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MFG6849 Industrial Automation Strategy for Manufacturing Leaders

$199.00
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What is the Industrial Automation Strategy course about?

Score your own function red, amber or green, find out which part is weakest, and walk into the next budget round able to defend what you want to fix. Built for leaders reviewing deciding which automation technologies to scale across production facilities this year. Each order is checked and updated against the latest insights before delivery. That is why access takes up.

What does the Industrial Automation Strategy cover on industrial Automation Strategy for Manufacturing Leaders?

Score your own function red, amber or green, find out which part is weakest, and walk into the next budget round able to defend what you want to fix. Built for leaders reviewing deciding which automation technologies to scale across production facilities this year. Each order is checked and updated against the latest insights before delivery. That is why access takes up.

What does the Industrial Automation Strategy cover on the situation this is built for?

Multiple facilities are running different automation pilots. Each with unique architectures, integration points, and skill dependencies. You are under pressure to standardize, but lack a consistent way to compare technical maturity, operational impact, or scalability. Leadership wants a roadmap. Your teams need clarity. Without a rigorous assessment method, you risk backing the wrong systems or stalling momentum.

Who is the Industrial Automation Strategy course for?

Director of Manufacturing Engineering in industrial manufacturing, overseeing automation deployment across multiple production sites, accountable for technology selection, scalability, and cross-plant consistency.

Who is the Industrial Automation Strategy course not for?

This is not for procurement specialists, junior automation engineers, or executives seeking high-level trends. It is for the technical leader who owns the automation roadmap and must make binding decisions this year.

What do you take away from the Industrial Automation Strategy course?

Evaluate automation systems using a consistent, plant-agnostic framework Identify which robotics platforms can scale across facilities Align engineering teams on integration standards and control architecture Eliminate redundant pilot programs and reduce integration rework Present a defensible automation roadmap to executive leadership.

What's included with your purchase?

12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters) Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access 30-day money-back guarantee.

What does the Industrial Automation Strategy cover on delivery and format?

Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access. Time investment: Approximately 3 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside ongoing automation projects. Total investment: 36 hours over 12 weeks.

Closely related courses: Industrial Automation and Smart Manufacturing Systems, Industrial Automation Leadership for Manufacturing, Industrial Valve Automation and Smart Manufacturing, Implementing Industry 40.

More answers: what you get with every course, refund policy, all help answers.

Page updated 2026-11-08.

The Executive Diagnostic and Governance Toolkit

Industrial Automation Strategy for Manufacturing Leaders

Score your own function red, amber or green, find out which part is weakest, and walk into the next budget round able to defend what you want to fix. Built for leaders reviewing deciding which automation technologies to scale across production facilities this year.

$199 one-time
30-day money-back guarantee Verified against latest insights, updated access provided within 24h

Each order is checked and updated against the latest insights before delivery. That is why access takes up to 24 hours rather than being instant.

What you walk out with
A scored, ranked picture of your own function, and a defensible answer to what to fix first.
1 You stop guessing where you stand.
You finish with a score, not an opinion: every part of your function rated red, amber or green, with the weakest ranked first. Evidence: a Quick Scan for the shape of it, then seven domain assessments of 30 scored questions each, 210 in all, rolled into one scorecard, plus a maturity radar and a current-versus-target gap analysis.
2 You can defend the decision.
You walk into the budget round with the gap named, the owner named and done defined, instead of a case built on instinct. Evidence: project charter, scope statement, RACI, requirements traceability and work breakdown structure, pre-filled in your domain's language.
3 The work actually moves.
The month after the decision is already built, so nothing stalls waiting for someone to design a form. Evidence: more than 60 project templates across all five PMBOK process groups, plus runbooks, SOPs, a KPI framework, audit checklists and a risk matrix. 55 to 65 files in total.
4 You use it the day it lands.
No blank templates to interpret. Every workbook opens with what it is, who uses it, when, how, a 1 to 5 scoring guide, what good looks like, and a worked example you delete and type over.
The Quick Scan is one sitting. You will know your weakest area before the day is out.
Nothing in it is generic project management: the build rejects any file that could belong to another course. Updated after you enrol, so it reflects where the work stands now. The 144-chapter course is included behind it, for the parts you want to go deeper on.
You’ve approved pilot programs. Now you must decide what to scale—and where.

The situation this is built for

Multiple facilities are running different automation pilots. Each with unique architectures, integration points, and skill dependencies. You are under pressure to standardize, but lack a consistent way to compare technical maturity, operational impact, or scalability. Leadership wants a roadmap. Your teams need clarity. Without a rigorous assessment method, you risk backing the wrong systems or stalling momentum.

Who this is for

Director of Manufacturing Engineering in industrial manufacturing, overseeing automation deployment across multiple production sites, accountable for technology selection, scalability, and cross-plant consistency.

Who this is not for

This is not for procurement specialists, junior automation engineers, or executives seeking high-level trends. It is for the technical leader who owns the automation roadmap and must make binding decisions this year.

What you walk away with

  • Evaluate automation systems using a consistent, plant-agnostic framework
  • Identify which robotics platforms can scale across facilities
  • Align engineering teams on integration standards and control architecture
  • Eliminate redundant pilot programs and reduce integration rework
  • Present a defensible automation roadmap to executive leadership

How this maps to your situation

  • Assessment of current automation pilots
  • Cross-facility scalability analysis
  • Control system standardization
  • Executive roadmap development

Before vs. after

Before
Multiple pilot programs with no clear path to scale. Inconsistent control architectures. Leadership demanding decisions without sufficient data.
After
A standardized, defensible automation strategy. Site readiness scores. A phased rollout plan aligned with capital cycles and operational capacity.

What's included with your purchase

  • 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
  • Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
  • Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Delivery and format

  • Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
  • Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access

Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.

Time investment: Approximately 3 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside ongoing automation projects. Total investment: 36 hours over 12 weeks.

If nothing changes
Without a consistent method to evaluate and scale automation, your organization will continue running fragmented pilots, leading to incompatible systems, duplicated effort, and failure to achieve promised productivity gains. Leadership will lose confidence, budgets may be cut, and operational teams will resist further changes due to past failures.

How this compares to the alternatives

Unlike vendor-led workshops or generic online courses, this program focuses exclusively on the internal decision-making process for scaling automation. It does not promote tools or products. Instead, it equips you with frameworks to evaluate, standardize, and govern automation across facilities using existing resources.

Also included: the full course, for when you want the reasoning behind a finding (12 modules, 144 chapters)

Depth reference. The diagnostic and the templates stand on their own; this is what to read when you want the reasoning behind a finding.

Module 1. Establishing Automation Assessment Criteria
Define the technical and operational benchmarks for evaluating automation systems across facilities.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Defining the scope of automation evaluation
  2. Mapping existing control system architectures
  3. Identifying integration points with MES and ERP
  4. Assessing robotics safety compliance standards
  5. Documenting current automation skill distribution
  6. Setting minimum uptime and availability thresholds
  7. Evaluating programmable logic controller compatibility
  8. Determining data logging and traceability needs
  9. Benchmarking changeover time across robot cells
  10. Establishing cybersecurity requirements for controllers
  11. Reviewing vendor documentation completeness
  12. Creating a standardized automation scoring rubric
Module 2. Evaluating Pilot Program Maturity
Assess the readiness of current automation pilots for enterprise-wide deployment.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Classifying pilot programs by deployment stage
  2. Measuring mean time between failures in test cells
  3. Analyzing error log frequency and resolution time
  4. Validating robot path repeatability under load
  5. Reviewing operator intervention frequency
  6. Auditing backup and restore procedures for PLCs
  7. Assessing HMI usability across shift teams
  8. Testing emergency stop system reliability
  9. Evaluating teach pendant programming efficiency
  10. Documenting maintenance task duration and skill level
  11. Reviewing spare parts availability and lead times
  12. Determining whether the pilot meets OEE targets
Module 3. Assessing Scalability Across Facilities
Determine which automation solutions can be replicated across diverse production environments.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Comparing plant floor layouts for robot cell fit
  2. Analyzing utility requirements across locations
  3. Evaluating material handling compatibility
  4. Mapping existing conveyor and transfer systems
  5. Assessing environmental conditions for robotics
  6. Reviewing available floor load capacity
  7. Identifying facility-specific safety regulations
  8. Benchmarking compressed air and power quality
  9. Determining retraining needs for operations staff
  10. Evaluating local maintenance capability gaps
  11. Assessing spare I/O module availability
  12. Creating a site readiness scorecard
Module 4. Standardizing Control System Architecture
Develop a unified automation platform to reduce integration complexity.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Selecting a common PLC hardware platform
  2. Defining standard network topology for robot cells
  3. Establishing IP addressing conventions
  4. Creating a uniform HMI template library
  5. Standardizing alarm and event logging
  6. Defining recipe management structure
  7. Choosing a common robot programming language
  8. Documenting standard safety circuit design
  9. Setting version control for ladder logic
  10. Establishing backup and restore protocols
  11. Creating a central component library
  12. Enforcing naming conventions for tags
Module 5. Integrating Automation with MES
Ensure seamless data flow between manufacturing execution systems and robotics cells.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Mapping production order triggers to robot start
  2. Defining work-in-process tracking events
  3. Configuring robot cell status reporting
  4. Validating material consumption data capture
  5. Synchronizing shift change data handoff
  6. Integrating quality inspection results
  7. Setting up downtime reason codes
  8. Automating batch record generation
  9. Testing alarm escalation to MES
  10. Validating recipe download to PLC
  11. Auditing data reconciliation processes
  12. Establishing MES-PLC communication standards
Module 6. Managing Change Across Production Sites
Lead organizational alignment during automation scale-up.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Identifying key stakeholders by facility
  2. Creating a cross-plant automation council
  3. Developing standardized training curricula
  4. Scheduling phased deployment timelines
  5. Managing production downtime windows
  6. Establishing change freeze periods
  7. Documenting rollback procedures
  8. Coordinating maintenance team rotations
  9. Aligning with capital planning cycles
  10. Managing spare parts provisioning
  11. Tracking configuration drift over time
  12. Conducting post-deployment validation audits
Module 7. Optimizing Robot Cell Utilization
Maximize uptime and throughput in automated production cells.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Measuring actual vs. designed cycle time
  2. Analyzing robot idle time causes
  3. Optimizing end-of-arm tooling changes
  4. Reducing material loading cycle duration
  5. Validating vision system accuracy rates
  6. Improving gripper reliability under variation
  7. Tuning motion paths for smooth operation
  8. Minimizing conveyor indexing delays
  9. Reducing PLC scan time bottlenecks
  10. Streamlining human-robot interaction points
  11. Balancing workload across multiple robots
  12. Implementing predictive maintenance triggers
Module 8. Ensuring Automation Safety Compliance
Meet regulatory and operational safety requirements for robotic systems.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Conducting risk assessments for each robot cell
  2. Validating safety relay circuit design
  3. Testing light curtain response times
  4. Inspecting emergency stop button placement
  5. Reviewing lockout-tagout procedures
  6. Auditing safety PLC programming
  7. Verifying zone control configurations
  8. Assessing collaborative robot force limits
  9. Documenting safety training completion
  10. Updating safety manuals for new cells
  11. Scheduling recurring safety inspections
  12. Integrating safety events into reporting
Module 9. Building In-House Automation Capability
Develop internal expertise to support long-term automation operations.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Assessing current engineering skill levels
  2. Defining required robotics certifications
  3. Creating internal ladder logic standards
  4. Establishing PLC code review process
  5. Developing troubleshooting playbooks
  6. Building simulation testing environment
  7. Setting up version control for automation code
  8. Creating knowledge transfer sessions
  9. Designing onboarding for new engineers
  10. Tracking time spent on automation support
  11. Developing escalation paths for failures
  12. Measuring mean time to repair trends
Module 10. Measuring Automation Performance
Track and report key metrics for automated production systems.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Defining OEE calculation for robot cells
  2. Setting up real-time performance dashboards
  3. Validating data collection accuracy
  4. Establishing baseline availability rates
  5. Tracking unplanned downtime causes
  6. Measuring first-pass yield in automation
  7. Analyzing rework rates post-automation
  8. Benchmarking throughput against targets
  9. Calculating cost per automated unit
  10. Assessing labor hour reduction claims
  11. Reporting automation ROI to leadership
  12. Conducting quarterly performance reviews
Module 11. Planning Technology Refresh Cycles
Anticipate obsolescence and plan for future automation upgrades.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Tracking PLC hardware end-of-life dates
  2. Monitoring software support expiration
  3. Identifying legacy communication protocols
  4. Assessing spare parts shelf life
  5. Planning for control system migrations
  6. Evaluating backward compatibility needs
  7. Budgeting for incremental upgrades
  8. Documenting as-found conditions
  9. Creating technology watch list
  10. Aligning refresh cycles with capital plan
  11. Testing new firmware in sandbox
  12. Managing firmware version drift
Module 12. Presenting the Automation Roadmap
Communicate a defensible plan for automation scale-up to executive leadership.
12 chapters in this module
  1. Compiling site readiness assessments
  2. Prioritizing facilities for rollout
  3. Estimating capital and labor costs
  4. Mapping dependencies across projects
  5. Creating visual rollout timeline
  6. Defining success metrics for leadership
  7. Anticipating operational disruptions
  8. Aligning with product launch schedules
  9. Securing cross-functional approvals
  10. Presenting risk mitigation strategies
  11. Documenting assumptions and constraints
  12. Establishing governance for roadmap updates

Frequently asked

Is this course about specific robotics brands or control systems?
No. This course focuses on the decision-making framework for evaluating and scaling automation, not on promoting or comparing specific vendors or products.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Can I apply this across different types of production facilities?
Yes. The frameworks are designed to be plant-agnostic and adaptable to discrete manufacturing, process lines, or hybrid environments.
Do I need a background in robotics programming?
No. The course is designed for engineering leaders who oversee automation, not for hands-on programmers.
Will this help me justify automation investments to finance?
Yes. Module 12 provides a structured approach to building and presenting an automation roadmap with clear success metrics and risk mitigation.
What formats do the templates come in?
The implementation playbook downloads as PDF and editable XLSX. The course reads in your learning environment and exports to PDF for offline use. The files are yours to keep.
Can I share this with my team?
The licence is per person. Team pricing opens from three seats: reply to the order confirmation with TEAM and we will set it up.
How quickly can I start?
The diagnostic is one sitting and the templates work straight out of the kit. Account access takes up to 24 hours rather than being instant, because every order is checked and updated against the latest sources before it is delivered.
$199 one-time. Approximately 3 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside ongoing automation projects. Total investment: 36 hours over 12 weeks..

Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.

30-day money-back guarantee·Know your weakest area today·210 scored questions·Course included· Account access within 24 hours
30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked.
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