Mechatronics on the Road to Plant Managers

Dr. David Just, Rita Hunt and Faye Lanford will attend the Plant Manager’s Conference of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance April 16-18 in Myrtle Beach to spread the word about our new Mechatronics courses at the BMW Center and in Union County.

Mechatronic System Certification comprises three levels. The first level is a 240 hour introductory course designed to teach intelligent machine operation and troubleshooting. The four courses teach electrical components, mechanical components and electrical drives, pneumatic and hydraulic circuits, digital fundamentals and programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Students are also introduced to the concept of handslungskompentenz, which is the ability of a person to adapt quickly to a new situation or system in a self-dependent, flexible way.

The second level training is for system management, investigation, repair and troubleshooting. The training is 320 hours, and includes process control technologies, introduction to Totally Integrated Automation, automation systems, motor controls, mechanics and machine elements as well as manufacturing processes. Integrated into each curriculum are additional skill levels important for professional development: project management, process management and optimization, modeling and simulation software, cost-controlling, technical documentation and effective teamwork.

The third level of certification is an additional 240 hours for a Siemens Certified Mechatronics Systems Professional. Emphasis is on design, planning, management and execution of technical projects. In addition, there is focus on process optimization, cost control and customer satisfaction.

All courses use a Systems Approach, which teaches students how to work their way into and through a new system, and by means of trouble shooting strategies, they are able to adapt their knowledge to new systems and situations.