PLC Based Discrete and Digital Automation
This course outlines the fundamentals of discrete or digital automation.
Overview
This course is only available to those currently in employment and partially funded under the Skills to Advance initiative. ​
​
Skills to Advance is a national initiative that provides upskilling and reskilling opportunities to employees in jobs undergoing change and to those currently employed in vulnerable sectors. Skills to Advance aims to equip employees with the skills they need to progress in their current role or to adapt to the changing job market. Skills to Advance helps employers identify skills needs and invest in their workforce by providing subsidised education and training to staff.
​
If you would like more information on this initiative, please email our Enterprise Engagement Team at skills@kwetb.ie and they would be delighted to help.
Save Your Spot
November 2025
27 - 28 Nov 2025
CELTEC, Celbridge
Course Content
Discrete or Digital automation encompasses the use of digital technology such as sensors, directional control valves, pick and place hardware, pneumatic actuator systems and a plethora of bespoke machinery in the manufacturing of discrete products in assembly lines and material handling areas. This form of automation is extensively used in the manufacturing and medical technology industries and widely used in other industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and chemical.
​
The course is 10% theory and 90% interactive using practical based exercises. and is delivered over 2 days.
Areas covered include:
-
Principle of operation of PLCs
-
Fundamentals of digital signal processing
-
Essential elements of communication with PLCs via TIA (Totally Integrated Automation)
-
Ladder logic-based programming encompassing latches, interlocks, timers, counters, set/reset, on-off control and sequential control
-
Data types & tagging philosophies
-
Fault finding and resetting systems
​​
The software platform is Siemens TIA using Siemens 1500 PLCs with integrated HMIs. The course provides a hands-on approach to the utilization of PLCs using tailored practical exercises based on real-life industry scenarios. These real-life scenarios can be tailored to mimic the learner’s area of employment.
Learning Outcomes
Learn how to:
-
Develop core competency in the basic steps required to connect and deploy PLC code to a live system
-
Get digital automation systems up and running
-
Develop trouble shooting skills to interrogate digital based automation systems
-
Determine appropriate solutions to reset faults as they occur
-
Identify and suggest and/or write corrective PLC code to reduce/eliminate recurring faults
Understand how:
-
PLC systems are constructed and interact to produce digital automation systems
-
To determine appropriate solutions to isolate and identify fault occurring PLC code
-
To reset faults and get digital automation system back up and running
​​
Know how to:
-
View code to identify possible issues
-
Produce solutions to promote fault reduction
-
Standardise fault finding techniques
Suitability
Due to Skills to Advance (STA) funding, this course is only available to those in employment.
​
Applicants must have prior technical experience or knowledge and/or exposure to an industrial environment.
Delivery
This course is delivered over 2 full days. These are all physical classes at CELTEC, Celbridge, Co. Kildare where learners will gain hands-on experience in working with PLC's.
​
Learners must be available for all days as this is an intensive course with much content to cover over this period.
Certification
KWETB Certificate of Completion.
PLC Learners
