Project plan for automation project and journeyman's exam

The education's competency goal no. 23 requires that the apprentice can plan, conduct, document, and communicate a project course for the development of an automation solution that contains mechanical, electrical, and digital technology. Use this template as a fixed structure for your project—it can be adapted to both smaller school tasks and a larger project heading toward the journeyman exam.

§1 — Problem formulation

• 01Which task should the automation solution solve, and for whom?
• 02What are the most important requirements — function, safety, time, budget?
• 03What is already known, and what should you investigate or learn along the way?

§2 — Solution proposals and component selection

• 01Sketch the overall solution: mechanics, electrical, control and possible software
• 02Choose and justify components (sensors, actuators, controllers) based on the task's requirements
• 03Assess safety requirements early — they should not be added at the end

§3 — Assembly and programming

• 01Build and test in small manageable steps. It is much easier to find a fault in one new function than to search for it in an entire system assembled at once.
• 02Program the control system step by step, and test subfunctions as you go rather than waiting until everything is assembled
• 03Document as you go — it's easier than reconstructing it afterwards

§4 — Trial

• 01Test that the solution meets the original requirements from the problem statement
• 02Test safety functions thoroughly and deliberately, not just normal operation
• 03Note deviations and correct them before proceeding to finishing

§5 — Documentation and communication

• 01Collect diagrams, programme version and a brief description of the solution and its choices
• 02Prepare an oral presentation: what problem did you solve how and why exactly that way?
• 03Be ready to justify your choice of components and safety solutions professionally