Strengthening Industry–Education Collaboration in Automation
Northwest Iowa Community College (NCC) is deepening its collaboration with Direct Companies, reinforcing a model that bridges academic learning with industrial reality. This partnership focuses on equipping students in the Industrial Instrumentation & Control (IIC) program with practical, job-ready skills—something traditional classroom teaching alone cannot fully achieve.
Bringing Real-World DCS Expertise into the Classroom
A key highlight of this initiative is the involvement of senior process engineer Pat Stockert, who is delivering specialized training in Distributed Control Systems (DCS). With over three decades of field experience, his presence transforms theoretical instruction into applied knowledge. By stepping away from his corporate role to teach, he represents a growing trend: industry experts actively shaping the next generation of engineers.
Why Hands-On Learning Defines Future Engineers
While textbooks explain system logic and control theory, real competence comes from application. Stockert emphasizes that understanding process control—such as maintaining temperature stability or fluid levels—is fundamentally experiential. His analogy comparing DCS to automotive cruise control is simple but effective: both maintain stability, but industrial systems demand far greater precision and reliability under dynamic conditions.
From my perspective as an automation engineer, this hands-on exposure is not just beneficial—it is essential. Modern plants operate in increasingly complex environments where theoretical gaps can translate directly into operational risks. Early exposure to real systems significantly shortens the learning curve for new engineers entering the workforce.
DCS vs PLC: A Shift in Industrial Control Philosophy
Students like Jameson Sistrunk are already recognizing a broader industry transition. While Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) remain widely used, Distributed Control Systems are becoming the backbone of large-scale, continuous processes.
In my view, this shift is driven by three factors:
- The need for centralized monitoring with distributed execution
- Higher system scalability and redundancy
- Improved integration with advanced analytics and optimization tools
DCS platforms are not replacing PLCs entirely but are redefining how control architectures are designed in complex facilities such as ethanol plants, refineries, and chemical processing units.
Early Career Integration and Workforce Readiness
One of the most impressive aspects of NCC’s program is how quickly students connect with employers. Sistrunk securing a position with POET before graduation reflects a highly effective talent pipeline. Industry sponsorships, internships, and early recruitment are no longer optional—they are becoming standard expectations in high-demand technical fields.
From an industry standpoint, this approach solves a persistent challenge: the skills gap. Companies are no longer waiting for graduates to become job-ready; they are actively participating in shaping their capabilities from day one.
Industry Investment as a Strategic Imperative
Direct Companies’ decision to allocate engineering resources to education highlights a broader strategic insight—talent development is no longer separate from business operations. Organizations that invest in training ecosystems gain long-term advantages in workforce quality, retention, and innovation capacity.
I strongly believe that this model represents the future of industrial talent development. Passive recruitment is being replaced by active cultivation.
The Future of Automation Training
Partnerships like this demonstrate how technical education must evolve. Automation is no longer just about hardware and control loops—it now involves system integration, data interpretation, and operational optimization.
To remain competitive, training programs must:
- Integrate real industrial systems into curricula
- Involve experienced engineers in teaching roles
- Align learning outcomes with actual plant requirements
NCC’s collaboration with Direct Companies is a strong example of how to execute this effectively.
