Industrial Automation Engineering

• How to Justify a Utility Replacement Program

  How to Justify a Utility Replacement Program This is Part 2 of a multi-part series on “Managing a Decaying Industrial Utility System.” For the first article in this series, see Managing a Decaying Industrial Utility System. The first step in a utility replacement program is securing funding to initiate the program and investigate the decaying […]

  Read MoreTodd Green, PE, SI, CFPS / Chemical Plant / EPC / Facility Engineering / Industrial Automation Engineering / Manufacturing Operations Management / Process Design / Process Design Services / Planning / Renovation /

• Cost and Safety are Among the Pros and Cons of PLC IO Fusing

  Cost and Safety are Among the Pros and Cons of PLC IO Fusing Opinions vary on whether or not to fuse individual inputs and outputs when wiring a programmable logic controller (PLC) module in an industrial control panel. Different opinions stated by many end users include fabrication panel cost and size to accommodate the additional […]

  Read MoreDan Wood / Automation Planning / Control Panel Design / Controls / Electrical Engineering / I/O Fusing / Industrial Automation Engineering / Manufacturing Process Control / Panel Fabrication / PLC / Process Design / Maintenance / Planning /

• Efficiencies Utilizing 3D Modeling and Design

  Efficiencies Utilizing 3D Modeling and Design Matrix Technologies is a leading expert in multidiscipline engineering, industrial automation, and control system integration, as well as a project and construction management professional firm with vast experience in wide range of industries. Jon Lockie, PE discusses how to utilize cutting edge 3D modeling technology to produce efficient, and […]

  Read MoreJon Lockie, PE / 3D Laser Scanning / 3D Modeling / Control Systems / Facilities Engineering / GPR / Industrial Automation Engineering / Manufacturing Operations Management / Matrix Moment / Multidiscipline Engineering / Structural Engineering / Autodesk Revit / BIM 360 / Navisworks / Risa /

• 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 /

• DMAIC Improves Process for Energy and Utilities Use

  DMAIC Process Improvement DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) has been a staple of Six Sigma process improvement in the American industrial culture for decades. DMAIC has been used to help companies improve their products and processes within their facilities and within their business structures. Whether an organization needs to improve the quality of a […]

  Read MoreDoug Medley, PE / Energy Efficiency / Industrial Automation Engineering / Manufacturing Operations Management / Multidiscipline Engineering / Process Design / Sustainability / Manufacturing /

• Ability vs. Availability: Outsourcing Engineering

  Ability vs. Availability: Outsourcing Engineering A common thread that runs through the requests we receive from our clients is, “We would do this project ourselves, but we’re slammed with other work.” Of course, that “other work” is doing the day-to-day tasks necessary to get product out of the door. As a lot of us at […]

  Read MoreDanny Henderson, PMP / Automation Engineering / Construction Management / Industrial Automation Engineering / Manufacturing Process Control / Outsourcing / Project Management / Schedule /

• Remote Monitoring Devices Collect Data for Safety Monitoring and Notifications

  Remote Monitoring Devices Collect Data for Safety Monitoring and Notifications Monitoring devices are everywhere in manufacturing. There are devices for process monitoring, production monitoring, safety monitoring, environmental monitoring, and the list goes on and on. The latest technologies offer easy-to-connect devices, referred to as “things,” which make up the industrial internet of things (IIoT). Some […]

  Read MoreJohn Lee / Application Programming Interface / Industrial Automation Engineering / Industrial Internet of Things / Manufacturing Operations Management / Manufacturing Process Control / Monitoring Applications / ProRAE Guardian / Software Development Kit / SQL Server Express / Improvement / Data Management /

• Building a Business Case

  Building a Business Case Ryan Courtney, MEM, PMP, Project Manager 2 discusses Building a Business Case. How to achieve that go/no-go decision and avoid killing a project before it begins. Topics discussed in this video include; determining the business needs, situational analysis, recommendations, and an evaluation. These steps will help ensure that you have performed […]

  Read MoreRyan Courtney, MEM, PMP / Engineering / Feasibility / Improvement / Industrial Automation Engineering / Manufacturing Operations Management / Matrix Moment / Planning / Process Design /

• 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 /

• Testing Throughout an Automation Integration Project is Key to Success

  Testing Throughout an Automation Integration Project is Key to Success For any size automation integration project, testing is vital to a success. Planning for testing in the design phase and developing your code to allow for proper testing will lead to well-executed factory and site acceptance tests, as well as successful startups. This article will […]

  Read MoreBill Warnke / FAT / HMI Programming / Industrial Automation Engineering / Manufacturing Operations Management / Manufacturing Process Control / Programmable Logic Controller / Site Acceptance Testing / Planning / Integrations /