Industrial process control instrumentation panel with gauges and transmitters

Advanced Technical Core

Industrial Instrumentation & Process Control

Configure, calibrate, and troubleshoot industrial instruments — from pressure and flow measurement to PID tuning and SCADA integration.

60–90 Hours

Lecture + Lab

Year 2–3 Core

Course Description

This course provides an in-depth study of industrial instrumentation, measurement systems, and process control theory used in manufacturing, chemical processing, food production, energy systems, and fluid power applications. Students learn to configure, calibrate, and troubleshoot industrial instruments, design control loops, tune PID controllers, and integrate instrumentation with PLC/SCADA systems. The course aligns with Ontario College Program Standards, ISA guidelines, and CSA Z299/Z432 safety practices.

Prerequisites

Electrical Fundamentals
Sensors & Transducers
PLC Programming (Intermediate)

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

Explain principles of industrial measurement including pressure, flow, level, temperature, and analytical instrumentation.

Configure and calibrate industrial instruments using ISA standards and manufacturer procedures.

Interpret and generate P&IDs, loop diagrams, and instrument index sheets.

Design and analyze process control loops including on/off, proportional, integral, derivative, and cascade control.

Tune PID controllers using manual, Ziegler-Nichols, and software-assisted methods.

Integrate instrumentation with PLCs and SCADA using analog I/O, scaling, filtering, and signal conditioning.

Troubleshoot instrumentation and control systems using structured diagnostic methods.

Document instrumentation systems using professional engineering standards.

14-Week Module Breakdown

Assessment Structure

Component	Weight	Description
Labs (10–12)	40%	Instrument calibration, loop tuning, SCADA integration
Midterm Exam	15%	Measurement theory + control fundamentals
Capstone Process Control Project	25%	Full instrumentation + control loop design + documentation
Final Practical Exam	10%	Live tuning + troubleshooting
Final Written Exam	10%	Standards, theory, P&IDs

Grading Rubrics

Ontario College Knowledge, Application, Communication, and Analysis competency model.

Rubric A – Instrument Calibration & Configuration

Level 4 – Exceeds Standard

Calibration precise; documentation complete; advanced diagnostics used; meets ISA accuracy requirements.

Level 3 – Meets Standard

Calibration correct; minor deviations; documentation clear.

Level 2 – Approaches Standard

Calibration partially correct; inconsistent results; documentation incomplete.

Level 1 – Below Standard

Calibration incorrect; unsafe or improper procedure; documentation missing.

Required Equipment & Lab Resources

Pressure, flow, level, temperature transmitters

Calibration equipment (Fluke calibrators, hand pumps, decade boxes)

PLCs (ControlLogix, CompactLogix, Siemens S7-1500)

SCADA software (FactoryTalk View, Ignition)

Signal conditioners

Analog I/O modules

pH and conductivity analyzers

Process simulation rigs

ISA P&ID templates

Ontario College Standard Alignment

Standard	Alignment
Vocational Learning Outcomes (VLOs)	Instrumentation, control loop design, tuning, documentation
Essential Employability Skills (EES)	Problem solving, critical thinking, communication
General Education Requirements (GER)	Safety culture, engineering ethics

Ready to master industrial instrumentation?

Contact Polyphase Automation to enrol in the next available Industrial Instrumentation & Process Control course.

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