SCADA Training

Automation IT has vast experience in delivering SCADA training packages, tailor made to your requirements. Training courses can range from beginners use of a SCADA package through to design and implementation of complex systems. A range of pre-defined courses are available, or we can customise a course to suit your prior experience and desired knowledge.

Whether you need to get your Plant Operators and Electrical / Control Systems Engineers up to speed on your new system or wish to pursue a career in SCADA development we have the course for you.

What is SCADA?

SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is a software based monitoring and control solution for any size system. These systems are designed to provide succinct feedback and allow process/equipment control from a unified interface. It can also provide tracking, trending and process analysis of the control system. Any system can benefit from the use of a SCADA package. Some of the more common SCADA monitored infrastructure includes:

  • Hospitals
  • Airports
  • Water / Waste Water Treatment Plants
  • Manufacturing Plants
  • Commercial / Industrial Buildings
  • Mining
  • Power Generation
  • HVAC (Heating, Venting and Air Conditioning)
  • Any automated process

Where an item of equipment is monitored and/or controlled SCADA provides a simplified method of interfacing with the system

The Need for Human Machine Interface

Although many of these processes are designed to be automated they require human interaction to monitor and control plant operations. A process can be upset by any number of changes to the system such as a low flow, high temperature or overflows. In such a case the SCADA generates an alarm/s to warn the operator of the situation and allow changes to set points and control to remedy the upset. Through use of SCADA or HMI’s (Human Machine Interfaces) feedback and control of the plant can be accurately conveyed to the operator.

Alarm Rationalisation

Close consideration is given to the following guidelines during the design and implementation stage of any SCADA project:

  • EEMUA Publication 191 “ALARM SYSTEMS – A Guide to Design, Management, and Procurement”
  • ANSI/ISA-88, standard addressing batch process control
  • ANSI/ISA-18.2-2009 “Management of Alarm Systems for the Process Industries”.

This is to ensure that a flood of alarms does not overwhelm the operator when an incident occurs.