Section one: Moving from Competence to Excellence

What does competence look like in this area? 

Mechanical assembly of a system:  

the ability to assemble a system according to given documentation.

Assembly of a system: 

the ability to wire / plumb a system according to given specification. The ability to read and understand Electrical & Pneumatic/Hydraulic diagrams. 

Understanding of basic components:  

the ability to use and work with Pneumatic, Electrical, Hydraulic components. 

Understanding of robotic systems:

the ability to interface with existing robotic systems within given parameters. 

Use of safety devices:  

understand the use case for safety systems.

What does excellence look like in this area?  

Development of a system:  

the ability to design or modify an existing system. The ability to make informed choices about component choice or placement. 

Development of system documentation:  

the ability to draw/model a system using schematic / layout applications. 

Understanding of advanced components:  

the ability to work with, commission, and maintain E-Drives, networked devices, vision systems, IO-link devices. 

Development of robotic systems:  

the ability to program a robotic system to interface with a new or unknown system. 

Development of safety systems:  

development / design of an appropriate safety system, taking into consideration edge-cases, and reset procedures.  

What does competence look like in this area  

PLC concepts:  

Understand the core operating principles of a PLC, how scan cycles work, and how memory persists.

PLC programming: 

The ability to program simple ladder logic programs, using counters, timers, and areas of persistent memory. The ability to use simple functions for repetitive tasks. 

An understanding of different IEC languages for PLCs. 

HMI programming:  

The ability to connect, and read/write simple data on an HMI (buttons / indicators).

What does excellence look like in this area?  

PLC concepts:  

Deeper understanding of plc architecture, including additional IO-Modules, and address spaces.  

Understanding of how data is exchanged between networked PLCs.

Understanding of OPC-UA or other industrial bus, for exchanging data between PLC and non-PLC devices. 

PLC programming:  

The ability to program more complex programs, in higher level typed languages, such as ST/SCL.

The ability to write programs using databases, arrays.

The ability to program devices from multiple vendors: (e.g.) Mitsubishi, Siemens, CodeSys, Omron.

HMI programming:  

The ability to fully commission an HMI, for display of multiple pages, animations, data input / output, and alarms.