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AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY
Tuition in Finnish
Automation is nowadays essential in all industry. It is utilised in monitoring and controlling industrial processes, energy management and process lines. In addition to industry, automation is also used in many everyday applications. Expertise fields of automation technology include different measurements, control technologies, and modern systems such as programmable controllers, PC-control rooms and distributable automation systems.
Automation engineers design and implement the automation of industrial processes, production equipment and products. They are also in charge of the operation and maintenance of computer based data collection, PC control room systems and automation systems. Automation engineers are employed, in addition to industry, also in design and software companies, in import companies and in research institutions. Duties vary from product development to design, programming, technical purchase and sales and training related expert and supervisory duties. Other expertise fields of an automation engineer are computer technology, extensive software know-how as well as economics and quality know-how.
Goals of the Degree Programme
The aim of the Automation Degree Programme is to provide the students with versatile skills and know-how for expert and practical duties in different fields of automation. Automation is a rapidly evolving and developing field. Therefore, it is necessary that the engineers closely follow the development of their field and also continue to develop their own skills and know-how.
Studies
The normative duration of the studies at the University of Applied Sciences is four years (240 credit points). The first two years in the Degree Programme contain mainly basic studies (70 credit points) and common core professional studies (50 credit points) which aim to create a strong mathematical and natural scientific, technical and linguistic foundation for the professional studies in automation engineering. Language studies are essential for automation engineers who constantly use foreign languages, both orally and in writing, in their working life.
Studies also include independent work, such as laboratory assignments, project work and exercises. This requires that the students are active and motivated to work independently. The professional studies in this Degree Programme (60 credit points) have two specialisation fields: Manufacturing Automation and Process Automation. The minimum extent of one module is 15 credit points. In addition to these two lines of specialisation, it is possible to study electrical and energy technology, mechatronics and CAD modelling. Students can include study modules also from other degree programmes, such as production economics, chemical engineering or electronic design in their optional study modules.
Specialisation Fields
Manufacturing Automation
In Manufacturing Automation and Robotics the student specialises in robotics, robot control systems, programmable control logics, motor control, sensors, computer vision, remote programming, simulation and various robot applications, micro robotics and mechatronics. Additionally, the students study production technology, pneumatics, hydraulics, conveyor, FMS and warehousing systems and their automation.
Process Automation
In Process Automation the students specialise in industrial measuring and instrumentation technology, programming and operation of process and control stations of digital automation systems, in control of regulating units, and in automatic regulation of processes. Other study areas are industrial field buses, modelling and simulation of processes, design and tuning of computer aided regulation and the use of various control methods (PID, cascade control, fuzzy regulation).
Practical Training and Bachelor’s Thesis
Practical training is an essential part of the studies at EVTEK University of Applied Sciences. The degree requirements contain 20 weeks (30 credit points) practical training, which is in most cases carried out in summer. The students will write a practical training report.
Recommended duties for practical training are for example commissioning and maintenance, production, operation, planning, development and service duties in automation, IT, process or manufacturing companies.
An extensive design, research or survey project, the Bachelor’s Thesis, will be completed at the end of the engineering education. Industrial companies often give the subjects for these Bachelor’s Theses. Thus, together with the practical training, the Theses will familiarise the students with practical working life already during the study time.
Other
Automation is a rapidly evolving and developing field. Digital automation and control systems and their measuring and regulating units in process and manufacturing industry belong to this field.
The technical development has brought various intelligent systems, small systems, special measuring devices, control or regulation systems and unit controllers into automation.
Automation contains also PC based maintenance systems and other systems that must be integrated and communicate with each other. Data transmission and database management develops rapidly and wireless automation, Internet and Intranet will be more common both in new and in old applications.
In manufacturing automation, along with flexible manufacturing systems there is a need to control entire lines, cells and the cooperation between cells. There is extensive product development going on, the properties and usability of machines has increased and the quality of the products has improved.
Adult Education
Specialisation Fields
- Manufacturing Automation
- Process Automation
- Monitoring of Operational Conditions of Automation
- Automation Data Transfer
Goals of the Degree Programme
The aim is to educate experts for manufacturing and process automation, automation systems design, automation projects and automation maintenance. These experts will have the skills and vision for demanding design and product development duties, for delivery projects of automation systems, equipments and applications, start-up and maintenance, marketing and sales of automation and for international projects.
This education is primarily planned and aimed for those who have a technician degree in automation, machine automation, construction automation, electrical, measuring technology, automatic control or instrumentation technology or a vocational degree of the field. Students should have gained work experience in design, operation and project duties in manufacturing and process automation, or in maintenance duties in instrumentation technology.
Special Characteristics of the Field
Traditionally automation has been a part of industrial processes. The aim of the automation has been to reduce human labour in process control and monitoring and to improve safety and production rate and production quality. Today automation is used in all fields of industry and new applications are being produced all the time. Automation is becoming a part of the every-day life and common in machines and equipments and also in various non-industrial applications.
Essential parts of automation are automation intelligent sensors and measurements, signal processing, data communications with fast channels (nowadays also wirelessly, such as GSM monitoring), high-technology computer equipment (unit controllers, personal computers or automation systems) and their open control software.
Additionally, automation includes control and fast regulation, also wirelessly, of machinery, equipments, processes, and lines, as well as data management, self-diagnostics, various security and back up methods. Automation requires know-how of design, programming work and system installations, commissioning and maintanence. Automation is an expanding and developing field. It is a large employer whose expert employees are often taken to many foreign destinations through export projects. Good language skills are often more than necessary in contacts with the customers. Automation engineers must continuously maintain their know-how and skills by participating in training and international exhibitions.
Automation studies are a good investment; it is the field of the future!
Career Prospects
Automation engineers design and implement automation of industrial processes, products, production equipments and lines. They are in charge of the operation and maintenance of computer-based measurement data collection, and of PC control room and automation systems. Automation engineers are employed in engineering agencies, design, software and import companies, and in research institutions. Automation engineers are in expert or supervisory duties in product development, design, programming, technical purchase and sales and training. Automation is a rapidly evolving and developing field of high technology. Its applicational scope is expanding rapidly and employment situation in this field is very good in Finland.
Experts in automation often function as leaders of small groups, as design and project managers, senior operators and department heads. They also work in export projects as managers in charge for automation in design, implementation or start-up projects. They also account for the productivity, efficiency, operating and quality or marketing, sales or purchase of automation.
Central Study Modules
The extent of engineering studies is 240 credit points which includes basic studies, common core professional studies and professional studies. The extent of the Bachelor’s Thesis is 15 credit points. Technicians whose qualification is from the field of automation or from a related field must complete 180 credit points. In the beginning of the studies an individual study plan (ISP) will be drawn up for every student on the basis of the students' work experience and earlier studies. ISP defines the amount of credit points to be achieved, the study units to be completed and the estimated study time.
Study Arrangements
The studies are multiform studies including contact teaching, laboratory and project work, assignments and supervised independent study. The study methods are varied and suitable for adult students, such as web-based learning, project and team work and on-the-job learning. The aim is to minimise the amount of contact teaching. In practice the studies are implemented in the form of various projects, independent assignments, projects in small groups, and as teaching during monthly intensive weeks, on weeknights and on weekends. The projects are based on real problems and duties in working life.
Structure and Content of The Studies
AUTOMATION ENGINEERING 240 credit points
BASIC STUDIES
PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
PRACTICAL TRAINING
PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, SPESIALISATION MODULES
Process Automation, basic module
Process Automation, advanced module
Manufacturing Automation, basic module
Manufacturing Automation, advanced module
Maintenance Work
Leadership
OPTIONAL STUDIES
PRACTICAL TRAINING
BACHELOR’S THESIS
Contact Information
Jukka Pirinen
Head of the Degree Programme
tel. +358 20 7553 747
email: jukka.pirinen@evtek.fi
Anu Holma
Assistant of the Automation Engineering Degree Programme
tel. +358 20 7553 795
email: anu.holma@evtek.fi