Advanced Industrial Instrumentation Control Technician Education

该项目将通过改进工业仪表学位计划，为培养一支熟练的技术劳动力做出贡献。改进后的课程将包括高级自动化控制和化学制造控制系统故障排除技能的培训。该学位将强调工业物联网(IIoT)运营模式、工业4.0故障排除方法和现代人机界面。路易斯安那州南部的河流地区对工业仪表控制技术人员的需求越来越大，他们拥有先进的自动化控制和故障排除技能方面的经验。这些技术人员对石油化工厂的日常运营至关重要，负责对自动化部件进行故障排除、调整和编程。因此，需要不断提高工业仪表控制技术人员在IIoT操作和工业4.0方法方面的技能。该学位还将强调21世纪的技术技能，如批判性思维和信息素养，为这个多元化的农村地区培养受过良好教育、富有生产力的技术劳动力。该项目将通过使用商业和工业领导团队(BILT)评估计划来解构和重新设计现有的工业仪器学位课程。将通过与行业合作伙伴密切合作来开发内容，开发IIoT入门课程和行业4.0顶峰课程。此外，新课程中选定的模块将被纳入过程技术学位课程。该项目有三个目标成果：1)研究本质安全的便携式人机界面设备，用于通信设备和人员的GPS定位、过程系统自动化控制和工业工厂过程健康；2)设计课程作业，以满足IIoT-操作技术/信息技术通信要求和行业4.0故障排除技能之间的接口；以及3)实施STEM核心技能模块，以满足不同农村学生群体的学业需求。这些课程将使学生沉浸在工厂运营和故障排除的综合方法中。这些课程将根据企业界对在跨学科团队中工作的技术人员的公认需求而开发，在这些团队中，仪表技术人员和过程技术工人能够将工厂控制想象为一个系统。该项目由高级技术教育计划资助，该计划专注于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will contribute to development of a skilled technical workforce by improving an Industrial Instrumentation degree program. The improved curriculum will include training in advanced automation control and troubleshooting skills in chemical manufacturing control systems. The degree will emphasize the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) operational model, Industry 4.0 troubleshooting methods, and modern Human Machine Interface. The river region of southern Louisiana has a growing demand for Industrial Instrumentation Control Technicians with experience in advanced automation control and troubleshooting skills. These technicians are vital to the daily operations of petro-chemical plants and are responsible for troubleshooting, tuning, and programming automation components. As a result, there is an ongoing need to advance the skills of industrial instrumentation control technicians in IIoT operations and in Industry 4.0 methods. The degree will also emphasize 21st century technical skills, such as critical thinking and information literacy, to produce a well-educated, productive technical workforce for this diverse, rural region. The project will deconstruct and redesign an existing Industrial Instrumentation degree program by using the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) evaluation plan. Content will be developed by working closely with industry partners to develop an Introduction to IIoT course and an Industry 4.0 capstone course. In addition, selected modules in the new courses will be incorporated into the Process Technology degree coursework. This project has three targeted outcomes: 1) Researching intrinsically safe portable Human Machine Interface devices that communicate equipment and personnel GPS positioning, process systems automation control, and industrial plant process health; 2) Designing coursework to address the interface of the IIoT – Operational Technology/Information Technology communications requirements and Industry 4.0 troubleshooting skills; and 3) Implementing core STEM skill modules that address the academic needs of a diverse, rural student population. The courses will immerse students in an integrated approach to plant operations and troubleshooting. These courses will be developed out of an acknowledged need in the business community for technicians who work in cross-disciplinary teams in which instrumentation technicians and process technology workers are able to envision plant controls as a system. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.