INSTRUMENTATION COURSES

What does Instrumentation relate to?

In this modern era, Instrumentation is one of the most essential branches from an Industrial point of view, as this is a multidisciplinary stream that covers areas such as chemical, mechanical, electrical, electronics, biomedical and computers. This helps in making a switch to other disciplines. Instrumentation ideally deals with the measurement, control and automation of processes.

In today’s modern era, almost all industries are automated. Automation is the core job of instrumentation engineers and Instrumentation technicians. As the trend of automation picks up in Australia, Instrumentation and Control Engineers and technicians are finding more and more job opportunities. Australia is a large economy with multiple oil and gas reserves. Automation is required to facilitate production with state-of-the-art technologies, as labour costs could be expensive in remote areas. Therefore, automation of processes has created plenty of opportunities for instrumentation engineers and technicians. From Research & Development units to aerospace companies, pharmaceuticals, food industries, thermal power plants, steel plants, fertiliser plants, automobile companies, biomedical companies, refineries and cement plants, these engineers and technicians find job opportunities in almost all domains of the world.

Control and Optimisation are other vital criteria in many industries. Electronics and Instrumentation engineers and technicians with good exposure in these areas will be highly effective in solving various critical needs of the industries.

Instrumentation engineers and technicians are responsible for designing, developing, installing, managing and maintaining equipment to monitor and control the systems, machinery and processes.

Employment Opportunities

Instrumentation engineers and technicians can get jobs in Heavy industries such as Thermal Power Stations, Steel Plants, Refineries, and Cement and Fertilizer Plants. They have a multidisciplinary role to play. One may move sideways into other career areas within or outside their industry. This might include purchasing, sales, marketing, finance, HR, IT or general management.

These engineers and technicians can pursue consultancy-based work. Those who have an aptitude to use the expertise they have gained in industry and engage in further studies to establish themselves in Senior level positions where they will carry the highest level of responsibility and may include planning and managing activities, as well as leading on new developments.

Type of Work

Typically, Control and Instrumentation engineers and technicians are mainly responsible for installing, managing and maintaining equipment to monitor and control engineering systems, machinery and processes. Tasks and responsibilities, which are familiar to instrumentation engineers and technicians, may include:

• Design and develop new control systems;
• Maintain and modify existing systems;
• Manage operations;
• Work in collaboration with other engineers and technicians in related fields;
• Project management;
• Troubleshooting and problem-solving;
• Understanding and ensuring compliance with the health and safety regulations and quality standards
• Provide advice and consultancy support;
• Assistance in purchasing equipment;
• Write computer software;
• Develop new business proposals.

Instrumentation Courses Online

In rare cases, it is possible to achieve this qualification online. Experience E & I tech from Australia or other countries can apply for RPL. This course is convenient; attaining a qualification online is like applying for a driver’s licence online. It will be challenging for the assessor to assess your skills online. The theory part is easy to determine online, but the practical skills are challenging for the trainer. One way to find out is by applying for RPL, and the trainer will assess your application and let you know if he can evaluate you online, depending on the evidence you provide.

Electrical Instrumentation Course

Generally, one has two choices when wanting to be an Instrument Technician. One is to do an apprenticeship as an Instrument technician, and the second is to upskill yourself from Electrician to Instrument technician. The latter is prevalent as you cannot go the other way around. An instrument technician cannot up-skill to be an Electrician. He would have to do a full apprenticeship as it’s a licensed trade. Numerous pathways can achieve Electrical Instrumentation. One is by completing a Certificate III in Instrumentation and Control. The second option is to complete a Cert IV in Electrical Instrumentation. From here on, there are other options, such as a diploma or advanced diploma. If one wants to study further, there is always an option to complete a bachelor’s degree at University and then a Master’s degree.