IMPLEMENTASI TRAINER PNEUMATIK BERBASIS PLC UNTUK SISWA SMK JURUSAN TEKNIK OTOMASI

Abstract

Abstrak: Perkembangan otomasi industri pada era Revolusi Industri 4.0 menuntut tenaga kerja dengan kompetensi aplikatif dalam pemrograman Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) dan sistem pneumatik. Dalam konteks pendidikan vokasi, pencapaian kompetensi tersebut sangat dipengaruhi oleh ketersediaan media pembelajaran praktik yang terintegrasi dan kontekstual. Namun, pembelajaran otomasi industri di tingkat Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan masih menghadapi keterbatasan media praktik yang mampu menghubungkan teori dan aplikasi secara utuh. Kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk merancang dan mengimplementasikan trainer pneumatik berbasis PLC modular sebagai media pembelajaran praktik otomasi industri, serta mendampingi penggunaannya melalui pendekatan project-based learning. Metode pelaksanaan dilakukan secara partisipatif melalui tahapan identifikasi kebutuhan, perancangan dan pembuatan trainer, implementasi dan pendampingan, serta monitoring dan evaluasi. Evaluasi dilakukan menggunakan angket skala Likert untuk menilai kualitas alat, efektivitas pembelajaran, manfaat, serta kendala penggunaan. Hasil kegiatan menunjukkan bahwa trainer yang dikembangkan memiliki kualitas fisik dan fungsional yang baik, dengan skor rata-rata aspek kualitas peralatan sebesar 4,10 (baik sekali), aspek pembelajaran 3,96 (baik), aspek manfaat 4,15 (baik sekali), serta aspek kendala dan pengembangan 3,97 (baik). Trainer terbukti efektif dalam meningkatkan pemahaman konsep, keterampilan praktis, dan kepercayaan diri peserta didik dalam sistem otomasi industri.

Abstract: The development of industrial automation in the era of Industry 4.0 requires a workforce with strong applied competencies in programmable control systems and industrial actuation technologies. In vocational education, the achievement of such competencies is highly dependent on the availability of integrated and contextual practical learning media. However, industrial automation learning at the vocational secondary level still faces limitations in practical training media that effectively bridge theoretical concepts and real-world applications. This community service program aimed to design and implement a modular PLC-based pneumatic trainer as a practical learning medium for industrial automation, accompanied by its application through a project-based learning approach. The implementation employed a participatory method consisting of needs identification, trainer design and fabrication, implementation and mentoring, as well as monitoring and evaluation. Evaluation was conducted using a Likert-scale questionnaire to assess equipment quality, learning effectiveness, perceived benefits, and usage constraints. The results indicate that the developed trainer demonstrated good physical and functional quality, with average scores of 4.10 for equipment quality (very good), 3.96 for learning effectiveness (good), 4.15 for learning benefits (very good), and 3.97 for constraints and development aspects (good). The trainer was proven effective in enhancing conceptual understanding, practical skills, and students’ confidence in industrial automation systems. Therefore, the implementation of a PLC-based pneumatic trainer shows strong potential as an effective and sustainable practical learning medium to improve the quality of industrial automation education in vocational institutions.