notification
Configures alarm limits, priorities, acknowledgement workflows, and alarm history logging. Aligns with alarm management best practices to reduce nuisance alarms and operator fatigue.
Lesson 2 • Screen Layout and Navigation Design
Applies human factors principles to screen hierarchy, colour coding, and navigation flow. Reduces operator error by aligning display design with cognitive ergonomics.
Lesson 3 • HMI Hardware and Software Platforms
Surveys panel-mounted, PC-based, and mobile HMI platforms and their communication requirements. Establishes platform selection criteria based on environment and operator needs.
Lesson 4 • Tag Linking and Dynamic Objects
Connects HMI graphic objects to PLC tags for real-time data display and control. Demonstrates how tag binding drives animated indicators, numeric displays, and control buttons.
Lesson 5 • HMI Security and Access Control
Implements user roles, password policies, and audit trails to protect HMI systems. Connects security configuration to regulatory compliance and cybersecurity fundamentals.

Chapter 6See details

Industrial Networking and Communications

Lesson 1 • Network Design and Segmentation
Applies VLAN segmentation, DMZ architecture, and redundancy strategies to OT networks. Balances performance, availability, and security in industrial network design.
Lesson 2 • Network Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Uses packet capture, ping, and protocol diagnostic tools to isolate communication faults. Builds systematic troubleshooting skills applicable across all industrial protocols.
Lesson 3 • Fieldbus and Serial Protocols
Examines legacy serial and fieldbus protocols used in process and discrete automation. Enables integration with existing installed base equipment during modernisation projects.
Lesson 4 • Industrial Network Fundamentals
Covers OSI model layers, network topologies, and the distinction between IT and OT networks. Provides the conceptual base for all industrial protocol and topology decisions.
Lesson 5 • Industrial Ethernet Protocols
Covers EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, and Modbus TCP for high-speed device communication. Prepares students to configure managed switches and IP addressing for automation networks.

Chapter 7See details

Motion Control and Drive Systems

Lesson 1 • Drive Tuning and Fault Diagnosis
Applies auto-tune procedures and manual PID gain adjustment to optimise drive response. Diagnoses overcurrent, overvoltage, and encoder fault codes to restore operation.
Lesson 2 • Servo Drive and Motor Systems
Explains servo amplifier architecture, encoder feedback, and closed-loop position control. Prepares students to configure servo axes for precise positioning applications.
Lesson 3 • Motion Programming and Profiles
Programmes trapezoidal and S-curve motion profiles, cam tables, and coordinated multi-axis moves. Connects motion programming to PLC-based motion control instructions.
Lesson 4 • Variable Frequency Drive Configuration
Covers VFD power section, control modes, and parameter setup for speed and torque control. Enables students to commission drives for pump, fan, and conveyor applications.
Lesson 5 • Electric Motor Fundamentals
Reviews AC induction, permanent magnet, and stepper motor operating principles and nameplate data. Provides the motor theory required to select and configure drive systems correctly.

Chapter 8See details

Process Control and Advanced Automation

Lesson 1 • Safety Instrumented Systems
Covers SIS architecture, safety function design, and proof-test procedures for high-hazard processes. Integrates safety system design with the functional safety concepts introduced in Section 1.
Lesson 2 • Advanced Control Strategies
Introduces cascade, ratio, feedforward, and model-predictive control for difficult processes. Expands control toolkit beyond single-loop PID for multi-variable process challenges.
Lesson 3 • Process Control Fundamentals
Defines process variables, setpoints, manipulated variables, and control loop terminology. Establishes the language and concepts underlying all subsequent control strategy work.
Lesson 4 • Control System Performance Analysis
Uses trend data, loop performance indices, and process capability metrics to evaluate control quality. Connects performance analysis to continuous improvement and energy efficiency goals.
Lesson 5 • Sequential Function Chart Programming
Programmes SFC steps, transitions, and actions for batch and sequential process automation. Builds structured sequencing skills that complement ladder and structured text programmes.
Lesson 6 • PID Controller Theory and Tuning
Explains proportional, integral, and derivative actions and their effect on loop response. Applies Ziegler-Nichols and trial-and-error tuning methods to real and simulated loops.

Certification

Your valid completion certificate

This course is for you:

Maintenance technician: ready to move into automation engineering roles.
Electrical apprentice: wanting to specialize in industrial control systems.
Mechanical engineer: seeking to add automation and controls expertise.
Career changer: transitioning from unrelated fields into manufacturing technology.
Plant operator: aiming to understand the systems they work alongside daily.
Recent technical graduate: bridging the gap between classroom theory and industry practice.

What our students say

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