Various Segments in Automation & Control
All automation field engineers (F.E) have the core knowledge about most products, basic software, and processes. However, every F.E becomes specialized in one or more segment of automation. Following are the four main segments by the order of industry need:
Drives
Drives is the largest segment of the four and includes designing and troubleshooting AC and DC motors and their respective PLC drivers.
Motion
This includes products moving on conveyor belts or anything that has to do with motion and movement.
Software
Software is not just working with general PLC software. It also includes working with MS SQL, databases, servers, visual basic, historians, security, and batch programs.
Process
This includes batch processing and anything that has to do with processing such as processing chemicals, beer, medicine, oil, etc. Some well known industries in this sector are oil, pharmaceutical, and beer brewery.
In general many industries use automation and control systems and products. Some of the more famous ones are:
- Automotive
- Chemical
- Food / Beverage
- Machinery
- Petroleum
- Pharmaceutical
- Aerospace
- Computer & Electronics
- Metal industry
- Packaging
- Medical
- Plastic
- Printing
- Paper
- Utilities
- Water / Wastewater
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