Why Continuous Learning is Vital in Automation

The landscape of industrial automation is transforming at an unprecedented pace. The convergence of IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) means that PLC programmers must now understand network security, cloud architecture, and data pipelines.

The IT/OT Convergence

Ten years ago, an automation engineer rarely talked to the IT department. Today, if your SCADA system can’t securely publish MQTT messages to a data lake, it’s considered outdated.

My Approach to Learning

1. Hands-on Labbing: I maintain a small rack of PLCs at home connected to a Raspberry Pi acting as an edge gateway.
2. Open Source Contribution: Engaging with open source IoT projects.
3. Cross-Training: Earning certifications outside of traditional automation, such as cloud architecture.

Staying relevant means embracing the uncomfortable reality that you must be a perpetual beginner.