The Effectiveness of Using PLC–HMI Trainers in Enhancing Students’ Competence in the Industrial Electronics Course in the Industry 4.0 Era

Abstract

The rapid advancement of industrial automation in the Industry 4.0 era requires engineering graduates to possess strong competencies in operating and integrating Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) and Human–Machine Interfaces (HMI). Although various PLC–HMI trainers have been developed and validated for feasibility and practicality, empirical evidence of their instructional effectiveness remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a PLC–HMI trainer in improving students’ learning outcomes in the Industrial Electronics and Control course. A quantitative quasi-experimental approach with a pretest–post-test control group design was employed involving 46 undergraduate students assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group used the PLC–HMI trainer during practical sessions, whereas the control group received conventional instruction. Data from pretest and post-test assessments were analysed using descriptive statistics, an independent samples t-test, and Cohen’s d effect size. The results showed that the experimental group achieved significantly higher post-test scores than the control group (t(44) = 6.180, p < 0.001). The effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.822) indicated a very large effect, confirming the trainer’s substantial impact on learning outcomes. This study provides empirical evidence of the instructional effectiveness of PLC–HMI trainers, demonstrating their potential to enhance students’ practical competencies and better prepare them for the demands of Industry 4.0.