Services
As your organization’s digital maturity evolves, Enterprise Automation provides comprehensive expertise that spans the entire lifecycle of your industrial automation system. From strategic planning to system integration and network security to AI-driven insights, we envision and implement automation systems to fulfill the existing and future needs of your organization.
Services
Developing big-picture and long-term planning and design of your industrial automation system
SCADA audits & site analysis
Regular audits secure the reliability, security, and efficiency of the SCADA system. Audits reveal priorities that require threat neutralization as well as performance areas that could use optimization. EA engineers conduct condition assessments of existing facilities to provide detailed quantified metrics and prioritized recommendations. We also develop a SCADA roadmap alongside clients so they can improve facilities comprehensively and reap all the benefits of the automation technology they already possess. Managers use our reports to highlight areas for improvement, validate past investments, and drive future budgets. Our focus areas typically include disaster recovery and prevention, physical and cyber security, documentation, software, infrastructure condition, and system performance.
Master planning & budgeting
We enable clients to offload the complexities of budgeting by leveraging our expertise to identify realistic project priorities and timelines. The master plan defines a strategic vision that specifies what needs to happen over the years, breaking it down into specific projects with estimated costs for each fiscal year. This clarity eliminates ambiguity, builds trust with stakeholders, and provides management with a concrete plan that enhances confidence in budget allocations. By ensuring that every project is well-defined and accounted for, clients maximize the value of automation investments over many years.
Subject matter expertise
Enterprise Automation can act as an owner’s representative in the review and oversight of design and implementation of automation projects. In scenarios where clients lack in-house expertise, EA steps in to bridge the gap. This involves coordinating between vendors and the end client, ensuring that client requirements are clearly understood and addressed. EA representatives review design documentation and expedite communication among all parties involved. By acting under the direction of the client’s staff, EA helps ensure that project goals and objectives are met effectively and efficiently.
In legal or insurance contexts, having a subject matter expert (SME) in automation can be invaluable for organizations lacking in-house expertise. When issues arise, such as system failures, compliance disputes, or operational inefficiencies, an SME can provide critical insights and assessments. These services can include root cause analysis, cost assessment, expert testimony, or recommendations for remediation.
System optimization
EA can identify and implement enhancements that significantly improve operational efficiency and reduce operator burden by utilizing real-time control systems. These optimizations are driven by calculations that indicate strong return on investment for our clients. For example, we’ve conducted thorough analyses to determine the optimal times for operating energy-intensive assets like motors and pumps, enabling clients to save on energy costs by running these systems during off-peak hours. In another instance we refined control strategies to manage chemical dosing accurately, ensuring that substances are treated effectively without unnecessary overdosing. With the right setup, facilities can achieve precise control over dosage and mixing, reduce chemical and energy consumption, and enhance overall output while extending the lifespan of their assets.
Training
EA can train your team on topics ranging from manufacturer-specific basics to advanced client-specific SCADA platform operations and maintenance. Our guided hands-on training, using simulated SCADA and PLC systems, enables clients to get the most value out of their systems by preparing personnel to fully utilize the tools they’ve invested in. We can run training on-site or at a 30-person training room at our own facility.
Vendor & product selection
We take a brand-agnostic approach to the vendor and product selection process and consider the big picture rather than simply comparing specifications and prices. We assess what equipment was previously in use, evaluate staff capabilities for troubleshooting different types of equipment, and examine the availability of third-party support, including local options. Our experience in designing and selecting control system hardware spans various manufacturers and includes controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), communications modules, and drives. Additionally, our software expertise encompasses SCADA, AI solutions, reporting tools, and historians that support predictive maintenance, real-time insights, and long-term data analysis.
Bringing together disparate hardware and software components to function under one system
Electrical design & testing
EA specializes in detailed design and shop drawings for low voltage control panels and motor control cabinets. Our partner panel shops handle fabrication, and we perform extensive factory acceptance testing prior to shipment.
Programmable logic controller (PLC) & distributed control system (DCS) programming
EA engineers use various programming languages and understand how each manufacturer implements standards. This allows us to program any PLC, including those from Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, and other manufacturers. Our project capabilities range from single PLCs to complex multi-PLC systems, and we are equipped to work on greenfield installations, brownfield upgrades, and modernization efforts. Our engineers are well-versed in various communication protocols, such as Modbus, Ether/Net IP, OPC-UA, DNP3, MQTT, and Profinet, as well as remote I/O configurations. Our industry-leading certifications and tools for PLC platform modernization ensure high-quality outcomes.
Functional specification
The functional specification document is crucial for successful implementation. This document clearly establishes the scope of the controller, detailing what it controls and how it interacts with other devices, ensuring alignment with client expectations. By defining the logic upfront, we minimize programming errors and reduce costs, as all decisions are made on paper before coding begins. The functional specification serves as a valuable guide during testing and as technical documentation for operators, facilitating easier troubleshooting and enhancing overall operational efficiency.
SCADA configuration
We are trained and certified in every SCADA software package we recommend. We find the appropriate SCADA software based on scalability and compatibility with existing systems. We then design the system architecture for integration with hardware like PLCs and sensors. Configuration includes setting up data points, alarms, and high- performance graphics to enhance data visualization. After a rigorous testing and validation process, we ensure the system functions as intended and maintain your lifecycle management throughout the years.
EA is an AVEVA endorsed system integrator certified in System Platform, PlantSCADA, OMI, and InTouch. We are also a Schneider Electric Master Alliance Partner working with EcoStruxure Process Expert, a VTScada Advanced Certified Provider, an Ignition Gold Certified partner, and certified in the Rockwell Automation product suite.
Operator interface terminal (OIT) & human-machine interface (HMI) Programming
When we set up OITs and HMIs, we focus on improving situational awareness by using high-performance graphics that emphasize key information while deemphasizing less critical data. This is how operators can quickly grasp essential metrics. We prioritize accessibility by incorporating textual confirmations for alarm priorities, which is crucial for effective monitoring. In close collaboration with clients, we develop intuitive visualizations that simplify complex processes, using advanced graphical representations to ensure critical alarms are not overlooked. We work often with leading vendors such as Red Lion, Maple Systems, Schneider Electric, Allen-Bradley, and Siemens.
Commissioning & startup
We deliver seamless deployment of automation hardware and software with meticulous planning and coordination. We begin with pre-commissioning workshops and meetings to align all stakeholders, preparing them for a successful launch. Our process includes thorough loop checks and I/O checkouts all the way through Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) once the facility is operational, confirming that all systems function as intended. Acting as an automation project manager, we coordinate communication among various groups, including electrical contractors, construction management, and vendors, to minimize delays and establish shared goals. We take ownership of our commitments while closely monitoring related scopes of work, proactively identifying risks and gaps in others’ plans to ensure that all necessary tasks are completed before commissioning can proceed.
Protecting your devices, networks, systems, and users
Cybersecurity
EA can audit and safeguard your operational environment.
The use of network segmentation isolates critical systems to minimize the risk of unauthorized access and contain potential breaches.
The establishment of a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) adds an additional layer of security, allowing controlled access to external networks while protecting sensitive internal resources.
Network infrastructure
Our knowledge of our clients’ full automation technology stack translates to our ability to design and build the ideal network to protect and enhance communications within their specific industrial facilities.
EA applies advanced IT practices in OT network design. This includes routing and switching, hardware specifications, firewall setup and configuration (including DMZ design), wireless communications, IP address schemes, and efficient protocol and media application. We design complex networks tailored to our clients’ needs, whether for single-site installations featuring copper and fiber networks, switches, firewalls, routers, and Wi-Fi access points, or for multisite configurations that incorporate radio and telemetry solutions. Our attention to detail extends to every aspect of the design and implementation process.
OT platform
Our OT governance and security services ensure the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of your systems through access controls, policy management, and change tracking. Documentation can include a security matrix, group policy specifications, active directory specifications, and source control practices, all designed to create a strong foundation for security management. Our thorough documentation ensures that when we hand over the system, our client has all the necessary information to take full ownership.
EA has been ahead of the curve on implementation of virtualized SCADA platforms using VMware and Hyper-V. For over two decades we have developed a deep understanding of the benefits of virtualization and its usage with safety best practices and IT policy compliance. One of the key advantages of virtualization is the implementation of redundancy, which creates layers of failsafe mechanisms and high availability. Redundant architecture minimizes the risk of system downtime, ensuring that critical operations remain uninterrupted even in the event of hardware failures.
We provide hardware specifications for servers, including components like CPUs, memory, and storage. Our services include installing and configuring hypervisors for virtualization as well as handling the setup and configuration of servers to ensure they operate correctly within your network.
Simplifying decision-making with easily-accessible insights
Historian
EA designs and sets up SCADA historians, specializing in the implementation of Tier 1 local historians, Tier 2 enterprise historians, and secure third-party data sharing solutions. Our services focus on effectively storing and collecting large amounts of time-series data for future reference and the facilitation of trend analysis.
Reporting
EA develops and designs custom reports tailored to meet specific organizational needs. We analyze the current data streams to optimally leverage existing data, assess what additional data collection is needed, craft queries to extract the correct data, and design reports for effective visual communication. Our services have successfully reduced the time spent on data scrubbing and cleaning from days to mere minutes, while simultaneously improving accuracy and traceability. With reporting tools such as SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), Power BI, and AVEVA Reports, we automate the generation of reports, ensuring that organizations can access timely and reliable insights.
Data centralization
Data centralization creates a single source of truth, allowing organizations to access holistic datasets from one location. This integration simplifies data access, eliminating the need for users to navigate multiple systems to gather information. By consolidating data, organizations can derive meaningful insights that may otherwise be lost when data exists in isolation. We can integrate SCADA systems with enterprise tools, enabling cross-contextualization across various platforms, such as laboratory information management systems (LIMS), water information management systems (WIMS), financial data, and geospatial information.
Machine learning & artificial intelligence
Recognizing that many clients are new to machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), we provide a structured approach that outlines incremental steps from their current stage to successful implementation. This technology can bring benefits such as improved forecasting and reduced oversight when properly applied. Applications for ML and AI can include process set point optimization, predictive maintenance, and anomaly detection. For example, these tools can analyze historical data to identify potential equipment failures, which allows timely maintenance. This approach enables organizations to monitor large datasets and respond to issues more efficiently. Our services include model design, training, and deployment. We also provide software vendor selection and training so staff are well-equipped to capitalize on these technologies.