The Effectiveness of PLC Programming and Simulator Using Factory I/O

Mohd Zaniel  Mahadzir; Nurul Husna Mahadzir; Azahar Mohd Noor; Suhardi Hamid; Nor Hafizah Abdul  Razak

Authors

Mohd Zaniel Mahadzir Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, Bandar Darulaman, 06000 Jitra, Kedah, Malaysia
Nurul Husna Mahadzir Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, The MARA University of Technology, Kedah Branch, 08400 Merbok, Kedah, Malaysia
Azahar Mohd Noor Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, Bandar Darulaman, 06000 Jitra, Kedah, Malaysia
Suhardi Hamid Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, The MARA University of Technology, Kedah Branch, 08400 Merbok, Kedah, Malaysia
Nor Hafizah Abdul Razak Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, The MARA University of Technology, Kedah Branch, 08400 Merbok, Kedah, Malaysia

Keywords:

Factory I/O, PLC programming, simulator

Abstract

This paper presents the effectiveness of teaching and learning process of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) Programming and Simulator subject. The Mechanical Engineering Diploma course at Polytechnic has begun to introduce this subject using a software known as Factory I/O to students. In a recent year, PLC programming has been extensively used in various industries especially in the automation and manufacturing industry. Therefore, this subject is crucial for students to learn before they graduate and enter the working world. However, during the Movement Control Order, the students were having difficulties in implementing the practical task for the assessment of this subject. Due to that matter, this study was conducted in order to assist students in performing their practical work. In this research, case studies have been used a method of research and questionnaires were distributed in collecting the data. There are three main activities involved: switch Windows applications, PLC programming and testing. The results obtained from this work has proved that PLC programming and simulation using Factory I/O are able to help students in gaining better understanding of the subject and doing their practical assessments. With the study conducted, it is hoped that it can be a starting point for all Malaysian polytechnics to use Factory I/O for PLC programming module and further bringing a better quality of this course.