Technicians vs Engineers. Aren't They the Same?

It is time to stop sending technicians to the wrong training. Helping you become a better technician so you will always be in demand.
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[@jerrydaugherty4657]

30 years as an Engineer in the Electric Power Industry - 20 years as a Licensed Professional Engineer. Thousands upon thousands of hours in the field --- much of which fixing another Engineer's problems. You are spot-on in every single element.

[@TimWilborne]

Thanks Jerry!

[@syeddanishraza903]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6C8Y6Vrhsiricksi=6shyW_xXoUyKaiue

[@dwaynes5983]

I'm a technician and always training new engineers/customers. No idea what is going on out on the floor. I like troubleshooting. After 35k wires and components I can find the problem quick. On a job interview the company owner told me it took 3 days to find out it was a bad output card. Too long.

[@TimWilborne]

It is definitely two different skills.

[@R0cketRed]

3 days! 😆 🤣 were all the outputs off while getting 24. Shits crazy

[@dwaynes5983]

@@R0cketRed It was mechanics working on it.

[@armandozermeno7403]

I am electronics engineer and i think that this is true, although automation professional must know both sides of the coin, troubleshoot and programming. Great video 👍

[@TimWilborne]

Thank you Armando.

[@DLexEdition]

Troubleshoot the hardware, debug the code and occasionally the engineer (tea, coffee and some snacks work wonders on cranky engineers).

[@disun4152]

I have been doing automation programming and sort of designing works for almost 35 years and I am holding a Master Engineering Degree. I started to learn PLC programming by Siemens S5-115U back to China in a large steel-making plant. In the year 1999 I came to Canada I studied to learn and program other controls automation products, like Allen-Bradley product, Omron, Mitsubishi, and Servo motion control and Robotics programming. I always like to working on the floor level although I did do some electrical designing. Now I am working in a large Canadian Automotive Tier-one plant. Being a good programmer , expect for the programming skills, you definitely need to know some basic electronic skills like basic Transistor circuits, Motor connection circuits and VFD main circuits normally called AC-DC-AC circuit. I have seen so many programmers sticking on the laptop all day to work on the code, but have no clues on the electronic circuits. today you have to know the safety principles and so on. All those things will not be learnt in the class room but be experience on the floor.

[@TimWilborne]

Good points. Thanks for sharing!

[@christopherwright7309]

Good comparison. I like to think I am well rounded. Came up through electrician ranks to controls tech to controls engineer to process/Controls Engineer to senior Controls Engineer. Now I am a senior tech support engineer and give many thanks to my hands on experience.

[@TimWilborne]

Sounds like you have some great hands on experience!

[@eightysevenmoore]

Glad I found my people! I’ve always thought… the engineer knows how to build the button, the technician know how the buttons works, how to diagnose and how to fix the button. The operator know which and how to push the button.

[@TimWilborne]

We're glad you found us too Aaron!

[@mindhunter8772]

It's impossible to know how the button works more than the engineer who built it....

[@jarednylen1220]

Lol yes! I totally 💯 agree with you! Been a Lead test technologist for years in the DOD contractor world, and they sent me and paid me to get a EET at a college and told me it would “ enhance my d-bug skills” but all it really did was make me better at math and a little better at understanding the electrical engineering side of thing. It didn’t do much at all in the trouble shooting d-bug aspect of my everyday responsibility. There really needs to be a industry standard a credited d-bug school where they teach you component level complex circuit board trouble shooting Oscilloscope training , X-ray analysis, Schematic reading, and so on…you get what I’m saying. I had to painfully learn all that stuff on job by older guys about to retire and took a long time.

[@TimWilborne]

I agree

[@tnapierism]

I toiled away at trying to cross over into engineering for my first 20 years in the automation industry. I truly mean no disrespect by this, but IMHB, being the guy that can show up, diagnose and order the repair on a machine that people are freaking out losing their minds about is so much more enriching then being somebody that memorized a couple of formulas and spends $80,000 on education.

[@SomeGuy-lw2po]

I'm in my mid 20s and got an opportunity now to move from being a technician which I love, or moving over to engineering, which I find interesting. I worry that I won't find it as rewarding or enjoyable despite it being a better work/life balance...

[@jackpast]

I’ve considered myself an E&I technician for decades. In the manufacturing business troubleshooting was #1 for me followed by keeping operators happy. Got too many great stories to list here.

[@TimWilborne]

Well said!

[@jerrydaugherty4657]

Your introduction is SPOT-ON!!!

[@syeddanishraza903]

PLC Engineers ( Design complex interlocking logics) while PLC Engineering Technologists (troubleshooting, maintenance and editing the interlocking intermediate level)

[@kevinchallenger1218]

Engineers = CAD build, design, and how something should work. Superior mindset. PLC engineering technicians = diagnose and identify issues. God's right hand man...then Programs around the problem instead of fixing it properly. Lazy mindset. Technician = physically builds/fixs it, redesigns it, so that it actually works in the real world and doesn't bother him again in future. Get it done! Mindset. No reason one person can't be all 3. Heck, I just described myself...guess it depends on what hat I wear to work. 😆

[@TimWilborne]

Great point of view Kevin!

[@GiovanniBR1234]

How about Maintenance specialists? Every engineer is trained to "maintain" (Rather planing than actually doing) a machine, some of which are very good at it and are specialists. Those can be useful in the design process, to keep things more grounded and easy to maintain (search terotechnology for more information). Engineers and technicians both work to create real useful things, they just have different perspectives and focus

[@bradperry604]

Jesus....I am an engineering technician and have been engineering since i was a kid. I have to explain theory to engineers ALL the time. Nothing substitutes thousands of hours of hands on experience.

[@TimWilborne]

Very true

[@engineeredappliancerepair2752]

Agreed. I would suggest Real Pars for learning to program PLCs its $20 bucks a month and you learn a lot about various inputs and output devices. I've even programmed a simulator S7 Siemens PLC. They have them out there that are affordable. But in a plant environment if your a tech you will never program. The company that installed the SOF will keep that private. You will swap CF Cards and be happy! Technicians need to be able to test components, understand various input signals, how the logic in the system works, testing outputs reading schematics etc. Luckily for me I've worked with brilliant engineers but there something special for sure.

[@TimWilborne]

Let's hope swapping CF cards isn't considered troubleshooting, that ranks right next to the cell phone 😀

[@timcombs7646]

an a The engineer says, "3.14159". The technician says, "that's close enough"

[@MrWaalkman]

Or 113355. Specifically 113 into 355. Comes out to a 2.667641894049666e-7 difference between it and Pi. ;>

[@santiagomoore374]

Hello sir, Sir currently I have change my job profile from Electrical to Plc programming. In my previous job I am troubleshooting with plc (AB). Now I am in profile of programming, where I am using Mitshubishi. But does plc programming have a good scope for future? Or going in IT industry is more good compare to technology and money? It's really confusing, because in India Software devloper have more salary than A plc programmer.

[@TimWilborne]

There is a great future in both of them.

[@bradperry604]

Automation technology and emerging technology is my life. Its a job for these kids.

[@bradperry604]

So why are engineering technicians paid less???????????????????????

[@elevatesafe9232]

Ive learned more real world relevant information from this channel then i did learning plcs in school...at some point i realized not gonna be asked to engineer a system, Although I have built a couple things at work thats not really in my job description ....i need to know why the process stopped and how to get it running asap

[@TimWilborne]

I sure am glad you found our channel!

[@JaykeSapalaran-iq3qs]

You're right Sir 🫡🫡🫡🇵🇭

[@TimWilborne]

Thanks

[@maintenanceengineeringinsider]

Hi, i am still confused. I initially trained as Automation and Controls Technician. Then i have worked as plant Electrical/ Mechanical Maintenance Technitian for the past 10 years. Then this year, i will graduate with BEng Electronics. Where do i fit into your description?. Nice job! Keep it up!!

[@TimWilborne]

As a well trained person, how's that? 😂

[@R0cketRed]

Ok! Who's paying controls technician money to hold a cell phone???? 🤔 I know a woman that is very good at holding her cell phone and a guy that would love her to make more money for doing what she so clearly loves. 🤣

[@elevatesafe9232]

love what you had to say there its a good niche

[@svojasakdant2180]

Hello Tim Please do me favor 🙏 Please draw programming for automatic dam shutter control system by using micro 800 plc with complete detail to understand Components are Plc, level sensors 03, push buttons 03, relays, motor of hydraulic power pack with (control valve + (a) one side solenoid valve and again control valve + (b) 2nd side solenoid valve) Control valve +(a) works shutter up and hold Control valve + (b) works shutter down and hold With controlling of hydraulic power pack motor

[@mingovazquez704]

What's the location of your school I would like to go to the training sessions, I'm a technician, that is the level I want to get more trouble shoot.

[@TimWilborne]

Roanoke, VA. You can learn more at twcontrols.com/allen-bradley-plc-training

[@burnedupsparkytipsandrevie9597]

Engineer designs the POS machine The tech is the one who finds out how much of a POS the machine is. At a site i was on they have pumps where the inlet of a pump is solenoid controlled up stream, gee i wonder why when the valve gets stuck in the closed postion the pumps burn up. A simple flow switch on the pump inlet to cut the start signal to the drive would fix it but thats not engineered because i dont have a degree

[@TimWilborne]

Yep, it is the little things that you learn over time :)

[@danmekeel7758]

How often do you go into the field and work with a field technician and solve a real problem? Opps, need to get back to the office.

[@danmekeel7758]

Also, hey, lets see how this new way works?

[@TimWilborne]

But I don't have an office 😉

[@WeconTechnology]

Good topic

[@TimWilborne]

Thank you.

[@svojasakdant2180]

It's so confusing in micro 850 plc Please help

[@ejones76]

Drop me a message and i can help.

[@svojasakdant2180]

@@ejones76 I think I already dropped for Tim

[@ejones76]

@@svojasakdant2180 ok if hes busy or i can help just let me know

[@mosheallen6014]

I think I understand the degree I’m going for a bit better from this story

[@TimWilborne]

That is great, let me know if any questions come up!

[@imern9ezirov222]

Ford

[@GluteMaximuz]

Much the same argument, people going to University when a well organised Apprenticeship would suit them. Too many people attending useless courses. Even the UK Government has finally seen the light.

[@TimWilborne]

That is good to hear!

[@toddfletcher64]

Agreed 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@TimWilborne]

Thanks Todd!

[@slipspectrum9253]

As an tenured electronics technician that teaches practical electronics design to new engineers, I find your level of condescending BS kind of funny. I wonder if these aren’t actually manufacturing automation students rather than actual Technicians…

[@TimWilborne]

Nope, they were technicians at a very large manufacturing plant.