How about the web-based courses and training CDs available online from other vendors?

Our basic advice is the same as for all other training methods. If the training program meets your needs, at a price that you find acceptable, then go ahead and use it. Some people can learn quite well by following these "go-at-your-own-pace" type courses. Other people need a more disciplined approach to training.

Our PLC Boot Camp classes are intended primarily for plant maintenance technicians who need effective PLC skills for troubleshooting purposes. Our courses use five days of intense training to prepare a student with the PLC skills normally needed by a maintenance technician.

On the other hand, working all the way through one of these "go-at-your-own-pace" courses invariably takes a lot longer than just five days. Usually several months to a year are required. If that longer time frame is acceptable, then one of those other courses might work fine for you.

Even more important than the time required, let's look at the skills offered by one of those web-based or CD-based courses. In most cases, some of the course material is concerned with how PLCs are supposed to work. The rest of the material usually focuses on writing basic ladder logic programs. Those skills might be valuable to a programmer – but they don't really satisfy the requirements of a maintenance technician who is troubleshooting a malfunctioning system. The point is that most of those other courses don't cover much at all along the lines of troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

Suppose that time isn't an issue – and that the skills being offered are adequate for your needs. Then also consider whether your personnel will really be determined enough to work on their own for several months while completing the program. If all of those conditions are met, then a web-based or CD-based PLC training course might serve you well.

Note: If this hasn't completely answered your question, just contact us at:

843-437-1883          - phone

843-225-0512          - fax

ronbeaufort@gmail.com - email

© Copyright - R.H.Beaufort - Charleston, SC – Updated: May 14, 2008