Rockwell Automation Training Services

Rockwell Automation Training Services
Name	Rockwell Automation Training Services
Type	Division
Industry	Industrial automation
Founded	20th century
Headquarters	Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Parent	Rockwell Automation
Products	Technical training, certification programs, e-learning

Rockwell Automation Training Services Rockwell Automation Training Services provides technical education and workforce development for automation, control systems, and industrial information technologies. The division supports professionals using Allen‑Bradley products, FactoryTalk software, and integrated architectures across manufacturing, energy, and process sectors. It operates global training centers and partners with academic institutions, systems integrators, and standards bodies to align curricula with industry needs.

Overview

Rockwell Automation Training Services operates as the training arm of Rockwell Automation and focuses on applied instruction for Allen‑Bradley controllers, Studio 5000, FactoryTalk software, and related industrial networks. The organization addresses skills gaps encountered in sectors such as automotive industry, pharmaceutical industry, food processing industry, oil refinery, and mining industry by offering role‑based learning paths tied to operational outcomes. Courses emphasize hands‑on labs using hardware from CompactLogix, ControlLogix, and human‑machine interface suites such as PanelView and software ecosystems like Microsoft‑based engineering tools. Training aligns with standards and competencies referenced by bodies including ISA and IEEE.

Course Offerings

The portfolio includes fundamentals and advanced topics: programmable logic controller programming, industrial networking, cybersecurity for automation, and process control. Specific courses cover Programmable Logic Controller programming for Allen‑Bradley ControlLogix, motion control with Kinetix drives, and supervisory control via Distributed Control System architectures. Specialized modules address OT cybersecurity frameworks, configuration of EtherNet/IP networks, and predictive maintenance using Industrial Internet of Things platforms. Audience segments include technicians, engineers, system integrators, and managers from organizations such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB, Honeywell, and Emerson Electric who interact with Rockwell ecosystems.

Delivery Methods and Locations

Instruction is offered through instructor‑led courses at regional training centers, on‑site corporate programs, virtual instructor‑led training, and self‑paced e‑learning modules. Major training centers are co‑located with regional sales and support offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, supporting students from United States, Germany, China, India, and Brazil. Delivery leverages hands‑on labs with hardware racks emulating production lines, simulators interoperable with SCADA systems, and virtual labs compatible with VMware and cloud providers. Partnerships with colleges and vocational schools extend programs into community college and vocational networks.

Certification and Credentialing

Rockwell Automation Training Services offers program completion certificates and prepares candidates for vendor‑specific credentials that complement third‑party industry certifications issued by organizations such as ISA and CompTIA. Credential pathways include competency badges for PLC programming, industrial networking, and safety instrumented systems aligned with frameworks from NFPA and IEC. The training supports workforce credentialing initiatives like apprenticeship programs recognized by regional workforce development agencies and industrial consortia including Manufacturing USA institutes and World Economic Forum workforce dialogues.

Industry Partnerships and Clients

The service engages with systems integrators, original equipment manufacturers, and end‑user firms across sectors. Notable collaborators and client types include multinational manufacturers such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Boeing, and Procter & Gamble, energy companies like ExxonMobil and Shell, and systems integrators including Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork members, Accenture, and Deloitte engineering practices. Academic partnerships span institutions like Purdue University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, and community technical colleges to create joint curricula and apprenticeships. Alliances with standards bodies—ISA, IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, and ISO committees—help map training to evolving regulatory and technical standards.

History and Development

Training activities developed alongside Rockwell Automation’s product evolution, tracing roots to industrial control training in the late 20th century as manufacturers adopted programmable controllers and distributed automation. Early initiatives paralleled the rise of PLC adoption and integration of networked controllers such as EtherNet/IP and fieldbus technologies. Over time, the program expanded from classroom seminars to global centers and online offerings, incorporating topics like industrial cybersecurity after high‑profile incidents prompted emphasis on OT/IT convergence. Recent developments include cloud‑enabled virtual labs, micro‑credentialing, and collaboration with public‑private workforce programs to address digitalization trends in Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing.

Category:Rockwell Automation Category:Vocational education Category:Industrial automation