Practice three essential skills for a successful automation career

Automation career insights

• Mastering time management in the age of automation is essential.
• Given that projects often span time zones and sometimes continents, communication is critical.
• It’s important to stay organized to keep track of project progress.

Three areas that help with transition into and success in the automation workforce are time management, organization and communication. Each are interdependent, like the three legs of a stool that support a career. Struggling with the transition into the automation workforce is something I’ve witnessed and experienced in my more than 30 years in this industry, I have experienced the workforce from all perspectives –– as a new engineering graduate learning from my managers and mentors and later as a manager responsible for the care and wellbeing of a team.

In my current role as manager, I’ve tried different techniques to make this transition into the automation workforce smoother for my staff and have concluded that there are no shortcuts. In my experience, the best approach is to expose new professionals to a range of projects and situations, creating opportunities for learning and reflection in three crucial areas that I believe are essential for building a strong foundation for career success.

Mastering time management skills for an automation career

Time management: The fast-paced automation industry is not for the faint at heart. It doesn’t take long for someone new to the field to find themselves juggling multiple projects, each involving different control system hardware and software. While schooling and internships provide some opportunities to develop time-management skills, it is never quite the same as real-world experiences with automation, controls and instrumentation projects. In addition to new tasks and concepts, there’s added pressure to meet scope, schedule and budget requirements, which can be overwhelming for new professionals trying to plan their time and prioritize tasks effectively.

So, how can one master time management? This skill naturally takes time to develop, as experience plays a significant role. Just learning the ropes of a new job or assignment helps immensely. However, mastering the next two legs of the stool –– organization and communication –– likely has the greatest impact on learning how to successfully manage one’s time.

Time management skills, organizational skills and communication skills help with automation-related careers. Each is critical to supporting engineers and technicians with an automation career, like legs on a a three-legged stool. Courtesy: CDM Smith

Mastering organizational skills for an automation career

Organization: Despite the abundance of tools available today to help us stay organized, many still struggle with this essential skill. I’ve witnessed how a lack of organization can lead to challenging discussions between co-workers, whether they’re trying to determine the status of a task or trying to troubleshoot a technical issue with a control system. Often, people become so focused on meeting a project’s scope, schedule or budget that they view basic task organization as a time drain.

In reality, spending a little extra time upfront to develop a “to-do” tracking spreadsheet, a bullet list of tasks or a file with quick links to important project documents can be a lifesaver as tasks or projects evolve. This is especially important in detail-oriented industries that plan, integrate and use automation, controls and instrumentation.

Mastering communications skills for an automation career

Communication: Communication is another important skill that has changed significantly with advances in technology. When I started my career in the 90s, I often found myself scrambling to reach product vendors or co-workers late in the day. If they didn’t pick up their office phones, I had no choice but to wait another day or two. Back then, computers were primarily used for word processing, and large files were faxed or mailed. Today, we live in a 24/7 society with the ability to communicate at all hours, yet meaningful professional communication remains a challenge for many.

This issue is particularly complex and requires clear expectations to be established at the start of any new assignment, with a commitment to sticking to the plan. Most project teams and workplaces are multi-generational and may span continents, adding layers of communication complexities. Spending time upfront to discuss communication preferences and acceptable methods can prevent a lot of misunderstandings and frustrations later. I’ve seen too many projects go “off the rails” because one or more of those involved assumed they were doing something correctly, without timely questions or feedback for the task at hand.

Feedback on automation career mentoring

So, what do you think of my three-legged stool for developing a solid foundation for career success? I’d love to hear from those just starting out in this industry as well as the seasoned veterans to get your perspective. If you were to create a stool, what essential skills would you choose for its three legs?

Eric J. Silverman, PE, PMP, CDT, is a vice president and automation regional team leader at CDM Smith and is a member of Control Engineering’s Editorial Advisory Board. Edited by Mark T. Hoske, editor-in-chief, Control Engineering, WTWH Media, mhoske@wtwhmedia.com.

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