Automation & Instrumental Technician
What Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians Do
An instrumentation technician will test, calibrate, install and inspect manufacturing equipment and monitoring devices. They will also work alongside electronic engineers or process technicians on the basic design.
Other responsibilities revolve around performing general maintenance on the equipment, adjusting system components, and replacing defective parts.
People depend on instrumentation technicians to monitor devices and test systems up and running, which can create some pressure. Fortunately, they have many different machines and tools at their disposal to maintain, repair, calibrate and restore various instruments.Â
Most of their day is spent working with their hands. However, instrumentation technicians may also spend some time working with scientific and analytic computer software, calculators, voltage and current meters, and electronic probes to diagnose faults in circuitry.
Most often, instrument technicians will work a set number of hours each week. They do not usually have to work overnight or on holidays, though they may occasionally be asked to work overtime or over the weekend.
Training Programs at SLCC
SLCC Automation & Instrumentation Technician CP (KAIT)
985 Hours
This program is designed to support a wide variety of Automated Controls and Instrumentation occupations, involving automated systems, instrumentation, measurements, electric motors, controls systems, robotics, mechatronics, and the application of fluid power systems. In addition, this program follows the guidelines of the International Society of Automation, offering related courses that help to support and prepare for the ISA associate CST examination, as an entrance point. This Core Automation will provide the valued skills set required by industries involved in manufacturing, mining, refineries, building automation, renewable energy, and full-on industrial controls systems. The program starts out with a solid foundation of the basic theory, laws, circuits, and fundamentals of AC/DC, solid-state and digital electronics. In addition, the student will learn how to use various test equipment for trouble-shooting and repair of electronic circuits. This course covers electronic components, how they function, and how to test devices. Students learn the skills required of an Automation and Instrumentation Technician to understand, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair modern electronic automated systems. Coverage of industrial data communications is also included, as well as applications, theory and project based programmable logic controllers.