When a process manufacturer decides to undertake a capital project, one of the first decisions is whether to use one or multiple firms to provide the required engineering services. This article will examine the issues involved with the multiple firm approach, and then show why selecting a single firm is often a better choice, as shown with the successful design and commissioning of a batch retort system.
Any owner commencing a capital project must decide what level of outside services will be required. Most process manufacturers will not have all of the required capabilities in house, especially for projects requiring multidiscipline engineering. Even if a company does have all the required engineering expertise in house, these personnel are often busy with their main task of keeping the plant up and running.