The provision of comprehensive training and in-depth practical exposure to the products, systems and solutions that make up the complex world of modern industrial automation can lead to greater plant efficiencies and significantly reduced maintenance costs.
Des Burrows, business unit manager at Sitrain training and aftersales service and support for Siemens Southern Africa’s Industry Sector, says the organisation has adopted a multifaceted approach to skills development that establishes the levels of prevailing knowledge within an enterprise, matches this with a needs analysis, and then offers training courses aimed at bridging the gap. “As the customer training organisation that provides all the training for the Industrial Automation and Drive Technologies divisions within Siemens Southern Africa, we use our resources to add value through the provision of training and needs analysis on all the Siemens equipment that is brought to market.”
According to Burrows, Sitrain adds value to training courses offered by providing a free-of-charge comprehensive training analysis on the Siemens equipment installed at a customer’s site. This highlights where skills gaps exist. “The needs analysis forms part of an holistic overview of the automation process, involving one-on-one interviews with staff to identify gaps and give advice on how to close them. Following this, we are able to choose the appropriate courses for the customer and where non-Siemens equipment is installed, offer advice on where to source training for those third party devices.”
Keeping in mind that prevention is better than cure, Burrows says that Sitrain has introduced hands-on training for fault finding and troubleshooting, two specialised courses that will assist delegates find faults or troubleshoot on PLCs and drives. “This training empowers the customer to take responsibility for first line maintenance and in the process, save substantial sums in callout or repair fees. “The five-day S7 troubleshooting and the two-day drives maintenance course equip our customers to perform any necessary first line maintenance themselves.”
Having moved into new premises at Siemens Park in Midrand, Burrows say the facility now boasts an area with five classrooms and several demonstration rooms with installed equipment that facilitates the right combination of theoretical and practical training.
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