Management

• Agile Myth – No Documentation Required

  Agile Myth – No Documentation Required People sometimes believe “It’s agile, so there is no documentation” or “Agile is anti-documentation.” Neither of these statements is correct. Instead, the incremental and iterative nature of agile software development brings an opportunity to create, leverage and improve documentation in new and refreshing ways that bring new value to […]

  Read MoreJeff Panning, PMP, ACP / Agile  / Information System Engineering  / Manufacturing Operations Management  / Process Design  / Scrum Framework  / Software Design  / Management  / Improvement 

• Successful Teamwork Using the Scrum Framework

  Teamwork Using the Scrum Framework Matrix Technologies is working with a steel company to co-develop a software application to solve key business problems. This engagement has been a long-term, information system engineering project in which Matrix provides two developers and a scrum master to the client in a staff augmentation time-and-expense manner. The client is […]

  Read MoreJeff Panning, PMP, ACP / Agile Software Development  / Industrial Automation Engineering  / Information System Engineering  / Manufacturing Operations Management  / Process Design  / Scrum Framework  / Software Design  / Management  / Improvement 

• Keys to Successful Site Acceptance Testing

  Keys to Successful Site Acceptance Testing What signifies the completion of the project? When have the contractual obligations of the project been met? The short answer to these pivotal questions that ultimately determine the project’s success is through Site Acceptance Testing. At Matrix Technologies, Inc., we follow a documented process that starts at the project […]

  Read MoreMatt Fether / Commissioning  / Controls Automation  / Factory Acceptance Testing  / Improvement  / Industrial Automation Engineering  / Manufacturing Operations Management  / Manufacturing Process Control  / Programming  / Quality  / SAT  / Site Acceptance Testing  / Management  / Manufacturing 

• Make Informed Decisions with Manufacturing Intelligence

  Make Informed Decisions with Manufacturing Intelligence Data driven decisions are critical in today’s manufacturing operations. Decisions on the plant floor affect lean manufacturing and performance, operations, maintenance, safety and many more factors. Having the right information at the right time enables better decisions for smart manufacturing. In the era of Big Data and connected enterprises, […]

  Read MoreJohn Lee / Digital Transformation  / Industrial Automation Engineering  / Manufacturing Intelligence  / Manufacturing Operations Management  / Manufacturing Process Data Management  / Smart Manufacturing  / Management  / Data Management 

• Planning, Coordination and Risk Mitigation Dramatically Cut Downtime

  Planning, Coordination and Risk Mitigation Dramatically Cut Downtime Matrix reduces outage for complex pharmaceutical manufacturing project A major dilemma that most industrial manufacturing facilities are challenged with is balancing system maintenance with production demand. Oftentimes, the production schedule will allow only a small window of opportunity for the site to perform preventive maintenance activities and […]

  Read MoreRob Goldsmith / 4-20mA HART Protocol  / Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing  / Design-Build  / Electrical Design  / Industrial Automation Engineering  / Manufacturing Automation Solutions  / Manufacturing Process Control  / Process Engineering  / Risk Mitigation  / Management  / Controls 

• Personal Protective Equipment, The Last Line of Defense

  Personal Protective Equipment, The Last Line of Defense – Education is key to employee safety At Matrix Technologies, safety is at the top of our core values because we know our employees are our most valuable resource. We owe it to them and their families to ensure they return home each and every day injury […]

  Read MoreBrian Thomas, COSS / Industrial Automation Engineering  / Manufacturing Operations Management  / Manufacturing Plant Safety  / Manufacturing Process Control  / Management  / Safety 

• How an effective kickoff meeting sets the stage for a successful project

  How an effective kickoff meeting sets the stage for a successful project Getting the right people together to discuss the right topics is key to success An important part of any project – one that can sometimes be taken for granted — is the initial kickoff meeting. With nearly 40 years of project management experience, […]

  Read MoreRob Goldsmith / Industrial Automation Engineering  / Kickoff Meetings  / Manufacturing Operations Management  / Manufacturing Process Control  / Project Management  / Management  / Improvement 

• What to Consider When Choosing A Database Solution

  What to Consider When Choosing A Database Solution – When is “free” the right price? Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and control systems engineers sometimes find free express editions of popular database engines installed as the data backbone of an existing system. Other times they’ll be asked if an express edition can be used for a new […]

  Read MoreDavid Copi / Control Systems Engineer  / Database Solution  / Manufacturing Execution  / Manufacturing Operations Management  / Oracle Express Edition  / Improvement  / Management  / Data Management  / SQL Server Express 

• Five Reasons for Hiring an Independent Control System Integrator

  Five Reasons for Hiring an Independent Control System Integrator As an independent control system integrator, Matrix Technologies has the ability — and the duty — to keep current on the best-in-class solutions for our clients’ industrial automation needs. By partnering with our clients and as engineering consultants, we bring years of experience to use in […]

  Read MoreDave Blaida, PE / Control System Upgrade  / Engineering Consulting Services  / Industrial Automation Engineering  / Automation Integration  / Improvement  / Management  / Integrations 

• Mobile Technology: Is Your Plant Millennial-Friendly?

  Mobile Technology: Is Your Plant Millennial-Friendly? The Millennial generation – generally considered to be people who reached adulthood around the beginning of the 21st century – has grown up in a world filled with electronics and increasingly online and socially-networked. They are the first conscious participants in an era when everyone has access to everything, […]

  Read MoreJohn Lee / Industrial Automation Engineering  / Manufacturing Intelligence  / Management  / Planning  / Data Management