Workforce Training

This 2-year customized program in specialized automation training will focus on Programmable Logic Controllers, industrial devices, and sensors used to control manufacturing processes and equipment. The Black River Automation Technology program will enable electrical maintenance, PLC technicians, and systems engineers to better understand and utilize their PLC technology, which will help them minimize downtime and reduce waste.

Overview

In this increasingly competitive marketplace, companies must improve production output and reduce downtime to remain competitive. This specialized automation training will focus on Programmable Logic Controllers, industrial devices, and sensors used to control manufacturing processes and equipment. The Black River Automation Technology program will enable electrical maintenance, PLC technicians, and systems engineers to better understand and utilize their PLC technology, which will help them minimize downtime and reduce waste. Black River developed this program in response to needs expressed by area industries for in-depth, formal automation technology training to help present employees program devices to full potential.

The two year program will be customized to offer the student with a certificate of competency from Black River Technical College. The semesters will be 15 weeks in length. Both Allen Bradley and Black River training materials will be incorporated.

Who Should Attend

Personnel involved with the maintenance and troubleshooting of automated systems controlled by a PLC such as electrical maintenance, PLC technicians, and systems engineers.

Duration

This program lasts 2 years.

[accordions initialAccordion="0"] [accordion title="Outcomes and Objectives"]

First Year

• Work safely and competently with PLCs
• Be able to connect a laptop to the PLC and monitor
• Perform PLC maintenance procedures
• Troubleshoot common PLC and field faults
• Understand and follow more complex program code
• Use more powerful program monitor and display tools
• Be able to use enhanced diagnostic tools to quickly identify and resolve abnormal system operation
• Communications and Networking

Second Year

Use PLCs in conjunction with:

• Work safely and competently with motors and drives
• Precision Control & Troubleshooting of stepper motors and drives including torque, speed, position, and interfacing servo drives
• Understand and control servo systems including torque, position, velocity, and speed.
• Interface servos: understand feedback, wiring, and troubleshooting
• Understand Hydraulics and Pneumatics: symbols and schematic reading, pressure and flow of gases and liquids, control circuits
• Understand Temperature Control: measurement, PID control, thermocouplers and RTDs, discrete temp, tuning temp loops

[/accordion] [accordion title="Program Outline/Curriculum"]

Semester 1: 90 Hours

Semester 2:  90 Hours

Semester 3:  90 Hours

Semester 4:  90 Hours

Cost

• Member - $ 1,295
• Non-Member - $1,695

If you are a GCITC member company, please be aware that this registration commits your company to pay for the class whether your employees attend or not. After the class begins you will receive an invoice from GCITC.

For non-members, the online registration system does not accept credit card or paypal payments at this time, so please be sure to mail your check made payable to BRTC/GCITC within a few days after registration, as you will not be officially registered until we receive your payment for the class.

<h3>Overview</h3>
This 48-hour hands-on course will provide students with a practical introduction to electrical laws and principles as it applies to industry.

Learn to maintain and troubleshoot control equipment used in the manufacturing processes to safely and effectively improve productivity and performance. From DC and AC fundamentals to the electrical code, control systems, instrumentation, and more, the class will gain basic electrical theory and will apply their knowledge in practical, safe hands-on projects and assignments.
<h3>Who Should Attend</h3>
<ul>
<li>Electricians</li>
<li>Technicians</li>
<li>Maintenance Personnel</li>
<li>Anyone interested in attending Automation Technology</li>
</ul>
<h3>Topics Covered</h3>
<ul>
<li>Intro to Electrical Theory</li>
<li>Ohm Law</li>
<li>Series and Parallel Circuits</li>
<li>Combination Circuits</li>
<li>AC and Transformers</li>
<li>3 Phase power and Transformers</li>
<li>AC Power and Power Factor</li>
<li>Capacitors and Inductors</li>
<li>Intro to Industrial Controls and Components</li>
<li>MCR Strings and Stop/Start Circuits</li>
<li>Digital vs Analog Signals, Reading and Measuring -10V and 4-20mA signals</li>
<li>AC Motors</li>
<li>AC Drives</li>
<li>Temperature Control using PID Loops</li>
<li>Semiconductors, Diodes, LEDs, SCRS, and rectifiers</li>
<li>Introduction to PLC Hardware and troubleshooting</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cost</h3>
<ul>
<li>$479.00 - Members</li>
<li>$499.00 - Non-Members</li>
</ul>

Students in the program spend the first 40 hours in the classroom preparing for the Commercial Learner’s Permit Exam.  After earning a permit, students spend the next four weeks focusing on vehicle inspection, preventative maintenance, and hands-on defensive driving.  They will have range practice, behind-the-wheel driving time, and one trip to Newport to test in the same vehicle used during the training program.

Students are required to demonstrate proficiency in shifting, backing up, and city and highway driving as required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules and regulations.

New classes form every 5 weeks.  

Cost

$3,500

Additional training time after the program has concluded may incur an additional fee, to be determined.
If needed, additional testing fees will be $125each.

The written permit test must be obtained before admission to the driving portion of the class.