Instrumentation and Control Technician – National Occupational Analysis (NOA)

The Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) recognizes this National Occupational Analysis (NOA) as the national standard for the occupation of Instrumentation and Control Technician.

General Information

• NOA History
• Structure of Analysis
• Development and Validation of Analysis
• Safety

Scope

“Instrumentation and Control Technician” is this trade’s official Red Seal occupational title approved by the CCDA. This analysis covers tasks performed by instrumentation and control technicians whose occupational title has been identified by some provinces and territories of Canada under the following names:

Instrumentation and control technicians are knowledgeable in overall plant systems and the interactions of processes. They install and service a variety of systems including safety and security, energy delivery (hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical), communication, and process control systems. They also install and service measuring and indicating instruments to monitor process control variables, monitor the operation of equipment and measure the characteristics of the material within a process. Instrumentation and control technicians work with final control devices such as valves, actuators and positioners to manipulate the process medium. They install and terminate electrical, pneumatic and fluid connections. They also work on network and signal transmission systems such as fibre optic and wireless.

Along with the calibration, repair, adjustment and replacement of components, instrumentation and control technicians inspect and test the operation of instruments and systems to diagnose faults and verify repairs. They establish and optimize process control strategies, and configure related systems such as Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Distributed Control Systems (DCSs), Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. Instrumentation and control technicians maintain backups, documentation and software revisions as part of maintaining these computer-based control systems. Scheduled maintenance and the commissioning of systems are also important aspects of the work. Instrumentation and control technicians consult technical documentation, drawings, schematics and manuals. They may assist engineering in plant design, modification and hazard analysis, and work with plant operators to optimize plant controls.

Instrumentation and control technicians use hand, power and electronic tools, test equipment, and material handling equipment. They work on a range of instruments including primary control elements, transmitters, analyzers, sensors, detectors, signal conditioners, recorders, controllers and final control elements. These instruments measure and control variables such as pressure, flow, temperature, level, motion, force and chemical composition.

Instrumentation and control technicians work in various industrial sectors such as pulp and paper/fibre processing; nuclear, thermal and hydro power generation; mining; petrochemical; oil and gas; steel; water treatment; manufacturing; and industrial/commercial instrument servicing.

When performing their duties, instrumentation and control technicians must comply with federal, jurisdictional, industrial and site-specific standards, codes and regulations. They must ensure that all processes operate and are maintained within these set standards, codes and regulations. Keeping up-to-date with advances in technology in industry and the trade is important.

Instrumentation and control technicians can work in hazardous environments where they may be exposed to confined spaces, heights, noise, dust, cold and heat. There may also be risks with working with chemicals, gases, radiation, laser equipment and substances under pressure.

Key attributes for people entering this trade are manual dexterity, attention to detail, strong problem solving skills, communication skills, technological aptitude and mathematical and scientific aptitude.

This analysis recognizes similarities or overlaps with other tradespersons and professionals such as process operators, steamfitters/pipefitters, industrial mechanics (millwrights), electricians and engineers.

With experience, instrumentation and control technicians may act as mentors and trainers to apprentices in the trade. They may also move into supervisory, design, advanced control, training, sales and other related positions.

Occupational Observations

Computers have become a common tool in the industry, from administrative to diagnostics and everyday maintenance tasks.

There is an increase in the performance of devices adding functionality such as smart maintenance indicators and the generation of internal faults and alarms therefore reducing basic preventative maintenance requirements.

Control systems network technologies and equipment are becoming less proprietary and borrow from IT technology networks. There is an increase in the use of PLCs for process control. PLC and DCS based control systems are increasingly merging in functionality.

Device bus networking and technologies are replacing single end run cabling, bringing down the cost of installation but increasing complexities of control systems. Wireless based networks for monitoring remote locations are reducing cabling requirements. This improves transmission speed, distances and information capacity.

There is a demand to utilize the advances in technology in industry which has found its way into almost all aspects of the trade. With this demand, the process of diagnostics and repair continues to evolve, placing an increased demand on instrumentation and control technicians to follow the pace of these advances. For example, there is a rise in the use of mass flowmeters for process monitoring and custody transfer. A mass flow transmitter replaces several single variable transmitters, reducing instrumentation and cabling requirements. Multiphase flow metering is another emerging technology.

There is a continued increase in industry practices for environmental monitoring driven by governmental regulations. More instrumentation equipment specific to environmental monitoring is now required. The maintenance and reporting of this equipment has become an important part of the technician’s duties.

Reliability centered maintenance and process safety management including safety instrumented systems (SISs) are becoming more common in industry.

There is an increased focus on safety which results in industry adopting new practices such as pre-job hazard assessments and mandated development of safe work procedures.

Essential Skills Summary

Essential skills are needed for work, learning and life. They provide the foundation for learning all other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to workplace change.

Through extensive research, the Government of Canada and other national and international agencies have identified and validated nine essential skills. These skills are used in nearly every occupation and throughout daily life in different ways.

A series of CCDA-endorsed tools have been developed to support apprentices in their training and to be better prepared for a career in the trades. The tools can be used independently or with the assistance of a tradesperson, trainer, employer, teacher or mentor to:

• understand how essential skills are used in the trades;
• learn about individual essential skills strengths and areas for improvement; and
• improve essential skills and increase success in an apprenticeship program.

Tools are available online or for order.

The application of these skills may be described throughout this document within the competency statements which support each subtask of the trade. The following are summaries of the requirements in each of the essential skills, taken from the essential skills profile.

Acknowledgements

The CCDA and ESDC wish to express sincere appreciation for the contribution of the many tradespersons, industrial establishments, professional associations, labour organizations, provincial and territorial government departments and agencies, and all others who contributed to this publication.

Special acknowledgement is extended by ESDC and the CCDA to the following representatives from the trade.

• Paul Brown - Manitoba
• Wayne Dove - Newfoundland and Labrador
• Chad Drummond - Prince Edward Island
• Chris Hamel - Saskatchewan
• Liam Holland - Nova Scotia
• Herve Laforest - Alberta
• Brian Perreault - Ontario
• Shane Stirling - British Columbia

This analysis was prepared by the Labour Market Integration Directorate of ESDC. The coordinating, facilitating and processing of this analysis were undertaken by employees of the NOA development team of the Trades and Apprenticeship Division. The host jurisdiction of Alberta also participated in the development of this NOA.

Comments or questions about National Occupational Analyses may be forwarded to:

Trades and Apprenticeship Division
Labour Market Integration Directorate
Employment and Social Development Canada
140 Promenade du Portage, Phase IV, 6^th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec  K1A 0J9
Email: redseal-sceaurouge@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca