What is the cost of doing an OEM PLC training?

[alex]

What is the cost of doing an OEM PLC training for one to multiple machines (say 5-10?) and what is the average number of equipment types a hospital will use your style of training for (I hear many newbies are taught just through job shadowing, however OEM PLC training and certification is the best method)?

[Admin]

Hi Alex:

First, it is important for this discussion, to understand the difference between to definitions of an “OEM” (Original Equipment Manufacturer).

1. Machine OEM: The company that makes and/or integrates one or more machines.

2. PLC OEM: The company that makes the brand of PLC one is referring to. (The PLC vendor)

There is even a “software OEM”, the one who makes a particular software title. So, it is important when discussing or asking a question like you did, not to just use the term “OEM”, but instead use “Machine OEM” or “PLC OEM” (or even ‘PLC vendor’ would be better, instead of PLC OEM).

Below I will list in order of best quality, the different PLC Training sources. But for clarity of the discussions, I must define what is meant by ‘quality’, with respect to PLC Training.

PLC Training Quality: The amount of actual value PLC training delivers with respect to knowledge/skill that is applicable in the real-world, in doing the actual job and its cost to complete training.

(For example, in school/college the history of PLCs is often taught, yet a student will not use this knowledge out in the real world, that topic has little or no value in the real-world, in doing the actual job. We call it a filler, just to use up time because a college is trying to keep students present for a set amount of time, months, Years, etc., not just time it takes to adequately teach a topic.)

Best PLC training provider (in order of quality, not necessarily price):

1. An independent Training provider who specializes in PLC Training. (from $489 - $2,000)

2. College course ($7,000 – 20,000)

3. PLC OEM (PLC vendor) ($1,000 - $5,000)

4. Machine OEM (free - $2,000)

5. Free online or Udemy cheap course (free - $150)

Some details of the advantages/disadvantages of each…

1. An Independent Training provider who specializes in PLC Training. (from $489 - $2,000)

• Real-world, practical knowledge
  
• Knowledge transfer from many PLC instructors, many industries, over decades.
  
• Specializes in PLC Training
  
• Focused not on one instructor’s way of working with PLC, but focus on the best way to work with PLCs.
  
• Best practices taught.
  
• Focused on safety, reliability, and minimizing downtime.
• Focused on user becoming less OEM dependent.
  
• Learn to work with most brands of PLCs, not just one brand/vendor.
  
• Professional trainers (instructors).
  
• Most cost-effective training solution.
  

2. College course ($7,000 – 20,000)

• Mostly scholastic material and approach.
  
• Only about 20% of the material will be used in the workplace by a student. (80/20 rule)
  
• The student will pick up real-world experiences from only on the instructor’s life experience.
  
• No attention to working with PLC safely, reliably, or in minimizing downtime.
  
• Professional trainers (instructor).
  
• Very low return on student’s investment. (pricy)
  

3. PLC OEM (PLC vendor) ($1,000 - $5,000)

• Basically, just reading the manual in class, with some hands-on exercises.
  
• 20% or more will be PLC vendor sales pitch on their own equipment.
  
• Biased towards their brand only.
  
• No attention to working with PLC safely, reliably, or in minimizing downtime.
  
• Often not professional trainers. (Professionals in their trade, just not teaching others.)
  
• Low return on student’s investment.
  

4. Machine OEM (free - $2,000)

• Not complete training (often just enough to make a person dangerous)
  
• Often just looking over a start-up tech’s shoulder. (supper poor quality)
  
• Specific as it applies to just that one machine or system.
  
• Instructors/tech often has very limited experience themselves, possibly on that one company and/or machine.
  
• No attention to working with PLC safely, reliably, or in minimizing downtime.
  
• Instructors/tech often has no experience training others.
  
• Very low return on student’s investment.
  

5. Free online PLC training or Udemy cheap course (free - $150)

• An unknown instructor, might be just an individual or student sharing what they think.
  
• Often the worst way to do something is taught.
  
• No attention to working with PLC safely, reliably, or in minimizing downtime.
  
• Mostly scholastic material and approach.
  
• Little to no return on student’s investment. (be it money or time)
  

When considering this topic, it is very, very important you also consider the effectiveness of training delivery methods. See chart at bin95.com/why_onsite_training.htm

Also note, our (BIN95) PLC training focuses on other important topics that no other PLC training provider does, like for example, what is the difference between a PLC and a PAC, industrial cybersecurity, etc.

If you use any of this in your thesis/article, please reference/link to BIN95.com as the author.