Training gets a shot in the arm

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IBG - SA Instrumentation & Control Buyers' Guide

April 2005 News Products & Solutions

Instrument staff are expected to be competent in a wide range of skills, as illustrated by the diagram. In general, loop control is a priority, and competence is obviously needed on both the measurement and the final control element side, in order to implement this control.

To complicate matters, intrinsic safety measures or other methods of explosion prevention may be involved. Increasingly, a fieldbus is used to gather information from the field, and to send instructions to control elements. Ethernet with TCP/IP usually forms an integral part of the overall communications strategy.

Inevitably, a PLC/scada combination is involved to execute the control, or a DCS may be required. These add to the competencies required by instrument staff, and the situation may be complicated by requirements for batch control or advanced control. These often link to Manufacturing Execution Systems, and an Internet connection is almost standard.

Many people qualified before some of these areas were in common use, and others have rusty knowledge on some of these subjects. There is an increasing move towards cross-skilling, and there needs to be some way of ensuring that instrument staff at whatever level, are competent in these areas and can actually use the knowledge productively to keep facilities up and running profitably.

Turbotrain, recently established as a specialist instrumentation training organisation, offers focused, two-day workshops in the areas shown in the diagram. These intensive and comprehensive workshops are designed to transfer comprehensive understanding to anyone who attends.

These workshops have a strong practical component to them, so that actual hands-on experience is gained, and complements the theoretical understanding given in the classroom. Comprehensive manuals ensure that delegates can refresh their understanding at any time. Founded by Eric Carter, who has over seven years experience of this type of training, Turbotrain offers relevant, hands-on transfer of understanding in the areas needed by instrumentation staff.

All workshops can be pitched anywhere between artisan and engineer level, and can be tailored to clients' requirements. If a need exists for training in other areas, workshops can be developed for these applications. Conducted at clients' premises, these workshops are cost-effective for as few as four people.

For more information contact Eric Carter, Turbotrain, 011 886 4902, eric@turbotrain.co.za, www.turbotrain.co.za

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