Case Study: Full Life-Cycle Automation Services for Pasta Production Facility TEC Systems Group Meets Aggressive Startup Schedule and New Product Launch Date

Overview and Customer’s Challenge

A major food manufacturer selected TEC Systems Group to design and implement all automation and controls associated with a new packaging line, new pasta kitchen, new sauce kitchen and upgrades to an existing sauce kitchen.

The challenge was to coordinate and integrate with the client’s resources, the multi-discipline engineering firm that was hired by the client as the prime contractor, the OEMs and other service contractors. The project was driven by multiple aggressive startup dates to meet a new product launch date. Adding to the challenge was the client’s requirement for a Category 3 safety system.

TEC’s comprehensive expertise in project management, automation and electrical safety provided the client with “one stop shopping” for the automation portion of the overall project.

TEC Systems Group’s Solution

Due to the size and complexity of the project, the first priority for TEC was to develop multiple relationships and communication channels to ensure appropriate and timely sharing of information with the client, the prime contractor, the OEMs and other service providers.

Because the work assigned to TEC was only one part of the overall project, TEC needed to conform to and coordinate with the master schedule of the prime contractor. TEC applied a standard and disciplined project management process to all activities to control scope, budget, schedule and quality.

TEC used modular code to standardize programming, which in turn helped TEC meet the aggressive startup schedule. Finally, TEC implemented the required Category 3 safety system design using GuardLogix PLC.

Customer’s Outcomes

TEC’s balanced skills with managing people, process, and technology allowed TEC to meet the aggressive startup schedule, which in turn allowed the client to meet the new product launch date. TEC’s portion of the project was delivered on time and under budget. TEC also provided on-going remote support to help ease transition from project to production.