The FCCJ SPECTRUM Vol. II/Fall 1993 Programmable logic control installed as new FCCJ course at Geis Marine Center Classesfill quickly as College imple- mentsa training program that could have potentialcost savingsfor area businesses,both large andsmall. Several Jacksonville area businesses are gaining greater control over their manufac- turing processes by sending employees to Florida Community College at Jacksonville's new supplemental courses in programmable logic control or PLC. The training represents a potential cost savings to businesses who use PLC because employees will be able to perform many tasks that these businesses currently contract to outside consultants,according to Mike Sheklin,director ofthe FCCJ Geis Marine Center where the training is being offered. PLC is a computer based method of directing the electrical functions of machines in a manufacturing process. Before PLC, electricians would have to rewire machines to change their functions. With PLC,the machines are wired once into one or a series of programmable logic controllers. The machine's functions are then controllable from a computer station. This eliminates the need for rewiring when a business needs to change the function ofa particular machine. "PLC is what automates the manufactur- ing process,"said Dave Kier,an instructor in the Geis Marine Center's electrical program. "An input signal from a sensor tells the com- puter controller when a machine's task is complete.The computer then sends an output that switches on the next task." The problem,according to Kier and the program's other instructor, Bob Story,arises when the business wants to make a change A Successful completion of FCCJ's PLC courses will allow in-house industrial electricians to be able to make many of the adjust- ments and do much of the troubleshooting that now must be contracted to outside firms. A Two students to a lab keeps both busy and allows students to learn from each other. in its manufacturing process.Few industrial electricians are trained in programmable logic control. "Reconfiguring by computer requires a completely different thought process than traditional industrial wiring,"Story said. "Things that are completely illogical in a hardware configuration are completely logi- cal when using PLC." PLC systems are frequently installed and programmed by specialized electrical engi- neering contractors,according to the instruc- tors. Ifa change in the process is necessary, the engineers must be called in to make the change if trained personnel are not available in house. Industrial electricians, many of whom are already employed by area manufacturing concerns,are learning PLC technology at FCCJ. When the courses are successfully completed,these electricians will be able to make many ofthe adjustments and do much ofthe troubleshooting that must now be con- tracted to outside firms. "Training for PLC is scarce,and the training that is being offered privately is extremely costly,"Sheklin said. Rocky Stone,owner of Aqua Pumping Systems Inc.,said that without FCCJ's train- ing he would have to travel to expensive manufacturing seminars which don't offer the detail or the hands-on experience of FCCJ's course. "Irrigation pumping systems are capable ofbeing programmed by PLC.The training will allow me to raise my type ofservice. I'll be able to offer a better, more cost effective system to my clients,"Stone said. "FCCJ can offer quality training on state-of-the-art equipment for less than $100 a person if the individual is already trained in industrial electricity,"Sheklin said."We don't have a profit motive for our training. Our motivation is to improve the skills of this area's existing and future work force." Brian Franke,a maintenance technician for Xomed-Treace and a student in the PLC course,also said that he's in the class to bet- ter himselffor his industry. "Application is where you learn how these systems work,"Franke said."In our company,you get paid for what you know.If you want to earn money,you have to keep current with industry standards. A high school diploma is notenough anymore." To train industrial electricians in PLC, Story and Kier installed 10PLC lab stations at the Center.Each station is controlled by a lap top computer.Students work two to a station. "With two students working together, the learning situation is really enhanced," Kier said."There is enough to do that both are active and enough to learn that the two students reinforce each other. Ifone forgets, the other will almost always remember." Geis Marine Center's twoPLC courses are offered in the evening to accommodate working individuals. The courses are full,and Sheklin estimates that about halfofthe stu- dents are employees ofbusinesses that use or forecast using PLC technology. The Center is keeping a waiting list of people who want to register for future PLC courses. Sheklin said that the Center is con- sidering making PLC a permanent addition to the Center's postsecondary electrical pro- gram.Sheklin said that if that happens,the electronics program will be split into two tracks — one for industrial electricians that includes PLC and one for traditional con- struction electricians. For more information aboutPLC cours- es at the Geis Marine Center,call Story or Kier at 766-5587. , OCR Text: The FCCJ SPECTRUM Vol. II/Fall 1993 Programmable logic control installed as new FCCJ course at Geis Marine Center Classesfill quickly as College imple- mentsa training program that could have potentialcost savingsfor area businesses,both large andsmall. Several Jacksonville area businesses are gaining greater control over their manufac- turing processes by sending employees to Florida Community College at Jacksonville's new supplemental courses in programmable logic control or PLC. The training represents a potential cost savings to businesses who use PLC because employees will be able to perform many tasks that these businesses currently contract to outside consultants,according to Mike Sheklin,director ofthe FCCJ Geis Marine Center where the training is being offered. PLC is a computer based method of directing the electrical functions of machines in a manufacturing process. Before PLC, electricians would have to rewire machines to change their functions. With PLC,the machines are wired once into one or a series of programmable logic controllers. The machine's functions are then controllable from a computer station. This eliminates the need for rewiring when a business needs to change the function ofa particular machine. "PLC is what automates the manufactur- ing process,"said Dave Kier,an instructor in the Geis Marine Center's electrical program. "An input signal from a sensor tells the com- puter controller when a machine's task is complete.The computer then sends an output that switches on the next task." The problem,according to Kier and the program's other instructor, Bob Story,arises when the business wants to make a change A Successful completion of FCCJ's PLC courses will allow in-house industrial electricians to be able to make many of the adjust- ments and do much of the troubleshooting that now must be contracted to outside firms. A Two students to a lab keeps both busy and allows students to learn from each other. in its manufacturing process.Few industrial electricians are trained in programmable logic control. "Reconfiguring by computer requires a completely different thought process than traditional industrial wiring,"Story said. "Things that are completely illogical in a hardware configuration are completely logi- cal when using PLC." PLC systems are frequently installed and programmed by specialized electrical engi- neering contractors,according to the instruc- tors. Ifa change in the process is necessary, the engineers must be called in to make the change if trained personnel are not available in house. Industrial electricians, many of whom are already employed by area manufacturing concerns,are learning PLC technology at FCCJ. When the courses are successfully completed,these electricians will be able to make many ofthe adjustments and do much ofthe troubleshooting that must now be con- tracted to outside firms. "Training for PLC is scarce,and the training that is being offered privately is extremely costly,"Sheklin said. Rocky Stone,owner of Aqua Pumping Systems Inc.,said that without FCCJ's train- ing he would have to travel to expensive manufacturing seminars which don't offer the detail or the hands-on experience of FCCJ's course. "Irrigation pumping systems are capable ofbeing programmed by PLC.The training will allow me to raise my type ofservice. I'll be able to offer a better, more cost effective system to my clients,"Stone said. "FCCJ can offer quality training on state-of-the-art equipment for less than $100 a person if the individual is already trained in industrial electricity,"Sheklin said."We don't have a profit motive for our training. Our motivation is to improve the skills of this area's existing and future work force." Brian Franke,a maintenance technician for Xomed-Treace and a student in the PLC course,also said that he's in the class to bet- ter himselffor his industry. "Application is where you learn how these systems work,"Franke said."In our company,you get paid for what you know.If you want to earn money,you have to keep current with industry standards. A high school diploma is notenough anymore." To train industrial electricians in PLC, Story and Kier installed 10PLC lab stations at the Center.Each station is controlled by a lap top computer.Students work two to a station. "With two students working together, the learning situation is really enhanced," Kier said."There is enough to do that both are active and enough to learn that the two students reinforce each other. Ifone forgets, the other will almost always remember." Geis Marine Center's twoPLC courses are offered in the evening to accommodate working individuals. The courses are full,and Sheklin estimates that about halfofthe stu- dents are employees ofbusinesses that use or forecast using PLC technology. The Center is keeping a waiting list of people who want to register for future PLC courses. Sheklin said that the Center is con- sidering making PLC a permanent addition to the Center's postsecondary electrical pro- gram.Sheklin said that if that happens,the electronics program will be split into two tracks — one for industrial electricians that includes PLC and one for traditional con- struction electricians. For more information aboutPLC cours- es at the Geis Marine Center,call Story or Kier at 766-5587. , Z ArchiveInABox,JAX,FCCJ Spectrum,Scans,1993 Fall,1993 Fall 1 Page 1, 1993 Fall 1 Page 1