5+ years
The full controls lifecycle, hands-on
Designed control panels, programmed PLCs, HMIs and SCADA, commissioned vision inspection systems, and now test, validate and audit automation systems at General Motors.
2021 — present
AAA Automation · Founded by Atef Elsharkwy
Atef Elsharkwy — Founder & Controls Engineer I engineer reliable automation that keeps production moving.
Controls engineer with 5+ years in PLC, HMI and SCADA programming, machine vision, electrical design and automation validation, across automotive, food & beverage and wastewater applications in Canada and the United States. Passionate about where automation, controls and artificial intelligence meet.
- 5+Years in industrial automation
- 5Companies across Canada & the US
- 12Certifications & trainings
- 3Languages spoken
Where I've worked & studied
Highlights
A career built on the plant floor
From designing control panels to validating automation for General Motors.
12
Certifications & trainings
Including FANUC robotics, Siemens STEP 7 (Levels 1 & 2), Rockwell ThinManager and GM Global Common Controls.
See Education
Distinction
B.Eng.Tech, Mechatronics
Graduated with Distinction from the University of Windsor.
2023
GM Award
General Motors of Canada Limited Automatic Award
Received at Durham College, alongside Dean's Honours Roll.
Durham College
00%
Your measurable win
Add a result with a number, e.g. recurring alarms reduced, downtime cut, or lines validated on time.
What I do
Engineering the controls behind production
I'm the founder of AAA Automation and a Controls Execution Engineer at General Motors in Warren, Michigan.
I founded AAA Automation as the home for my controls, automation and machine vision work.
To fill in: what AAA Automation does, who it serves and where it operates.
At General Motors I test, validate and audit automation systems so they meet throughput and production requirements, make sure suppliers deliver what each project phase calls for, and dig into production data and downtime reports to remove recurring alarms and roadblocks.
My background covers the full controls lifecycle: electrical design and panel building, PLC, HMI and SCADA programming, machine vision commissioning and on-site troubleshooting. I'm especially interested in where automation meets artificial intelligence, which led me to a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.
- PLC & HMI programming
- SCADA & DCS (PlantPAx)
- Machine vision inspection
- Automation validation & buyoff
- Electrical & panel design
- Robotics & applied AI
Atef ElsharkwyFounder, AAA Automation
Currently
Controls Execution Engineer
General Motors
Testing, validating and auditing automation systems and driving them through equipment buyoff in Warren, MI.
How I work
- Safety firstLockout, energy control and safety awareness are part of every job.
- Let the data leadDowntime reports and alarm history point to the real fix.
- Close the loopTrack every open issue to resolution and escalate early.
Experience
From the panel shop to the plant floor
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Start date — PresentLocation
Founder
AAA AutomationControls, automation and machine vision work under my own brand.
To fill in: what AAA Automation offers, your first clients or projects, and results. -
— PresentWarren, MI, United States
Controls Execution Engineer
General Motors CompanyValidating automation systems for production and making sure every project phase is delivered right.
- Test, validate and audit automation systems to meet desired throughput and production requirements.
- Ensure project deliverables are met by suppliers during each project phase.
- Continuously analyze production data and downtime reports to minimize recurring alarms, reduce production roadblocks and increase system efficiency.
- Modify controls logic programs as needed to implement approved process changes.
- Complete the engineering execution checklists required for the equipment buyoff process.
- Escalate persistent issues to senior leadership and track them on the open issues list.
- Take part in safety talks and group meetings to promote safety and reduce the likelihood of incidents and injuries.
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—Kitchener, ON, Canada
Project Controls Engineer
S and T ControlsPLC and HMI development for automated automotive bodyshop operations.
- Developed PLC and HMI programs to meet the needs of bodyshop automated operations.
- Reviewed wiring diagrams and schematics of automated manufacturing cells.
- Debugged logic errors and faults in Studio 5000.
- Coordinated with senior engineers and the project manager to deliver projects on time.
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—Windsor, ON, Canada
Controls Specialist
Onyx Engineering Inc.Process control systems for food & beverage and wastewater treatment applications.
- Designed and developed PLC, HMI and SCADA programs from process control narratives.
- Programmed a wide variety of automation controllers, including Allen-Bradley, Emerson, Modicon and legacy controllers.
- Used AutoCAD Electrical to create control system schematics and design panel layouts.
- Built strong knowledge of plant-wide distributed control systems (DCS) such as Rockwell PlantPAx.
- Responded to field service calls during downtime and resolved customers' production issues.
- Collaborated with senior professional engineers on highly complex projects.
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—Windsor, ON, Canada
Machine Vision Engineering Technician
Vista Solutions Inc.Vision inspection systems for automotive bodyshop quality.
- Programmed, installed and commissioned vision inspection cameras at customer sites.
- Performed vision system audits to meet customer standards.
- Used Matrox Design Assistant vision tools such as blob, model finder and edge detector for sealer, adhesive, weld and options verification.
- Monitored and resolved vision alarms across a GM bodyshop using downtime reports and live alarms on Cimplicity SCADA.
- Trained the plant's skilled trades to respond to vision alarms, troubleshoot and fine-tune vision software.
- Attended plant engineering meetings, gave status updates and addressed open issues.
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—North York, ON, Canada
Controls Technologist
SIDAC Automated Systems Ltd.Industrial control system and panel design.
- Designed industrial control systems under senior engineer supervision.
- Used AutoCAD Electrical to generate project schematics, panel drawings and layouts.
- Selected components and hardware based on customer needs and budget.
- Performed thermal, electrical and power distribution calculations during the design phase.
- Assisted panel builders with wiring, labeling and assembly before shipping for on-site commissioning.
Projects
Work I'm proud to show
Highlights from my roles, plus room for personal and academic projects.
Featured · Controls2023 — Present
Automation Validation & Equipment Buyoff
Testing, validating and auditing automation systems against throughput and production requirements at General Motors, and driving them through the equipment buyoff process with suppliers.
Add a result, e.g. number of systems validated, throughput reached or alarms reduced.
Machine Vision2021 — 2022
Bodyshop Vision Inspection
Programmed and commissioned vision cameras for sealer, adhesive, weld and options verification, and kept vision alarms under control across a GM bodyshop.
Add a result, e.g. inspections deployed or false rejects reduced.
Controls & PLC2023
Bodyshop PLC & HMI Programs
Developed and debugged PLC and HMI programs for automated bodyshop cells, working from wiring diagrams and schematics.
Add a result, e.g. cells delivered or launch milestone met.
Controls · Design2022 — 2023
Food & Beverage and Wastewater Controls
PLC, HMI and SCADA programs built from process control narratives, plus AutoCAD Electrical schematics and panel layouts.
Add a result, e.g. plants commissioned or systems modernized.
Electrical Design2021
Industrial Control Panel Design
Control system schematics, panel drawings, component selection and thermal and power distribution calculations for customer panels.
Add a result, e.g. panels designed and shipped.
To fill in
Your AI / machine vision project
Describe what you built, the tools you used (e.g. Python, OpenCV, PyTorch) and the result. Add a screenshot and a link if you can.
To fill in
Your next project
A personal build, tool or improvement you led. Copy one of the project cards above to add as many as you like.
The challenge
New and modified automation systems have to meet throughput and production requirements before they're accepted into production, and suppliers have to deliver what each project phase requires.
What I do
- Test, validate and audit automation systems against throughput and production requirements.
- Hold suppliers to their deliverables through each project phase.
- Analyze production data and downtime reports to remove recurring alarms and roadblocks.
- Modify controls logic to implement approved process changes.
- Complete engineering execution checklists for equipment buyoff, and escalate and track open issues.
Results
- —Add a result (to fill in)
- —Add a result (to fill in)
The challenge
A GM bodyshop relied on vision inspection for sealer, adhesive, weld and options verification, and vision alarms needed to be resolved quickly to avoid downtime.
What I did
- Programmed, installed and commissioned vision inspection cameras on site.
- Used Matrox Design Assistant tools (blob, model finder, edge detector) for each inspection type.
- Performed vision system audits to meet customer standards.
- Monitored downtime reports and live alarms on Cimplicity SCADA and resolved vision issues.
- Trained skilled trades to respond to vision alarms and fine-tune vision software.
Results
- —Add a result (to fill in)
- —Add a result (to fill in)
Services
What AAA Automation delivers
Hands-on controls expertise from design through commissioning and validation.
To fill in: how you'd like to work with people, e.g. full-time roles, contract projects or consulting.
PLC & HMI Programming
Logic and operator screens across Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Emerson and Modicon platforms.
- New logic & HMI development
- Process change implementation
- Debugging & fault finding
SCADA & DCS
Supervisory systems built from process control narratives, including Rockwell PlantPAx.
- SCADA screens & alarming
- Plant-wide DCS programming
- Food & beverage and water processes
Machine Vision
Vision inspection that catches defects without stopping the line.
- Camera programming & commissioning
- Vision system audits
- Training for skilled trades
Validation & Buyoff
Making sure automation meets throughput and production requirements before launch.
- System testing & audits
- Supplier deliverable tracking
- Downtime & alarm analysis
Electrical & Panel Design
Schematics, panel layouts and component selection in AutoCAD Electrical and EPLAN.
- Control schematics & layouts
- Thermal & power calculations
- Panel build support
Robotics & Safety
FANUC robot programming and safe, standards-driven equipment work.
- FANUC handling tool programming
- GM robot & controls standards
- Lockout & energy control
Have a project in mind? Tell us what you need and get a reply by email.
Request info
Skills & tools
The toolkit
Controls platforms
HMI, SCADA & vision
Design & robotics
Professional
Education & certifications
Always learning
Education
Master of Science
University of Leeds
Artificial Intelligence · Leeds, United Kingdom
To fill in: courses or projects you completed.
Bachelor of Engineering Technology
University of Windsor
Major: Mechatronics
To fill in: capstone project or notable coursework.
Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Durham College
Major: Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology
Technical training & certificates
Handling Tool Operation & Programming
ThinManager Certification- Controls Capability Assessment
Advanced STEP 7 — Level 1- Advanced STEP 7 — Level 2
Matrox Aurora Design Assistant Application Development
EPLAN Electric P8 Basics for GM (v4.6)- Global Common Controls Software (GCCS-2)
- Global Common Controls Hardware (GCCH-1)
- Global Robot Specifications (GRS)
- Lockout and Energy Control
- RESS 101 Safety Training
To fill in: the year for each certificate, and a verification link if one exists.
Recognition
Awards, talks & community
Awards & honours
- General Motors of Canada Limited Automatic Award2017–2020Durham College
- Dean's Honours Roll2017–2020Durham College
- Graduated with Distinction2023University of Windsor
Talks & publications
Add presentations, technical write-ups, papers or articles, e.g. a capstone presentation or a plant engineering talk.
Community
-
Meals On Wheels VolunteerFeb–May 2022
Community Care Durham · Whitby, ON. Delivered meals weekly to elderly community members with physical and mental health needs.
To fill in: other volunteering, mentoring or memberships.
Testimonials
What people say
A short quote from a manager about your work.
Name
Title, Company
A short quote from a colleague or supplier you worked with.
Name
Title, Company
A short quote from a customer or someone you trained.
Name
Title, Company
Résumé
The full picture
Hardworking controls engineer passionate about applying technical skills in automation, controls and artificial intelligence, with 5+ years across PLC, HMI and SCADA programming, machine vision, electrical design and automation validation for General Motors.
- Current role
- Controls Execution Engineer, General Motors
- Experience
- 5+ years (since 2021)
- Location
- Warren, MI, United States
- Education
- B.Eng.Tech, Mechatronics (Distinction)
- Languages
- English (fluent), Arabic (native), German (beginner)
- Availability
- To fill in
Contact
Let's build something that runs together.
Whether it's a role, a project or a question about automation, I'd be glad to hear from you.
To fill in: your email address, LinkedIn and (optional) booking link.