Industrial Automation Technician
March 29, 2024
Updated April 13, 2025
15 minute read
Exploring a Career as an Industrial Automation Technician
Industrial Automation Technicians are the skilled professionals who bridge the gap between machinery and intelligence in modern industrial settings. They install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair the automated systems—like robots, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and sophisticated sensor networks—that keep factories, power plants, and other industrial facilities running efficiently and safely. Think of them as the essential troubleshooters and implementers ensuring the complex dance of automated production happens without a hitch.
Working in this field can be incredibly engaging. You'll constantly interact with cutting-edge technology, from intricate robotic arms to complex control systems governing entire production lines. The role often involves hands-on problem-solving, requiring both analytical thinking and practical skills to diagnose and fix issues under pressure. Furthermore, contributing to the efficiency and innovation within vital industries like manufacturing, energy, or logistics provides a tangible sense of impact.
What Does an Industrial Automation Technician Do?
This section delves into the typical responsibilities and environments associated with the role, giving you a clearer picture of the day-to-day work involved.
Installing, Maintaining, and Programming Automated Systems
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Find a path to becoming a Industrial Automation Technician. Learn more at:
OpenCourser.com/career/s03s3i/industrial
Reading list
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Provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of detectors used in medical imaging, covering topics such as detector physics, image quality, and signal processing.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the particle detectors used in high energy physics, covering topics such as detector materials, detector design, and data analysis.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and applications of medical imaging detectors, covering topics such as detector materials, detector design, and image processing.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the optical detectors used in astronomy, covering topics such as detector materials, detector design, and data analysis.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and applications of radiation detection and measurement, covering topics such as detector materials, detector design, and data analysis.
An industry-leading textbook covering electrical, motor, and mechanical devices in automated systems and industrial control circuits. provides detailed information on the use of contactors within integrated systems, including their interaction with PLCs and other modern control components. It comprehensive resource for understanding contemporary applications.
This textbook covers electric motors and the systems used to control them, including a thorough explanation of contactors and their applications in various control circuits. It is designed for students and provides a clear explanation of fundamental concepts and practical applications. This good resource for gaining a broad understanding and is often used as a textbook.
Provides a comprehensive overview of electric motors and control systems, including a chapter on contactors. It's a good resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the topic, and it's suitable for both beginners and experienced professionals.
Offers a practical, real-world approach to learning motor control devices, including contactors. It covers installation, troubleshooting, and testing, making it highly valuable for those seeking hands-on knowledge. It is suitable for building a strong foundation and useful reference for basic control circuits.
Focuses on practical know-how and troubleshooting techniques for electrical equipment and control circuits. Contactors are fundamental components in such circuits, making this book highly relevant for understanding common problems and their solutions in real-world applications. It is particularly valuable for those seeking to deepen their understanding through practical application and useful reference for professionals.
Likely focuses on the fundamental principles of controlling electric motors, which heavily involves the use of contactors and other switching devices. It would be suitable for beginners and those looking to build a strong understanding of the basics of motor control circuits. This good resource for gaining a broad understanding.
This international standard provides the general rules and common safety requirements for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear, which includes contactors. It crucial document for engineers and designers working with these components to ensure compliance with international standards. While not a textbook, it is an essential reference for contemporary practices and regulations.
This standard provides electrical safety requirements for industrial machinery, which commonly utilizes contactors for motor control and other functions. It is an essential reference for designers, builders, and maintainers of industrial machinery to ensure the safe application of electrical components like contactors.
Covering a broad range of industrial electrical topics, this book includes significant content on motor controls and the components used, such as contactors. It provides a good overview of the electrical principles and practical applications in an industrial environment. is suitable for gaining a broad understanding and serves as a helpful reference.
Covers the control circuits and devices, including electro-mechanical components like contactors, used in industrial automation systems. It offers a practical approach to circuit design and component selection, providing valuable context for how contactors fit into larger automated systems. It useful reference for those interested in the design aspects of systems using contactors.
Provides a practical introduction to programmable logic controllers (PLCs), using Studio 5000 as the programming environment.
Provides a practical guide to PLC programming using RSLogix 5000, covering topics such as ladder logic, function block diagram, and troubleshooting.
Provides a comprehensive overview of PLC controls, with a focus on the use of structured text (ST). It includes a chapter on contactors, and it's a good resource for anyone who wants to learn how to use contactors in PLC applications.
Contactors are a type of relay, specifically designed for switching higher power loads. provides a deep dive into the principles and applications of electrical relays, which will greatly enhance the understanding of how contactors function and are applied. It is more specialized but offers valuable foundational knowledge for those wanting to truly deepen their understanding.
Delves into the modeling and control of electric machines and drives. While it covers advanced topics, it provides crucial context on how contactors and other switching devices are utilized within motor drive systems for control and protection. It is suitable for graduate-level students and professionals seeking a deep understanding of motor control dynamics.
While a broader topic, power electronics is increasingly relevant to modern motor control and the application of solid-state contactors. provides a strong theoretical foundation in power electronic circuits and devices. It would be valuable for those seeking to understand the electronic principles behind modern control methods that are sometimes used in conjunction with or as alternatives to traditional contactors.
While a broader book on control systems, it provides foundational knowledge on feedback control and system analysis, which can be applied to understanding more complex motor control systems that might integrate with contactor-based circuits or utilize solid-state switching. It's more for a graduate-level or professional seeking a deeper theoretical understanding of control.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/career/s03s3i/industrial
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