Aim to Measure the World Accurately!

• Dr.P.Srihari HOD, EIE GITAM, Hyd.

  Instrumentation engineering can be referred to as a ‘mixture’ of different subjects that can be the launch pad for many careers. Indeed, instrumentation engineering is an inter-disciplinary branch that includes study of electrical, mechanical, chemical, electronics as well as computer engineering.

            Instrumentation and control engineers design, manufacture, and fix snags in devices or systems that are used to measure or control physical quantities such as temperature, pressure, level and flow etc. They step in wherever ‘sensing’ of physical
  quantities is required and work in power plants, chemical plants, manufacturing facilities, oil refineries, the steel industry as well as with drug makers and software and hardware companies. Instrumentation engineers typically work for industries with automated processes, such as chemical or manufacturing plants, with the goal of improving system productivity, reliability, safety, optimisation and stability. The control of processes is one of the main branches of applied instrumentation.
  Skills to be developed by the student
           Electronics and Instrumentation engineers will develop skills in specific control disciplines such as Process control (PC), advanced process control (APC), distributed control systems (DCS), programmable logic controllers (PLC), supervisory control and data acquisition(SCADA), Microcontrollers and Microprocessors, Analog and Digital electronics circuits, Software and Hardware required in the design of different instrumentation and control systems. The use of these disciplines will depend on the
  exact nature of individual job roles.
           The completion of course in this department equips the students with an awareness of various sensors, process parameter, controlling techniques that are the heart of any successful industry.
  Job Prospects or Career Options
          Electronics and Instrumentation branch having a good chance in Process Industries like GINTAL, SAIL, HNL, Reliance, FACT, KRL, BHEL, Chemical Industries, Petroleum Industries etc, in India/ Abroad. But, attractive salary are being offered by Gulf Countries. Gujrat, Mumbai and Pune are also a good place for Instrumentation Engineers.
        Electronics and Instrumentation Engineers (EIE) has good scope and Career options in core as well as software industries. EIE students are eligible for all the jobs which are for Electronics and Electrical Engineer, Electronics and Communication Engineering & Mechanical Engineering branches.
        Electronics and Instrumentation engineers can get jobs in R&D units of public and private sector companies. They are also required by the Heavy industries such as Thermal Power Stations, Steel Plants, Refineries, Process Industries like Cement, Textile, Sugar, Dairy, Pharmaceutical and Fertilizer Plants both in Govt and private sectors like N.F.L., BHEL, Honey well, Samsung, Siemens, Texas Instruments, NTPC, GAIL, ONGC, EIL, ABB India, National Instruments, IOCL, and SAIL.
  Tasks & responsibilities for EIE
          They carry out the task of measuring, doing research, installing, developing, testing, maintaining and designing various instruments used in the industry. With computer aided processors and automation techniques, these engineers formulated ways to control the system. To put it crisply, they aim to ‘measure the world accurately and to control it precisely.
  The following are the major tasks:
  * Research and Design
  * Development
  * Maintaining and Modifying
  * Managing Operations
  * Servicing
  * Purchasing and Marketing
        Working collaboratively with design engineers, operation engineers, purchasers and other internal staff; Contacting clients, suppliers, contractors and relevant authorities, Project management within cost and time constrained environments, Troubleshooting and problem-solving, Understanding and ensuring compliance with the health and safety regulations and quality standards and Providing advice and consultancy support.
  Areas Under instrumentation Engineering
  * Study of Measurements & Design of Measuring Instruments
  * Calibration of Measuring Instruments/ Control Equipments
  * Quality Analysis & Quality Check
  * Design of Control Equipments
  * Design of Biomedical Instruments
  * Embedded Control Systems
  * Process Signal Analysis & Study
  * Industrial Control/ Instrumentation/ Automation Engineering
  * Control of flow of charge in automated systems
  * Methods to increase system productivity
  * Research new technology and design
  Industry overview
           Instrumentation engineering is one of the complicated but sophisticated branches of engineering discipline which deals with the control and measurement of the flow of charge in automated systems. The professionals who are involved in these activities are known as Instrumentation Engineers. This field of engineering equips an individual with knowledge of control and measurement of system for efficient productivity, reliability, safety and stability. Now a days, the demand for a good Instrumentation Engineer is increased very much. For a good quality and speedy production, all Industries are trying for automated machines and control equipments. Because of that, the chance for instrumentation/control equipment designers, installers, operators, and analysers are increased a lot. The Instrumentation Engineer decides the type of instruments needed for ensuring better quality and efficiency of the end products, in any industrial undertaking.
  Job Prospects & Remuneration
          Career opportunities in this are immense and challenging. There exist enough employment opportunities with user industries such as Steel, Chemical, Thermal power
  stations, Fertilizer, Petrochemicals, Cement, Refineries power industry and so on. The Instrumentation Engineer is more in demand in R&D Units of government, Defence and private sector. One can also explore employment opportunities with instrument manufacturers and the growing industrial automation industry. One may choose to move sideways into other career areas either within or outside their industry. This might include areas such as purchasing, sales, marketing, finance, HR, IT or general management.
          These engineers can pursue consultancy - based work. Those who have an aptitude use their expertise they have gained in industry and engage in academic research in universities or acquire a tutoring/coaching role as a lecturer or trainer of instrumentation engineers.
           The average starting monthly salary of instrumentation engineering graduates in India ranges between Rs.10,000 – Rs.20,000. Fresh graduates from elite technological institutions like Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Birla Institute of Technology get more remuneration as compared to others. Also many deemed universities are also getting more salary package. In the year of 2011, the students are selected from Deemed Universities with an average monthly package of Rs.38,000 and from IIT’s it’s around 45,000 p/m. Senior instrumentation experts with more than five years of working experience can earn anywhere between Rs. 35,000 and Rs. 85,000 per month or even more.