The Automation Federation’s publication this week of a skills model for the automation professional is the next step in a mission that the group’s chairman describes as “critical.”
The federation worked with the U.S. Department of Labor to develop the Automation Competency Model, which describes the attributes and skills an individual should possess to succeed in the automation field.
Steve Huffman, chairman of the Automation Federation, told Managing Automation that the model applies to students, engineers, consultants — even to the salespeople and executives at automation technology vendors. He does not foresee the model as a certification tool, but said the competencies described are baked into some existing certifications.