Course Overview

Automation Engineering Survival Training (AEST) is an intensive technical boot camp designed to build and strengthen core skills in process automation engineering. The course combines expert-led instruction with applied exercises to cover the full automation lifecycle, from measurement fundamentals to advanced automation concepts.

AEST is ideal for new automation engineers, recent graduates, and experienced engineers seeking to refresh and solidify their understanding of process control, safety, networking, and automation project execution.

Course Details

Course #: AEST

Dates: June 01–05

Length: 4.5 days

Hours:

• Monday–Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

• Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

CEUs: 3.6

Location: Houston, TX

Certificate: Certificate of completion provided

Who Should Take AEST

– New automation, control system, or process control engineers

– Recent engineering graduates

– Engineers transitioning into automation roles

– Experienced engineers seeking a structured refresher in process automation

Course Learning Objectives

– Understand the role of measurement and control in industrial processes

– Interpret P&IDs, loop diagrams, and ISA symbols

– Apply PID control concepts and tuning methods- Understand control valve operation and sizing

– Apply alarm management and safety system principles

– Understand industrial networking and cybersecurity fundamentals

– Apply automation project management concepts

Daily Course Structure

Day 1 – Measurement Basics & Documentation

Day 2 – Control Valves & Control Strategies

Day 3 – Safety & Operator Effectiveness

Day 4 – Industrial Security & Project Management

Day 5 – Advanced Process Automation

Day One – Measurement Basics & Documentation

Covers process control fundamentals, continuous vs. batch control, ISA documentation standards, P&IDs, loop

diagrams, and principles of temperature, pressure, level, and flow measurement.

Day Two – Control Valves & Control Strategies

Focuses on control valve types and sizing, PID control concepts, tuning methods, and identifying real-world control

challenges.

Day Three – Safety & Operator Effectiveness

Introduces HMI design, alarm management, safety instrumented systems, hazard classification, and principles of

protection.

Day Four – Industrial Security & Project Management

Covers industrial networking fundamentals, Ethernet and TCP/IP basics, cybersecurity awareness, ISA-95

concepts, and automation project management principles.

Day Five – Advanced Process Automation

Explores batch control concepts, ISA-88 models, automation opportunity identification, system integration, and

automation project justification.

Hands-On Exercises

– Interpreting P&IDs and loop diagrams

– Control valve sizing and selection exercises

– PID tuning using simulation tools

– Alarm prioritization and safety analysis

– Automation project planning and scheduling exercises

Recommended Reading

Successful Instrumentation and Control Systems Design by Michael D. Whitt

Basic and Advanced Regulatory Control by Harold L. Wade

Measurement and Control Basics by Thomas A. Hughes

Safety Instrumented Systems: A Life-Cycle Approach by Paul Gruhn