Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company (TUSDEC) has planned to set up Pakistan Institute of Industrial Automation (PIIA) in order to provide a training platform to consummate the shortage of skilled manpower in the local automation industry.
According to the Company spokesperson, a pervasive baseline assessment reveals the dearth of formally trained workforce for equipment maintenance, trouble shooting, installation and programming of pertinent equipment. PIIA will not only act as an ordained institute for manpower training but also steer the planning and implementation of PLC (Programmable Logical Controller) and Industrial Automation Projects in the country.
The institute will extend consultation and advisory services acting as an adept solution provider for industrial automation problems faced by the Industry. PIIA will also substantiate the concept of industrial incubation under which, infrastructural support and consultancy will be extended to the Automation Equipment Manufacturers or Suppliers for setting up or up-grading their own labs and production units.
Figures from Pakistan Bureau of Statistics reveal that import of modern machinery and equipment during 2010-11 was worth USD6,547 million which then rose to US $7,167 million in 2011-12. The accelerating figures indicate the mounting demand of PLC based systems in Pakistani industry.
Besides a larger number of factories and SMEs in different sectors are shifting towards Programmable Logical Controllers (PLCs) to manage their operations. With aggravated functionality of PLCs, the demand supply gap of qualified automation personnel is on the rise. The industrialists have to rely either on pricey foreign expert services or reckon on a small assemblage of local experts who are not enough to cater to the rising demand.
TUSDEC shared the findings of their need assessment survey according to which paucity of skilled technical manpower is a key hindrance in acquisition of automation by many industrial units in Pakistan keeping the industry at bay from the gains of process efficiencies.