An Analysis of the Fundamental Factors Affecting the Future of Electrical and Industrial Control Professionals

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First and foremost, it should be clear that writing this article is not meant to demotivate those working in the field of electrical control. Those who are afraid of a bleak future should avoid reading it. Burying one’s head in the sand and avoiding facing problems is not a solution; only by understanding the true nature of things and knowing both oneself and the opponent can one find effective solutions to succeed in all situations. I believe this article is a warning for those who only want to make big money in the electrical and automation industry. A suggestion for those who are interested in electrical control systems. Generally speaking, technical features determine the future of an industry. The following is a comparative analysis of electrical technology, mechanical technology, and electronic technology: The inherent characteristics of electrical technology determine the future prospects for those working in the field of electrical control, and there are mainly 3 such characteristics. 1) Electrical technology took the lead in being applied in the industrial sector, but most of it relates to application technologies for electrical products. Therefore, electrical technology in the industrial automation sector can be referred to as the application technology of electrical products. Moreover, competition among electrical products is fierce; even electrical products of the same manufacturer and model are constantly being upgraded and phased out, with a lifespan of around 10 years. This feature is highly suitable for those who are interested in electrical control systems and who dislike staying in one place or getting bored easily; it also provides an excellent opportunity for inexperienced newcomers to compete fairly on an equal footing with experienced experts. I have been in this industry for over a decade, and I have met no more than 10 technical professionals over the age of 50; among them, only one person knew how to work with PLCs. He was a trainer at Beijing *** Company. Of course, it’s also possible that my knowledge is limited. 2) Electrical technology is largely a technology that relies on other engineering fields and equipment (electrical technology plays a major role in the power transmission and distribution industry). It is almost impossible to apply for a patent on a technology. So most industrial control companies are themselves subcontracting firms, similar to construction crews. This feature is suitable for those interested in electrical control systems and curious about expanding their knowledge, though the cost is not high. 3) Electrical product manufacturers are the absolute leaders in electrical technology. In some electrical and industrial control companies, it is common for experienced electrical experts to be overtaken by newcomers; this is because even when faced with technical challenges, the manufacturers provide strong support, making it difficult for these experienced experts to surpass the manufacturers in terms of expertise. But if there are problems with the manufacturer’s electrical products, the electrical experts will be in trouble. This feature provides favorable opportunities for newcomers. At the same time, it is also an inspiration for those who are interested in electrical control systems and experts in this field. Electrical control companies are merely one link in the sales process of electrical product manufacturers, and the application technologies related to electrical products are always designed to serve the sales of those products. Moreover, the art of selling is a technique based on the theory of interpersonal relationships, which is an ancient theory that everyone begins to learn from birth*. So don’t look down on sales; there is tremendous room for growth in this field, and one isn’t confined to a single industry. As long as there are goods in the world, there will be a need for salespeople. In a sense, these characteristics mean that electrical technology = electrical products. The requirement for those working in electrical control is to keep learning about new products, to broaden their horizons, and to become familiar with new fields. Mechanical technology is characterized as the applied technology of mechanical theory in industry, focusing on the research, development, manufacturing, and production of mechanical products. Among these, experience in applying mechanical theory techniques requires long-term accumulation; moreover, mechanical theory remains unchanged over time, and that is why those with experience in the machinery industry are so valuable. The characteristic of electronic technology is that half of it involves application techniques of circuit theory, while the other half relates to application techniques of chip products. Since chips are products subject to monopoly in advanced technology, although they are constantly being upgraded and replaced, their technical life cycle is quite long, exceeding 20 years, as is the case with the 51 microcontroller series. Through the comparison of these three technologies, it can be seen that there are few applications of theoretical knowledge in electrical engineering, very little originality, and product technologies undergo rapid updates and obsolescence, which is highly advantageous for young people ； But looking at it from another perspective, it is also a great exercise for the human brain; many people in central LINGDAO are graduates of electrical engineering programs. The importance of electrical technology lies in its role as an extension of electronic technology and as a means to implement mechanical technology. Basic theory is the harbor, technical products are the ships, and the product market is the roaring sea. It is impossible to spend one’s entire life relying on the ship of electrical products; no matter how large the ship, it still risks sinking, and no matter how sturdy it is, it can be corroded by hydrochloric acid in the seawater. Only by standing on the solid ground of fundamental theory can one: remain unshaken despite wind and waves / watch countless ships struggle against the currents / and savor the rich aroma of tea. In my opinion, if enthusiasts of electrical and industrial control technology are solely focused on working with technology, then by developing skills in areas such as electronic technology and mechanical engineering, they can expect a promising future thanks to their comprehensive theoretical and technical expertise.