Some of the most common certifications for engineers and technicians in industrial automation and advanced manufacturing are offered by professional organizations and technology providers.
Certifications from Professional Organizations
These certifications are often vendor-neutral and demonstrate a broad understanding of the field.
- Certified Automation Professional (CAP): Offered by the International Society of Automation (ISA), the CAP certification is for experienced professionals who manage, design, and implement automation systems.
- Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST): Also from the ISA, this certification is for technicians who install, maintain, and troubleshoot control systems. There are three levels (I, II, and III) that reflect increasing levels of experience.
- Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE): The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) offers this certification to validate a professional’s expertise in manufacturing processes, including design, materials, production, and quality control.
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE): Offered by the American Society for Quality (ASQ), this certification is valuable for engineers who focus on quality assurance and process improvement within manufacturing.
- Six Sigma Certifications: The Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt certifications are highly respected credentials that demonstrate a professional’s ability to lead and manage quality improvement projects.
Certifications from Technology Providers
Many manufacturers of automation equipment offer their own training and certification programs to validate a person’s proficiency with their specific products.
- Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley): They offer various certifications for their PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and HMI software, such as RSLogix and Studio 5000.
- Siemens: Siemens provides certifications for their SIMATIC PLC and TIA Portal software, which are widely used in industrial control.
- Robotics Certifications: Companies like FANUC, ABB, and Yaskawa Motoman offer certifications for programming and operating their industrial robots, which are essential for many modern manufacturing applications.