These courses are designed to equip individuals with practical skills, knowledge and understanding required for success in progression to future employment for a range of engineering, motor vehicle and operations maintenance occupations.

Lowestoft College is a Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in Offshore Technology. CoVE status has been awarded by the Learning & Skills Council (LSC) to support the development of new and existing training programmes.

This qualification will provide you with a practical introduction to the automotive maintenance and repair industry and covers the main areas of automotive maintenance. This is an introduction qualification which strongly emphasises hands-on assessments in our extensive motor vehicle workshop with an ‘on-line’ multiple-choice test.

The following units are studied:

• Motor vehicle workshop safety
• Introduction to the industry
• Workshop tools and equipment
• Routine cooling and lubrication system checks
• Routine braking system checks
• Routine wheel and tyre checks

This is an introductory course and there are no formal entry requirements. An interest in motor vehicles and an aptitude for practical skills with the ability to cope with the demands of the course will be expected. Candidates will be interviewed prior to acceptance.

This course consists of four units - two core and two optional:

• Developing self and working safely in a marine environment
• Marine technology Optional Units
• Yacht and boatbuilding assembly and sub-assembly
• Production of hulls and decks and structural components
• Installation and fitting out of boats

This ensures that on completion the student has gained practical experience and has some expectation for situations they could face in a job role within the boatbuilding or marine leisure industry. This award can be used as a technical certificate within an appropriate framework.

This course consists of four units:

• Working in Engineering
• Engineering technology
• Using bench fitting techniques
• Machining by turning

This ensures that on completion the student has gained practical experience and has some expectation for situations that they could face in a job role within the engineering sector. This award can be used as a technical certificate within an appropriate apprenticeship framework.

This Level 2 is achievable in 18 weeks provided candidates have a good knowledge of computers and Windows XP, with some knowledge of engineering or geometrical drawing. The scheme aims to enable candidates to:

• Draw accurately using Auto CAD
• Set up the Auto CAD environment in Model Space to draw full size drawings
• Use editing facilities to enhance the quality and speed to commercial standards
• Understand the importance of CAD in industry for design, manufacture and architecture
• Use Auto Desk Internet website for help and upgrades for software
• Create and use a block library of custom and standard parts

This Level 3 is ideal for users of Auto CAD in engineering or architectural drawing. The scheme aims to achieve the same as Level 2 plus:

• Acquire an ability to use all 2D useful commands for speed of drawing
• A wide range of uses from mechanical, electrical and architectural drawings all drawn to full scale in model space
• Use of paper space for scaling drawings for use on A4, A3 and A2 printers
• Produce and use attributed block libraries and extract data such as qualities, supplier and prices from attributes
• Advanced editing such as use of grips inside and outside block libraries

A good knowledge of engineering drawing, mechanical or built environment, a previous City and Guilds Level 2 or the equivalent and Windows XP and file management is essential for those looking to join the course.

These courses are designed to provide the background knowledge and practical experience required in the welding and fabrication industry. It is possible to study at either Levels 2 or 3 and both are technical certificates that can form part of an apprenticeship framework.

The courses consist of instruction in the classroom as well as practical exercises in welding, fabrication, engineering drawing and pattern development in our extensive workshops.

Modules offered are:

• Manual metal arc welding
• Metal arc gas shielded welding
• Tungsten arc gas shielded welding
• Fabrication processes
• Related studies for fabrication and welding practice
• Engineering drawing

Successful completion provides a sound knowledge of welding, fabrication and engineering drawing which has helped students progress through industry on to ‘coded’ welding or to pursue Engineering Technician qualifications.

These courses are for anyone working or interested in working in the welding industry or any job where certified welding qualifications may be required including maintenance personnel or garage technicians.

These beginners to intermediates hands-on courses are intended for those who need to obtain or improve their skills in the following welding processes:

• Manual Metal Arc Welding (MMA)
• Oxy-Acetylene (Gas) Welding including Brazing
• MIG Welding (with sheet metal or thick plate options at level 2)
• TIG Welding (Carbon Steel)
• TIG Welding Aluminium or Stainless Steel is offered at extra cost

Assessment of practical skills through five welding tests takes place in our extensive workshop and there are also a series of questions to test knowledge.

To progress on to Level 2 where test pieces are welded in the vertical position it is expected that learners already have welding experience or a Level 1 welding qualification.

Successful completion provides a good basis for progression on to the Fabrication and Welding Practice 165 course, the full-time Welding and Fabrication Skills NVQ level 2 or for employment in the welding industry.

Students follow a broad based work related programme which gives an understanding of the engineering principles and practical skills required by the modern engineering technician. The course consists of 12 units which include:

• Electrical, electronic and mechanical principles
• Industrial process controllers
• Engineering drawing
• Pneumatic and hydraulic systems

The qualification also enables progression to BTEC National Diploma or Foundation degree qualifications.

b>Objectives
To provide delegates who already have a basic understanding of PLCs a more indepth study of PLC technology to enhance current skills and expertise.

Content

• PLC programming and the IEC 1131-3 standard
• Advanced programming concepts
• Program robustness
• Commonly used advanced instructions
• Interrupts and subroutines
• Sequence function charts
• A to D and D to A conversions
• High speed functions
• Exact content tailored to needs of clients
• Available PLC types
  
  Includes
  • Allen-Bradley (RS Logix 500)
  • Mitsubishi FX (GX Developer)
  • Siemens 57 (Simatic Step 7)

Prerequisites
Delegates may have attended the Introductory PLC course of have experience of programming PLCs. Familiarity and specific programming softeare is also required.

Maximum Numbers
4 delegates

Duration
2 days

Fees
Please contact the college

b>Objectives
Provides engineers with in depth knowledgeand skills to analyse and understand complex process systems and undertake diagnosis and correction across a wide range of equipment and technologies.

Content

• PLC characteristics and functionality
• Installation and connection
• Ladder logic
• Introductory programming
• Obtaining information
• Monitoring
• Testing
• Fault finding
• Health and Safety

Available PLC types and software include

• Allen-Bradley (RS Logix 500)
• Mitsubishi FX (GX Developer)
• Siemens 57 (Simatic Step 7)

Prerequisites
Assumes no previous knowledge of PLCs. Delegates should have basic IT skills and some experience of working with industrial automation systems.

Maximum Numbers
4 delegates

Duration
2 days

Fees
Please contact the college