OEM PLC Training

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What is Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) PLC Training?

… As it relates to industrial manufacturing equipment.

Machine manufacturer PLC Training — CNC machining manufacturer used as example in this article.

Before going into the subject of OEM PLC training, it is best to describe what is an OEM as it relates to industrial equipment. On its face, seems simple, one who manufactures equipment. The maintenance or engineer will tell you it is a bit more complicated than that. A machine manufacturer (machine OEM) uses parts to make the machine from other manufacturers (OEMs).

CNC Machining Manufacturer For Example:

Take one of the largest USA CNC Manufacturers, Detroit Machine Tools, and their AutomateCNC. Their Automate CNC uses a Siemens PLC to control it. Employees of a Widget Manufacturing company who work with or on AutomateCNC may seek machine operation and maintenance training from Detroit Machine Tools and additional PLC training from a Siemens training provider. Same for software custom to each OEM. Both are OEMs. One OEM product often contains products from other OEMs.

The CNC pictured above is another example, it uses Rockwell PLC and Siemens Servo Drivers.

As a side note, Mazak (Uses Mitsubishi PLC) and Trumpf (Uses Siemens PLC) are the top two CNC manufacturers globally, and another popular brand, Fanuc CNC (Uses Rockwell PLC).

What is OEM PLC Training?

The are two types of OEM PLC training, and both are manufacturing workforce training. OEM training can refer to training the employees who manufacture the machines. The other refers to training the manufacturing employees who use the machines to create other products like widgets.

A. Training the OEM employees receive.

OEM employees need training on other brands’ equipment used within their own OEM machines they make and support. Sticking with the CNC machining manufacturers' example, Fanuc employees seek additional training from the Rockwell/AB PLC OEM. The machine manufacturer’s business model dictates how much external OEM training its employees need. More on that is below.

B. Training the OEM provides its customers.

Machine manufacturers take one of two approaches when it comes to providing OEM training to its customer. The more common business model among OEMs is having machine support as an additional revenue stream. So that the machine manufacturers will focus on training their own customer support and field technicians/engineers, not the end-users of their equipment. With an occasional end-user (widget manufacturer) looking over the OEM tech’s back as they work on the machine. In this type of situation, the end-user of the machine may seek PLC training with a third-party training provider that specializes in a certain brand or go to the OEM PLC training for one or more PLC brands. While OEM PLC training will most likely have a certain portion of it being sales, they are the go-to source when it’s time for more advanced PLC training.

The less common model is for the OEM to have customer training as an additional revenue stream. The machine OEM sells training to customers. Additionally, may sell the training to the public at large too. But on their customer’s side of the training, the machine OEM is also realizing additional revenue through less costly start-ups, warranty periods, and increased sales to more satisfied customers. As the end-user sees increased savings also in reduced downtime.

If the OEM wants to realize the benefits and profits of its end-users knowing more about servicing their equipment themselves, without the cost of developing and maintaining a customer training program, they should recommend a cost-effective third-party training provider like BIN95.com to their customers. Some OEMs are currently doing this, but many are missing that opportunity to reduce customer downtime and their own OEM warranty costs.

Side Notes:

What is an OEM PLC Trainer?

Great for warehouse simulation software, robotic, etc. — PLC Trainer Hardware Version

Just like OEM PLC training, there are two main meanings of OEM PLC trainer. The most common is a physical training station or the more cost-effective PLC training simulator typically made by a third party that contains one brand of PLC. See details of the two types of PLC Trainers by tapping the caption below each picture above. The other refers to an instructor who trains others on a PLC.

As you will learn when you explore both types above, the physical hardware version of a PLC trainer is much more expensive than its software PLC trainer counterpart. The hardware example pictured above costs $439, compared to the software version at $159. With the above PLC trainer, it uses Rockwell's free PLC programming software, but most physical PLC trainers require that you own a copy of the OEM's PLC programming software which can cost thousands for the software alone. In contrast, the software version of the PLC trainer does not require OEM software, cables, maintenance, or anything else. Everything you need to learn PLCs is just $159.

What is a PLC Training Kit?

The same for this term, two meanings. The most common is a physical PLC trainer with a PLC training course in print or digital. The physical example of a PLC Trainer above actually qualifies as a "PLC Trainer Kit", as it also comes with PLC training lessons. Once again, the more cost-effective solution is software instead of hardware. The software solution is also much more flexible than its physical solution counterpart. A PLC training simulator plus a course or course software could have individual simulations built into it. Even better working with PLCs requires an understanding of several other technologies, an automation training software bundle of courses, and simulators on technologies like PLC, PAC, HMI, SCADA, etc. Bundles cost-effectively create a much strong automation foundation on which the technician or engineer can build. In another PLC training software bundle offered by BIN95, you get a PLC Trainer, PAC Trainer, HMI trainer, and a VFD trainer, plus courses for each, all 4 for about the price you would spend on one physical PLC Trainer. Students and employees would learn a whole lot more than physical counterparts would provide. (Not to mention OEM software for all 4 physical devices could easily cost an extra $10, 000 per seat.)

With BIN95 Automation Training site licenses, a company or school could have unlimited seats, all employees/students working on them simultaneously, the licenses never expire, and no annual fee. All for the price of 10 seats!

About the Author:

Don Fitchett is the President of BIN95's Industrial Training Company. Don also founded the activity-based costing system called "True Downtime Cost ™ " (TDC), authored books, and speaks at conventions on the topic. Don has been in the industrial training sector for over three decades, setting up training programs around the world.

Industrial Training - The Best for Less