Manufacturing Process Control

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• Defense in Depth

  Defense in Depth Video What is defense in depth? How to apply defense in depth strategies to harden your industrial control system and manufacturing process and operations. With an emphasis on digital and cybersecurity. Matrix Technologies is one of the largest independent process design, industrial automation engineering, and manufacturing operations management companies in North America. […]

  Read MoreDan McKarns / Cybersecurity  / Digital Security  / Industrial Control System  / Manufacturing Process Control  / Matrix Moment 

• 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 

• Process Management and Improvement Rely on Analytical Decision Support

  Parsec-Certified Partner Matrix Technologies Helps Chemical Client Analyze Data and Improve OEE For many manufacturers, it is difficult to identify causes of low performance and lost capacity without a good and consistent overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) performance tracking solution. Many variables can contribute to unreported downtime or misinformation on blocked and starved conditions. Add in […]

  Read MoreJohn Lee / Digital Transformation  / Industrial Automation Engineering  / Manufacturing Execution  / Manufacturing Process Control  / Smart Manufacturing  / Data Management  / Parsec  / TrakSYS 

• Pandemic Necessitates Virtual Risk Assessment

  Matrix Technologies provides machine safety risk assessment and training from a safe distance Risk assessments are key to identifying safety hazards revolving around equipment, operations and the production environment. During times of physical separation, such as those required during the COVID-19 outbreak, risk assessments may still be required to mitigate risks to essential workers. In […]

  Read MoreMackenzie Coughlan, MBA and Carl Bohman, PE / COVID-19  / Essential Workers  / Industrial Automation Engineering  / Machine safety  / Manufacturing Engineering Consultants  / Manufacturing Operations Management  / Manufacturing Process Control  / Risk Assessment  / Safety  / Improvement  / Safety 

• Electronic Logging Improves Access to Documentation for Pharmaceutical Company

  Logging matters in regulated environment. The pharmaceutical industry is a Food and Drug Administration-regulated industry that is required to track processes and procedures using detailed log books. Many companies opt to use paper log books that are difficult to maintain, require lots of physical storage space, and are nearly impossible to query for valuable information. […]

  Read MoreJohn Lee / Food and Drug Administration  / Industrial Automation Engineering  / Manufacturing Operations Management  / Manufacturing Process Control  / Software Engineering 

• 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