BCIt Acim 5010 – Advanced Certificate in Industrial Automated Control System Installation and Maintenance
bcit acim 5010 is an advanced certificate program in industrial automated control system installation and maintenance. This program builds on electrician apprenticeship and engineering practical training and experience, as well as provides access to a large variety of BCIT equipment. The course will include a strong laboratory component. It will also be offered on a part-time basis. Basics of Automation
Automation is a wide range of technologies, methods and tools that reduce human intervention in processes, making them more efficient, faster, productive and error-free. This can be seen in everyday products and services from home appliances to the high-tech systems powering modern-day transportation vehicles, factories and military hardware. The technology underpinning these systems is based on mechanical, hydraulic and electrical and electronic principles.
Generally, the term ‘automation’ refers to replacing manual labour with computer-based technology. The result is often higher labour productivity, greater safety and a lower operating cost for the firm. The automation of processes also makes it possible to make decisions based on data rather than human judgment, for example, when ordering stock, a supermarket can use a computer model of sales trends and history to decide what to order.
Basic or task automation takes simple, repetitive tasks and automates them to free people to do more meaningful work. This type of automation can take the form of a shared messaging system to replace email or a process like creating an issue in Jira and automatically assigning it to a team.
More advanced automation involves the integration of different systems to allow them to communicate and share information. This can be done with simple scripting or a more sophisticated tool, such as RPA (robotic process automation). In the case of the latter, software robots are programmed to replicate the actions of a person using a GUI and can automate login and logout processes, copy-paste, email management
and general paperwork.The benefits of automation are considerable but the implementation of the technology is not without its challenges. A key challenge is that not every process or task can be automated, as there are many variables that cannot be easily modeled or represented on a computer and thus require human supervision. Another challenge is that automated systems can be vulnerable to errors. When an error occurs, it can spread quickly and may be difficult to detect and correct.
Business automation is a powerful way to improve the efficiency and profitability of businesses by taking the burden off employees and freeing them up to focus on other things. This is an area that requires the skills and training of professionals who can develop, test and implement automated systems. Mechanics of Automation
Automation is a technology that reduces human intervention in processes. It predetermines decision criteria, subprocess relationships and related actions and incorporates these into machines, so that when they are operated without direct intervention by humans, the machine will perform correctly. Modern automated systems include mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical and electronic devices, as well as computers. Most complicated systems use combinations of these devices. Historically, mechanization and automation have evolved from the development of tools and mechanical devices designed to accomplish tasks faster, cheaper, and with greater accuracy and precision than human beings can.
The basic building blocks of any automated system are a source of power to perform the action, feedback controls to ensure that the action is correct and machine programming. The most common source of power for an automated system is electricity, which can be generated from a variety of sources and is stored in high-performance long-life batteries. The feedback control and machine programming components of an automated system vary, depending on the particular type of process being automated.
Examples of industrial automation range from simple on/off control for equipment such as boilers and heat-treating ovens to complex programmable logic controllers that manage multiple input signals and output control commands. A new wave of innovation is transforming the nature of automation with artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies.
Basic or task automation is about automating repetitive tasks that have a low level of complexity. It involves digitizing work and centralizing information to eliminate bottlenecks, increase transparency and communication across departments, and accelerate the pace of transactional processing. It frees people up to do higher value, more meaningful work. Business process automation (BPA) and robotic process automation are two popular types of basic automation.
In the field of electrical engineering, the mechanics of automation are about creating and maintaining automated systems that require minimal human intervention to function. A major challenge in designing these systems is to develop and implement a system that can respond quickly to changing conditions, while also being reliable. To do so, engineers must consider a number of factors, including the size and scope of the automation project, how it will be used, the operating environment and the amount of time available to make changes to the system. Designing Automation Systems
A well-designed automation system can help businesses increase productivity and improve their bottom line. However, designing a product that is suited for automated manufacturing requires thoughtful considerations that are beyond the scope of engineering teams or product development professionals alone. These considerations include understanding business needs, marketing strategy and lifecycle requirements.
A key aspect of design is ensuring that the automated systems have a backup plan for when things don’t go as planned. This could involve leaving extra space in a station for additional operations, identifying locations for offloading parts or starting with manual processes until any technical issues are resolved.
Another aspect of design is ensuring that the automated system can handle all steps of the production process. This means evaluating the current equipment and processes in place, considering future upgrades and ensuring that the automated system can accommodate any changes. This is especially important if you’re planning to transition to industrial automation.
Programmable automation systems can adjust their processes based on the instructions they receive from their designer. These systems are often used for creating similar products in settings where a lot of the same steps are repeated, such as steel rolling mills and paper factories.
There are many benefits to switching to automation systems. For example, automating a task can increase production levels up to 50 percent. This allows businesses to reduce labor costs, create new jobs and protect workers from dangerous tasks. In addition, automation can improve the quality of products by allowing for greater accuracy than human workers can achieve. This can be particularly beneficial for tasks that require high-level precision. Finally, automated systems can be designed to perform repetitive tasks, which can allow humans to focus on more important projects.