FES

Facility Engineering Services

Services

Planning of Expansions and New Facilities

When the time comes to consider expansion of a manufacturing facility, it is usually a positive sign that signals growth and success. Facility Engineering Services is available to help assist with the process of your corporate growth. There are many reasons for developing a project including energy efficiency, a more ergonomically designed plant layouts to speed work flow, or layouts for food/bio security, in addition to corporate growth. For many manufacturers the only realistic solution to space and equipment constraints is to build a new facility, unfortunately many companies wait until the last minute to reach the decision to expand and then leap before they look. FES can help you work through this process. 

Design and Construction Process

Facility Engineering Services is available to help the owner understand the construction process. This is a multi-phase process involving many types of professionals. In addition to helping owners navigate the pre-planning process, we are able to help with the design and construction of the delivery process. Any expansion almost always means that design and construction needs to occur. We are able to help the owner ”follow the drawings.” A typical design process will usually include things such as Conceptual Designs, Preliminary Designs, and more.

Design Process:
  • Conceptual Design: This drawing offers conceptual ideas in order to give the manufacturer a clear idea of what can be expected. Designs are often taken to the 30% level. Often, a design report is produced for use by owners or other interested parties.
  • Preliminary Design: The concept if further developed to a point where further concepts of or designs can be evaluated. Also this allows for further cost development. Designs are often taken to the 60% level during this phase.
  • Detail Engineering: These are the design drawings to which a facility is built. It breaks down every level of construction and allows the owner to get hard construction bids for their facility.
  • As Built: These drawings are created post-construction reflecting the “as built” condition. These drawings are important for future facility maintenance.
Estimate of Probable Cost

Accurately forecasting the cost, size, and duration of future projects is vital to the survival of any business. Facility Engineering Services is able to develop cost information that business owners and managers need to develop budgets, or decide on the profitability of a proposed new project. Regardless of the industry, there is a need to collect and analyze data on all of the factors that can affect costs, such as materials, labor, location, duration of the project, and special machinery requirements. Facility Engineering Services, PA is able to offer this service to our clients to help determine costs and make realistic budgets.

Needs Analysis

A needs analysis, which must precede the the development of the design, considers a number of factors. FES is able to contribute information to your needs analysis process. Areas where we are able to contribute planning information include:

•  Planning horizon
•  Expected growth rate
•  Resource Planning
•  Methods and processes

Integration with Business Planning

As part of our owner services, Facility Engineering Services, PA can help owners develop business plans to aid in obtaining capital funding for proposed projects or plant expansions by providing specialized technical expertise. The staff at Facility Engineering Services has integral part of a business plan development for new industrial/agricultural processing facilities for venture capital groups and start ups. In process related industries there is a strong technical component that organizations need help and guidance with. As a process-centered organization we are able to assist with providing technical information about processes and facilities that can be considered integral components of business planning.

Expansion or Renovation:

Facility Engineering Services can help with the evaluation of this important decision. For example we will help you consider the options to expanding or renovating an existing facility or are their limitations. We can help answer key questions including:

  • Structure or Facility. Is it better to add on to the present facility or build an entirely new structure. An analysis of the existing facility by engineering specialists should be considered.
  • Location. Is land available or is you site suitable for you future project. Items such as rail access or development or soil bearing capacity are significant considerations. Additionally, the location can be a consideration.
  • Environmental Regulations. Are there local, state or federal regulations that influence the design or operation of your facility. In additional to building codes, regulations can have a significant impact or how your facility is planned.
  • Phasing. Should the expansion be accomplished in phases to spread out costs and minimize the disruption to operations? When there are cost constraints, an expansion is often divided into different phases to avoid such extreme financial burden.
  • Capacity requirements. How many machines are required to support operations? What types of machines? How much storage space is required? What kind of space? The determination of capacity is the most important step in a needs analysis.
  • Financial analysis. Cost/benefit and make/buy analyses are essential components of a needs analysis. They answer these questions: What is the cost of a new facility? Does the company have the capital or financing to proceed with the expansion or move? Is an expansion or move to a new facility really justified by the expected ROI and cost savings?