Program Specifications

Public curriculum specification

Industrial Automation & Controls

Automation technicians, controls personnel, maintenance technicians and manufacturing engineers

Connect PLCs, sensors, actuators, motor controls, fluid power and robotics into a practical machine-automation curriculum.

Learning outcomes

What the program is structured to develop.

  • Trace machine signals from sensors through logic to actuators.
  • Interpret basic PLC, drive and robot status information.
  • Recognize fluid-power and electrical interactions.
  • Troubleshoot within safety and change-control boundaries.

Technical curriculum

8 connected technical subjects

Automation & Maintenance · Foundational

PLC Fundamentals for Industrial Automation

Understand the basic architecture of programmable logic controllers and how inputs, logic, outputs, interlocks and operator interfaces combine to automate industrial equipment.

Open topic

Automation & Maintenance · Foundational

Industrial Sensors and Actuators

Explore common sensing and actuation devices used in industrial machinery, including proximity, photoelectric, pressure, position and motion devices.

Open topic

Automation & Maintenance · Intermediate

Variable Frequency Drives and Motor Controls

Understand how motor starters, contactors and variable frequency drives control industrial motors and how common parameters, faults and protections are interpreted.

Open topic

Automation & Maintenance · Intermediate

Industrial Electrical Troubleshooting Fundamentals

Build a systematic approach to tracing industrial electrical faults using schematics, measurements and safe isolation practices.

Open topic

Automation & Maintenance · Intermediate

Industrial Pneumatics and Hydraulics

Understand how compressed air and hydraulic fluid transmit power through pumps or compressors, valves, actuators, filtration and control components.

Open topic

Automation & Maintenance · Intermediate

Industrial Robotics and Cobots

Understand robot-cell architecture, coordinate systems, end effectors, basic motion concepts, safeguarding and the operational differences between conventional robots and collaborative applications.

Open topic

Production Systems · Foundational

Machine Guarding and Lockout/Tagout Fundamentals

Understand the purpose of machine safeguards and hazardous-energy isolation before servicing, cleaning or maintenance work.

Open topic

Metrology & Quality · Intermediate

Nonconformance, Root Cause and Corrective Action

Study how organizations contain, evaluate and disposition nonconforming product, then investigate systemic causes and verify effective corrective action.

Open topic

Assessment framework

Assessment is defined by the active program.

  • Technical knowledge assessment
  • I/O and logic tracing exercises
  • Fault scenarios
  • Functional test evidence only in employer-scoped programs

Possible evidence

Evidence examples for governed delivery.

  • I/O verification
  • Troubleshooting worksheet
  • Functional-test observation
  • Knowledge assessment

Choose the delivery relationship

Individual access or a scoped company program.

Current individual learning uses Professional Learning Access. Companies can scope role, equipment and workplace-evidence requirements separately.