A one-day course covering the optimal design of networked automation and control systems. Centred on PROFIBUS and PROFINET technology, but also covering the use of Ethernet & AS-i technology and system software.
The need for this course
Good quality PROFIBUS, PROFINET and AS-i training has been widely available for installers, maintenance technicians and engineers for many years. Unfortunately, key decision makers managers, system designers and system integrators are quite often less well trained than others who are involved in the engineering. Many of the errors that can be seen in installations are traceable to fundamental decisions that were taken at the early stages of the project. For example, use of inappropriate fieldbus for an application, lack of awareness of maintenance and fault-finding facilities, over-complex or inappropriate system architecture, design decisions based on equipment purchasing cost rather than whole life-cycle costs etc.
Who should attend?
This course is aimed at anyone who is dealing with the specification, design or procurement of modern automation and control systems at the engineering or technical level. The course is also suitable for device manufacturers, system integrators and technical sales/marketing people who want to know the best way to put systems together.
Prerequisite training
The course is aimed at the professional engineer level and a basic familiarity with control system terminology is assumed. Because the course is centred on the use of fieldbus (in particular PROFIBUS), a necessary pre-requisite for the course is the one-day Certified PROFIBUS Installer course. This gives an excellent introduction to PROFIBUS technology and how to properly lay out and install networks. The System Design Course builds on the basic knowledge of the Certified Installer and provides additional knowledge on designing not only PROFIBUS systems, but also how to use Ethernet, PROFINET and other technologies appropriately.
What does the course cover?
The course provides a top-down approach to designing a modern automation and control system and helps managers and designers to make the correct decisions from the project beginning. Examples and case-studies used on the course are from a wide range of industries including manufacturing, process plant water-treatment, materials handling and automated storage and retrieval. The course covers the optimal use of networking and communications systems including Ethernet, PROFINET, PROFIBUS DP and PA, AS-i, and IO-Link.
Connection technologies are evaluated and compared including copper, fibre-optic and wireless solutions. The course also covers the use of open and distributed programming standards based on IEC61131-3 and IEC61499 and the use of SCADA systems and OPC (Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control).
