All About Diploma in Instrumentation and Control Engineering | ICE Branch | Salary | Career | Jobs

 

INTRODUCTION

Instrumentation is all about measuring and controlling process variables that come into play during manufacture/production processes. In case of most manufacturing plants, variables like force, temperature, pressure etc play a crucial role. Such variables have to be controlled and measured, so that desired/optimum performance can be obtained.
Control Engineering focuses on design, development and maintenance of control systems. This discipline focuses on using control theory to design systems that behaves and functions in a planned way.
Both these disciplines combine to form the field of IC! In short, it focuses on managing and measurement of variables and developing control systems and automatic systems.
Some of the important topics covered in this program are- Control Theory, Control system, Process control, System dynamics, Industrial instrumentation, Programming, Data gathering and analysis etc.
IC Engineering plays a crucial role in most of the sectors that have much to do with manufacturing/production. Sectors like Oil and Gas (Refineries and Power production), Pharmaceutical production, Heavy production industries, Energy sector etc are well known to recruit IC Engineers and equipment.
‌IC Engineers play a crucial role in improving the productivity and stability at such manufacturing plants and industries. Skills required to thrive in this field include- problem solving skills, good at mathematics, data gathering and analysis skills.

COURSE DETAILS

Diploma in IC Engineering is a 3 years long program. It follows the semester system of learning. Each academic year is divided into two semesters, with each semester lasting for a period of 6 months.
Few institutes are also offering Integrated program– Diploma + B.Tech. Degree in IC.
Diploma in IC Engineering course trains students in areas such as- Control Theory, Control system, Process control, System dynamics, Industrial instrumentation, Programming etc.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Students who have passed 10th standard are eligible to pursue this course. This course can also be pursued after 10+2 schooling too (Mathematics group)!
Most institutes do give preference to 10+2 Science stream (Mathematics group) students. But there are institutes that accept 10th passed students too. Readers are advised to go through the eligibility criteria set by an institute before proceeding towards taking admission.

ADMISSION PROCESS AND COLLEGES

Many polytechnic, technical education and engineering institutes across India are offering this program. Most institutes usually have the ‘direct admission’ process. Interested students have to approach the institute and fill up the admission form. Seats will be allotted to deserving students on the basis of marks scored by them in 10th board examination (usually in Mathematics and Science subjects).

FURTHER STUDIES AND PG COURSES

After completing Diploma IC Engineering program, one may go for Bachelor’s Degree (B.E./B.Tech.) in IC Engineering! In most Degree Engineering colleges, certain percentages of seats are reserved for Diploma certificate holders. This entry is known as the lateral entry. Diploma holders with good grade may make use of lateral entry and join B.E./B.Tech. IC Engineering program’s 2nd academic year (directly). This way, Diploma holders may make the ‘DtoD’ switch and earn a Bachelor of Engineering/Technology Degree!
After that, one may go for Master’s education. M.E./M.Tech. program will enable one to specialize in disciplines within the Instrumentation and Control sector. Some such areas of specialization are- nanotechnology, Biomechanical systems, robotics, energy production and management etc. Further advanced courses available include- PhD and M.Phil. If you are interested in management program, you may go for MBA program!

CAREER PROSPECTS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES

IC Engineers are trained to develop, install, maintain and monitor control system and processes. Most manufacturing plants and units, across various sectors, use such systems and machinery. It is safe to say that trained IC professionals are required by such plants for the above mentioned tasks.
Diverse job opportunities are available in both Government and Private sector. When it comes to Government sector, enterprises like BHEL, ONCL, OIL, Indian Railways, DRDO, PWD etc are known to recruit IC professionals.
Coming to private sector, Refineries, power production plants, pharmaceutical (production) plants, Automobile manufacturing plants, Chemical plants, Telecommunication companies, manufacturing plants etc are known to recruit IC professionals.
IC Engineers may also work for companies producing instrumentation devices and components. They may also work independently, providing consultation service, programming service, data services (acquisition and analysis) etc.

SALARY

Starting salary depends on many factors. Prominent ones include- profile of the employer, grades attained by the employee (in academic program), quality of the institute from which employee had his/her training etc. General starting salary is around the region of 20-30K Rupees per month. This figure will rise with work experience and promotions.
When it comes to Government sector job, the salary will depend on Pay Band and the grade of the employee.

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