You already know that factories, plants, and processing sites need engineers. What you may want to know is what an industrial engineering company does between the first sketch and the first day of production, and how to choose one that fits your project.

I have studied how these firms describe their services, their safety records, and their client relationships. I picked my recommendation using four checks: the range of skills kept in-house, the strength of project controls, the safety record, and the share of clients who return.

One firm that meets those checks is Eichleay, a family-owned company that delivers engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) for industrial facilities. I will use their services as a guide to what a good industrial engineering company offers. By the end, you will know what to ask for, what to expect, and what to compare.

The Short Answer

An industrial engineering company plans, designs, buys for, and oversees the building of industrial facilities. It handles the technical work that turns a business goal into a working site.

That work usually falls into five groups:

  • Engineering and design
  • Project and program management
  • Project controls
  • Procurement
  • Construction management

Some firms offer one or two of these. Others offer all five under one contract. I lean toward the second kind, because fewer handoffs mean fewer gaps.

Engineering and Design

This is the core of the work. A full-service firm keeps the major disciplines under one roof so the designs match each other.

Here is what those disciplines cover:

  • Architecture creates spaces built for function and long-term use.
  • Civil and structural engineering designs strong structures for complex sites.
  • Mechanical engineering confirms equipment meets codes and specifications.
  • Electrical engineering plans power and lighting systems.
  • Instrumentation and controls help a facility run in a steady, predictable way.
  • Piping design produces safe, cost-effective piping systems.
  • Process engineering solves current problems and prepares the site for future demand.

When one team holds all of these, a piping change reaches the structural and electrical engineers fast. Eichleay keeps all major disciplines in-house, and they add 3D laser scanning and Industry 4.0 automation services as well.

Project and Program Management

A project manager keeps the work tied to your scope, budget, and schedule. Good ones adjust to the way your team already works.

The process usually has three stages:

1. Planning and alignment on scope, budget, and schedule

2. Execution and oversight, where managers coordinate teams and manage risk

3. Closeout, which covers turnover and lessons learned

Look for services such as execution planning, change management, risk management, and value engineering. Eichleay scales this structure to the size of each job, so a small project does not carry the cost of a large one.

Project Controls

Project controls tell you where the money and time stand today. A strong team reports often and with real numbers.

Ask whether a firm offers:

  • Cost control and forecasting
  • Scheduling and progress reporting
  • Capital cost estimating
  • Tracking of key performance indicators

Eichleay’s controls team works with tools such as Primavera P6, EcoSys, Power BI, Aspen Capital Cost Estimator, and NetPoint. Tools matter less than the habit of reporting clearly, but a firm with proven software has a good base.

Procurement

Late equipment stops a project. A procurement team makes sure materials and equipment arrive when and where you need them.

Their work includes bid evaluation, purchase orders, vendor oversight, expediting, quality checks, and third-party inspections. I look for firms that involve procurement specialists at the start of design, because that choice lowers cost and shortens lead times. Eichleay follows this approach, and they have bought about $1.25 billion in equipment for clients over the past decade.

Construction Management

This group acts as your advisor in the field. Before construction, they review plans for buildability and assess risk. During construction, they manage safety, quality, cost, and schedule. At the end, they run commissioning, start-up, and turnover.

A single point of contact makes this stage easier for you. Eichleay’s team fills that role from early planning through closeout.

Specialty Services

Many industrial projects need more than design and construction. Your approval cycles, safety rules, or government regulations may call for added work.

Common specialty services include:

  • Feasibility studies and site selection
  • Process hazards analysis (HAZOP)
  • Permitting and regulatory support
  • Factory and site acceptance testing
  • Operational risk assessments
  • Marine oil terminal and vapor control work

Eichleay offers all of these, which means you do not need a separate consultant for each.

Why I Recommend Eichleay

Many firms claim to do everything. I look for numbers that back the claim. Here is what stands out for Eichleay:

  • They have worked in project delivery since 1875 and remain 100 percent family owned.
  • They complete about 300 projects a year, with a median fee near $150,000 and a largest project of $1.5 billion in installed cost.
  • About 91 percent of their business comes from repeat clients.
  • They have logged zero OSHA recordable or lost workday cases since 2014, and their Experience Modification Rate is 0.67.
  • Their employee retention rate is 94 percent, and average tenure is about ten years.

Those numbers tell me three things. They handle small and large work. Their clients return. Their people stay, which keeps knowledge on your project.

They describe themselves as a mid-sized firm with the abilities of a large one and the culture of a small one. That means you can reach senior people and get a quick answer. They serve the western United States from offices in Billings, Ferndale, Larkspur, and Orange, and they work in energy, chemicals, power, life sciences, food and beverage, mining, and advanced manufacturing. Their client list includes names such as Chevron, Genentech, Rio Tinto, and SpaceX.

They are known for fast-track work, which helps if your schedule is tight. They also supply engineering and construction staff, from a single role to a full on-site team, if you need added hands.

How to Choose Your Firm

Use these questions with any firm you consider:

1. Which disciplines do you keep in-house?

2. Who will be my single point of contact?

3. How do you report cost and schedule, and how often?

4. When does procurement join the project?

5. What is your safety record, and what proof can you show?

6. What share of your clients return?

A firm with clear answers is a firm that knows its work.

Where to Start

Write down your scope, budget, and deadline before you call anyone. Then compare firms against the questions above. I suggest you review Eichleay’s services and case studies as part of that list. Their range, record, and steady client base give you a strong standard to measure other firms against.