Simplifying Stainless Steel Fabrications: The Design-Build Process at Industrial Works
Obtaining a large-scale custom fabrication for your clean, food-safe, or sanitary environment can feel overwhelming. The challenges begin with finding the right team to design your project, and the process only gets more complicated when delegating those plans to another team for execution. Then, after it’s all said and done, you still need to find a crew to install the finished fabrication. It can be an awfully complicated undertaking – but it doesn’t have to be.
Industrial Works is proud to offer complete design-build services, managing your project from design to installation all under one roof! This not only simplifies your procurement process but also provides numerous other benefits when you work with our Industrial Stainless (ISI) and Field Service (IFIELD) teams. Read on to learn more about how the design-build process works in relation to sanitary fabrications and why it might be the right solution for your next stainless project.
Step One: Identifying Your Needs
The first step in our process is identifying your pain points and needs in relation to your project. By meeting with your team, we can assess your current situation, establish deadlines, and gather the necessary information to make informed decisions for your project.
For custom fabrications destined for food-safe or sanitary environments, it’s especially important to identify the specific needs that your stainless project will be addressing. In one recent instance, our team undertook a project that involved the relocation of mixing tanks. Our designers planned out the most efficient use of the customer’s space and designed custom access platforms to go with the new layout.
Whether you have a rough sketch of what you’re looking for or are unsure where to begin, we’ll help you define your goals and turn your ideas into a solid foundation. With the insights we gather during this stage, we can start developing concepts and schematics to guide the next steps.
Step Two: Budgeting, Engineering, and Scheduling
Once we have a clear understanding of your project’s scope, our team gets to work! In this next stage, we explore several potential approaches and collaborate with you to determine the best path forward. This includes developing a detailed budget, general engineering plans, and an estimated production timeline.
As we come up with new concepts and eliminate others, the final form of your project begins to take shape. After thoroughly evaluating all possibilities, we’ll identify the best solution for executing your custom stainless-steel fabrication.
Step Three: The Design Phase
Building on the concepts developed in the previous phase, our designers now refine and finalize your sanitary fabrication’s design. Using advanced software like AutoCAD, Inventor, and SolidWorks, we transform the ideas we’ve discussed into fully-rendered 3D models.
This design-build process allows us to streamline the design and identify potential issues before they arise during manufacturing. By the end of this stage, every component of your fabrication is meticulously planned and ready to be crafted by our team.
Step Four: Production and Manufacturing
Once the plans and models of your fabrication are complete, they are handed off to our Industrial Stainless (ISI) business unit, which specializes in producing stainless-steel equipment such as mixing vats, food or beverage storage tanks, sanitary process piping, and more. At this stage, we procure the necessary raw materials and schedule labor to ensure your project stays on track with the timeline we’ve established.
Metalwork for sanitary environments must meet strict specifications, and our decades of experience in serving these specialized markets give us a level of expertise that sets us apart from our competitors.
After your project undergoes thorough quality inspections, weld checks, and final evaluations, it’s time to deliver the fabrication to your facility.
Step Five: On-Site Installation
Unlike many of our competitors, we never outsource the installation of our fabrications. The same team that designed and built your fabrication is also responsible for installing it at your facility, ensuring seamless communication throughout the process.
Our Field Service (IFIELD) team has experience working across the country in a wide range of facilities, installing and preparing your project for its intended use. We are well-versed in following Good Manufacturing Practices for facilities with stringent cleanliness standards, such as food processors, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and other producers of sanitary products.
Creating custom fabrications has long been a focus of the team at Industrial Works. Since 1997, our Industrial Stainless (ISI) and Field Service (IFIELD) units have provided stellar service, clear communication, and quality products to each of our customers.
We know that every project is unique, requiring a tailored design-build approach. If your business is on the lookout for custom industrial stainless fabrications, Industrial Works is here to help turn your ideas into reality. Reach out to us today to chat with our team about your upcoming work!