DISCOVERY & SYSTEM INVESTIGATION
Understand the Process Before You Change It
Before replacing a system, introducing new technology or automating an existing process, it is important to understand how everything works today.
Tascomp provides Discovery and System Investigation services to examine existing processes, equipment, systems and working practices and establish what a new or improved solution needs to deliver.
Our engineers can visit your site to review everything from manual and paper-based processes through to machinery, PLCs, databases, third-party software and existing manufacturing systems.
The result is a clear understanding of the current environment, the opportunities for improvement and a practical foundation for the next stage of your project.
A PRACTICAL STARTING POINT FOR YOUR PROJECT
Discovery is particularly valuable when an existing process has evolved over many years and the full requirements are not documented.
Rather than making assumptions, we can come to site, talk to the people involved, examine the equipment and systems, understand the process and document what is actually required.
The outcome might be a set of recommendations, a defined project scope, a retrofit or replacement proposal, or the foundations of a detailed Functional Design Specification. For customers who already have a clear project in mind, we can also focus specifically on documenting the technical requirements through an FDS investigation.
A well-defined project starts with understanding the process, the technology and the people using it. Tascomp's Discovery and System Investigation service provides the insight and documentation needed to move confidently from an existing process to a clearly defined solution.
INVESTIGATING WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY
Every manufacturing environment is different, and the information needed to design a new system is not always available in existing documentation.
A Discovery visit allows us to see how the process actually works, understand how information is currently handled and identify how the different parts of the operation fit together. We can investigate:
We look at both the technology and the way your people actually use it.
UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS
A successful system needs to reflect the real manufacturing process rather than simply digitising what is already written down.
During an investigation, we can work with operators, engineers, maintenance teams, production managers and other stakeholders to understand how the process operates. This can identify:
- How work flows through the process
- Where information is generated
- Where information is recorded
- Which systems are involved
- Where manual intervention is required
- Where information is duplicated
- Where delays or bottlenecks occur
- What information operators need
- What management needs to know
- What data needs to be retained
- Where integration or automation could add value
This provides the context required to design a solution that works in the real-world environment.
FROM INVESTIGATION TO SOLUTION
A Discovery visit can be the starting point for several different types of project.
The investigation may identify an opportunity to:
The important thing is that the answer does not need to be decided before the investigation begins. Our role is to understand the current situation, identify the requirements and recommend a practical way forward.
THE DISCOVERY REPORT
Following the investigation, we can produce a detailed report documenting our findings and recommendations.
Depending on the project, this can include:
The report gives your team a clear understanding of the current situation and provides a documented basis for deciding how to proceed.
TURNING FINDINGS INTO DEFINED REQUIREMENTS
Where a project is likely to progress into development, the findings from a Discovery visit can provide the starting point for a Functional Design Specification (FDS).
Tascomp can take the findings and develop them into a more detailed specification covering what the proposed system needs to do and how it needs to interact with the existing environment. Depending on the project, this can include:
- Process sequences and functionality
- Equipment states and operating modes
- PLC communications and data requirements
- I/O, channels and signals
- Instrumentation
- Alarms and interlocks
- HMI and operator requirements
- Database and system interfaces
- ERP, MES and third-party integrations
- Reporting requirements
- Traceability requirements
The level of detail can be tailored to the project, from an initial functional outline through to a detailed technical specification ready to support system development.
FUNCTIONAL DESIGN SPECIFICATION INVESTIGATION & DOCUMENTATION
An FDS investigation can also be commissioned on its own where the overall project requirements are already understood.
Our engineers can visit site to examine the relevant equipment and processes, speak with the people involved and document the technical information required for development. This can be particularly useful where existing documentation is incomplete, information is spread across different teams or detailed requirements need to be established directly from the equipment and process. A standalone FDS investigation can document technical details such as:
The resulting FDS provides a clear reference point for both the customer and development team, helping to define exactly what the proposed system needs to do before development begins.
Talk To Tascomp
Whether you are considering a new system, upgrade, retrofit, integration or automation project, we can help establish what is required before development begins. Get in touch to talk through a Discovery or FDS investigation.
Discuss Your Project