FASTEST Way to Learn Automation and ACTUALLY Get a Job

Summary

The speaker reflects on their journey in the automation industry, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right industry niche, such as smart home automation, building management systems, or industrial automation. They stress the necessity of learning foundational skills like electrical schematics and control panels before advancing to PLC programming. The speaker advocates for hands-on experience over formal education, suggesting that practical knowledge and client communication are more valuable in the field. They also highlight the benefits of their private Facebook group for industry professionals looking to develop skills in control and automation.

Takeaways

• 🔄 It took the speaker over 12 years to work in the automation industry after leaving school, following a traditional education path.
• 🏗️ The speaker suggests focusing on three main industries within automation: smart home automation, building management systems (BMS), and industrial automation.
• 🏡 Smart home automation is a growing but smaller market, often serving wealthier individuals with larger properties.
• 🏢 BMS is commercially focused and involves managing energy usage in commercial buildings, which is currently incentivized by governments for energy efficiency.
• ⚙️ Industrial automation is the most established sector with the most opportunities, focusing on process optimization and energy savings in various industries.
• 📚 The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning electrical schematics, control panels, and then PLC programming in that order to build a strong foundation.
• 🚫 Avoid jumping straight into PLC programming without understanding the foundational skills; it's crucial for effective problem-solving in the field.
• 👐 The value of hands-on experience is highlighted over theoretical knowledge, suggesting practical experience as a priority for career advancement.
• 💼 Formal university qualifications are not a prerequisite for success in the automation industry, with many successful individuals lacking traditional degrees.
• 🤝 Client focus is on the ability to deliver results and communicate effectively rather than on formal qualifications, emphasizing skills and service quality.
• 🔗 The speaker invites interested individuals to join a private Facebook group for further development in the control and automation space.

Q & A

How long did it take the speaker to transition from school to working in the automation industry?

It took the speaker over 12 years to transition from school to working in the automation industry.

What is the speaker's role at Lockson?

The speaker is a partner coach for Lockson.

What are the three primary industries within the automation industry mentioned in the script?

The three primary industries within the automation industry mentioned are smart home automation, building management systems (BMS), and industrial automation.

What does the speaker suggest as the first skill to learn in the automation industry?

The speaker suggests learning to read and interpret electrical schematics as the first skill.

Why is it important to understand control panels before learning PLC programming according to the speaker?

Understanding control panels is important before learning PLC programming because it helps in designing, building, testing control panels, and in fault finding by understanding the system's operation.

What is the speaker's opinion on the necessity of formal university qualifications in the automation industry?

The speaker believes that formal university qualifications are not necessary and that hands-on experience and practical skills are more valuable in the automation industry.

What is the main advantage of working in the BMS sector according to the speaker?

The main advantage of working in the BMS sector is that it's easier to sell to clients because there's a clear return on investment through energy savings and efficiency improvements.

Why does the speaker recommend getting hands-on experience as quickly as possible in the automation industry?

The speaker recommends getting hands-on experience quickly because it provides practical knowledge and is more valuable in the long run than theoretical learning alone.

What is the speaker's advice for those considering university for a degree in electrical engineering?

The speaker advises against going to university for a degree in electrical engineering, suggesting that time spent gaining hands-on experience in the industry is more beneficial.

How does the speaker suggest businesses can demonstrate the value of their services in the automation industry?

The speaker suggests businesses can demonstrate the value of their services by showing potential clients the amount of energy and money they can save through automation and control systems.

What is the role of the private Facebook group mentioned by the speaker?

The private Facebook group helps businesses and individuals develop skills, knowledge, and understanding in the control and automation space.

Outlines

00:00

🔧 Journey to Automation Industry Expertise

The speaker reflects on their career path as an engineer, which took over 12 years to reach a partnership coaching role in the automation industry. They discuss the traditional educational route of apprenticeship, college, university, and professional qualifications, followed by a slow climb up the career ladder. The speaker then shares insights gained over seven years across three main industries, highlighting crucial skills and strategies for entering the automation industry more quickly. They emphasize the importance of choosing an industry of interest, understanding the overlap between industries, and the growing opportunities in smart home automation, despite its smaller market size and the challenges of selling to wealthier clients with larger properties.

05:01

🏢 Exploring the Automation Industry Sectors

The speaker delves into the three primary sectors of the automation industry: smart home automation, building management systems (BMS), and industrial automation. They describe smart home automation as a newer sector with hype around 'smart home' technology but note the distinction between consumer-grade IoT products and professional home automation systems. The BMS sector is highlighted as commercially focused and the speaker's current preference, involving system design and energy efficiency in commercial buildings. The industrial sector is presented as the oldest and most varied, with opportunities in manufacturing, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and automotive, where automation can streamline processes and save energy, offering a clear return on investment.

10:04

🛠️ Skills Development in Automation

The speaker advises on the correct sequence for learning skills in the automation industry, starting with understanding electrical schematics, followed by control panels, and finally PLC programming. They stress the importance of not jumping ahead to programming without a solid foundation in the basics, as they have seen many individuals struggle without it. The speaker also encourages gaining hands-on experience as soon as possible, even if it means a temporary financial setback, as this practical knowledge is invaluable. They dismiss the necessity of formal university qualifications, asserting that industry experience and practical skills are more highly valued by clients and can lead to greater success in the field.

🌐 Networking and Further Learning Opportunities

The speaker mentions the importance of networking and continuous learning in the automation industry, referencing a private Facebook group that aids businesses and individuals in skill development. They invite viewers interested in the intricacies of control and automation systems to join the group and explore the process of building a control panel from scratch, offering a practical example of hands-on learning.

Keywords

💡Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship is a system of on-the-job training for a skilled trade. In the context of the video, the speaker reflects on their journey starting with an apprenticeship in engineering, which is a common path for aspiring engineers to gain practical experience and skills. The video emphasizes the value of hands-on experience over purely academic qualifications.

💡Automation Industry

The automation industry encompasses the design, manufacture, and implementation of automated systems and components. The video discusses the importance of understanding the different sectors within this industry, such as smart home automation and building management systems, and how they offer various opportunities for engineers.

💡Smart Home Automation

Smart home automation refers to the integration of home systems, such as lighting, security, and climate control, to create a seamless and efficient living environment. The video script highlights the growth of this sector and differentiates it from simple IoT products by emphasizing the need for proper system integration in larger properties.

💡Building Management System (BMS)

A Building Management System is a control system that monitors and manages a building's mechanical and electrical equipment, such as ventilation, lighting, and heating. The video underscores the commercial focus of BMS, where energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprint are key incentives, making it an attractive sector for automation engineers.

💡Industrial Automation

Industrial automation involves the use of control systems and information technologies to optimize manufacturing and other industrial processes. The speaker in the video points out that this sector has been around for the longest and offers the most opportunities due to the vast array of industries requiring intelligent control systems.

💡Electrical Schematics

Electrical schematics are graphical representations of an electrical system that show the relationship between components. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding electrical schematics as a foundational skill for anyone entering the automation industry, as it is crucial for designing, building, and troubleshooting control systems.

💡Control Panels

Control panels are enclosures that house the controls for a piece of equipment or a system. In the video, the speaker advises that understanding control panels is a critical skill that builds upon the knowledge of electrical schematics, and it is essential for both the design and troubleshooting of automated systems.

💡PLC Programming

PLC programming refers to the process of writing software for programmable logic controllers, which are used to automate industrial processes. The video script warns against focusing on PLC programming without first understanding electrical schematics and control panels, as a strong foundation in these areas is necessary for effective programming.

💡Hands-on Experience

Hands-on experience implies practical, direct involvement in a task or process. The video stresses the importance of gaining hands-on experience as quickly as possible, suggesting that it is more valuable than theoretical knowledge when it comes to entering the automation industry.

💡Formal Qualifications

Formal qualifications are academic degrees or certifications obtained through education. The speaker in the video suggests that, while traditional educational paths are common, they are not necessary for success in the automation industry, and practical experience is often more valued by clients.

💡Return on Investment (ROI)

Return on Investment (ROI) is a performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment. In the context of the video, ROI is discussed in relation to how automation can save energy or streamline processes, providing a clear financial benefit to clients, which makes selling automation solutions easier.

Highlights

The journey from school to becoming a partner coach in the automation industry took over 12 years.

Traditional career path involves apprenticeship, college, university, and MVQ before climbing the career ladder.

The importance of discovering what matters to people and focusing on areas that provide the greatest return on time investment.

The speaker shares insights on how to enter the automation industry more quickly based on their experience.

There are three primary industries within the automation industry: smart home automation, building management systems, and industrial.

Smart home automation is a newer sector with a smaller market but growing year on year.

Building management systems (BMS) are commercially focused and involve system design and control panels.

Industrial automation is the oldest sector with the most opportunity and variety.

Understanding electrical schematics is the foundational skill required before moving on to more advanced topics.

Control panels understanding builds on the knowledge of electrical schematics.

PLC programming should be the final skill learned after a solid understanding of electrical schematics and control panels.

Practical, hands-on experience is more valuable than theoretical knowledge.

Formal qualifications are not necessary for success in the automation industry.

Clients value practical skills and the ability to communicate effectively over formal qualifications.

The speaker offers guidance through a private Facebook group for businesses and individuals in the control and automation space.

The video provides an in-depth look at building a control panel from scratch.

Transcripts

from the day I left school to begin my

apprenticeship as an engineer it took me

over 12 years before I finally got the

opportunity to work in the automation

industry as a partner coach for lockson

and a big part of this was due to

following the traditional path that a

lot of aspiring Engineers take so

apprenticeship College University mvq

Etc and then slowly climbing the career

ladder but now after finally getting

here and after spending over 7 years

working across the three main Industries

what I've discovered are the things that

actually matter to people what areas

people should focus time and resources

and ultimately what's actually going to

get people into the industry much

quicker than it took me and I learned

this largely through trial and error and

without anyone to guide me in the right

direction so I've been pondering if I

could go back in time with my current

knowledge what would I do differently so

that's exactly what I'm going to discuss

with you today I'm going to hopefully be

that guide that I didn't have to

hopefully help you move into the

industry quicker than it took me so

we're going to start by exploring the

three primary Industries within the

automation industry then we're going to

dive into the most crucial skills that

actually stack on top of each other and

offer the greatest return on your time

investment and then finally we'll

explore strategies to secure full-time

Automation and control positions or win

projects as a business owner so yeah

firstly guys if I was going to do of

this again the first thing I would

decide is what industry interests me the

most that I think I'm going to want to

spend the majority of my time in at

least to start with and the nice thing

about all these industries is there's a

huge amount of overlap so you build the

skills in one of them that transfers

very easily to the others so what are

those Industries so the first one being

smart home automation like the

residential sector and this is a much

newer sector than the other two and the

whole buzzword smart home has got a lot

of hype over the last several years or

so and it's important to differentiate

between the sort of smart home iot

internet of things products like your

ring doorbell your hive thermostat your

Philips hu Light Bulbs Etc that's all

consumer grade off the shelf very simple

Solutions without any real proper system

integration so that's smart home but I'm

talking more about home automation

that's a better word for the sector that

I'm talking about now with proper home

automation systems there's obviously a

higher cost to this which means there's

a much smaller market and the fact that

it's all pretty new anyway certainly in

the UK means that it's a much smaller

Market with less opportunity although it

certainly is growing year on year on

year and the other thing to consider is

proper home automation is probably more

suited to larger buildings so usually

that means wealthier individuals with

bigger properties who perhaps need this

type of automation to simplify things

within their home but then when you

start to go down in the market to maybe

more the sort of mid-tier properties

it's a much harder sale and you

definitely need to develop your sales

skills to be able to communicate the

benefits of actually having integrated

full automation system whereas with the

other sectors which we get into in a

second they're a much easier sell

because there's a clear return on

investment so on to the second sector

and this is the building management

system or BMS sector so this is more

commercially focused and this is what I

personally enjoy the most at the moment

this is where I spend the most of my

time doing system design and control

panels and whatnot and ultimately every

commercial building certainly larger

buildings like hotels Leisure centers

schools those sort of buildings pretty

much every single one will have a plant

room or Boiler Room which will need all

that equipment intelligent L managed in

an efficient way to ensure that energy

usage is kept to a minimum for example

in a hotel the guests are getting hot

water heating air conditioning Etc when

they need it so it's all about balancing

out the demand and trying to conserve as

much energy ultimately money as possible

and with the BMS sector things like

getting to Net Zero is hugely

incentivized at the moment by

governments and there's also sort of

other restrictions coming in that are

encouraging businesses to reduce their

carbon footprint and if you can

communicate and demonstrate and show

your potential clients statistics on the

amount of energy and money that you're

going to save them this is a much easier

sell in my opinion also there's much

more opportunity you think of all the

larger commercial buildings out there in

the world that uge huge amounts of

electricity if you can just save them 5%

not even that on their annual Energy

bill that's in some cases saving them 10

tens of thousands if not hundreds of

thousands of pounds a year and then the

third sector is industrial and this is

probably the sector that's been around

for the longest which has definitely the

most opportunity and the most variety so

looking at businesses that do

manufacturing do food processing

Pharmaceuticals Automotive there's just

so many sectors within this sector that

require intelligent control systems and

Automation and again this I think is a

much easier sell than the home

automation because if you can

demonstrate to a business that again

either you're going to save them energy

or you're going to streamline their

processes through automation it's a very

clear return on investment for that

client and they can see that they're

going to make their money back in x

amount of months or a year or so okay so

now on to the second thing and that

would be learning the right skills in

the right order that build on top of

each other now this is pretty difficult

to know if you've not really been in the

industry before had any sort of real

guidance from anyone but if I was to go

back with the knowledge that I have now

the first skill that I would learn would

be electrical schematics hands down no

question whatsoever understand how to

read and interpret electrical schematics

and that's kind of the beginner level

that I'd make sure that I feel confident

in before going to the next stage and

then this next stage which Builds on top

of the first stage understanding

electrical schematics is now

understanding control panels so how they

put together and I'd be referencing and

using my skills and knowledge that I've

developed on the first stage to help me

then understand what's going in and

what's going on in a control panel the

best way to do this is to have images or

if possible a real panel with the

matching schematics which you can then

reference the schematics and then

reference the labeling and components

within the panel and you can slowly

piece together how the system is

actually operating and this not only

will help you with the designing and

then building and then testing of

control panels but it will also help you

with understanding the best method and

how to break down a system when it comes

to fault finding and then the final

skill is PLC programming and it's really

important that you don't focus on this

until you've got a good understanding of

electrical schematics and then also the

control panels and the reason that it's

so important not to jump ahead and start

straight away on the PLC programming

because I've seen this far too many

times time and time again when I worked

at lockson as a partner coach I'd see

individuals and businesses coming in for

the week's manufacturer training where

really manufacturing training is just

training people on the software and the

system rather than everything else that

comes before that and that underpins it

and because they don't really have a

good understanding of everything that

underpins the programming like the

design like the panel building like the

infrastructure and how everything works

and control philosophy Etc they're

pretty lost to be honest with you so

they do this training they might scrape

through actually doing the programming

but they don't know in reality what

that's actually doing in terms of

hardware and then they don't end up

really lasting in this field of work so

really important do not jump ahead to

the PLC programming you'll be far better

off building up to that through learning

electrical schematics and then control

panels and I know it's very tempting to

jump ahead and do the programming cuz I

know people in the industry they see

these commissioning engineers Rock up on

site for a day get their laptop out

press a few keys and have the system up

and running in a day and then head home

after making you know like 600 700 800

quid a day and it looks like easy money

but what you don't see is the little

niggles the little teething problems

that happens when you do commissioning

on site which these Engineers have a

good understanding of how to rectify

them because they understand or at least

the good ones understand like I just

mentioned everything that under pins

that programming and the third thing

that I know now which I didn't when I

started is how important it is just to

get hands on as quickly as possible

forget all the theory just get practical

hands-on experience as quickly as you

can whether that be installing some kit

in your own home whether that being

winning a project but make sure that you

know how to deliver that project before

you win it or perhaps getting yourself a

position as an engineer or trainee

engineer at a firm that does Automation

and control and if that means taking a

step back financially for a year or two

for you to get that experience that's

going to be far more valuable in the

long run than it is taking a hit of say

5 or 10K or whatever in that short

period of time a year or so when you're

Gathering that knowledge and just

following on from that guys just for

those of you that are thinking perhaps

you need to go to university and get

formal qualifications you really don't

pretty much everyone that I know within

the industry and I know a lot of

successful people that are running

successful businesses in all all of

these different industries that we

talked about none of them have formal

University degrees none of them have a

Bachelors in electrical engineering for

example nor do I and I can tell you that

spending your time in the industry

getting hands on maybe starting as a

traine is going to be far more valuable

and give you a much larger return on

your time invested than spending four

years studying a University degree also

you won't have to spend all that money

on tuition fee and then just around this

third point off guys if you're a

business owner looking to get into the

industry and you're worried about

clients potentially asking to see your

formal qualifications or any

qualifications for that matter I just

want to assure you that at least from my

perspective and my experience a client

has never asked for me to produce my

certificates of all my formal

qualifications not that I have

University degrees but yeah they don't

need to see it they don't ask to see it

I think as long as you're good at what

you do good at helping communicate to

clients what they need and actually help

them make good buying decisions in my

mind that's that's enough that's all

they need and guys if you're not already

aware we have a private Facebook group

where we help businesses and individuals

develop the skills knowledge and

understanding and help them develop into

different Industries within the control

and automation space and if you're

interested to see what lies at the heart

of a control and automation system a

control panel and you'd like to see what

it looks like building one from scratch

then I think that you might like this

video

[Music]

here