You already know that an automation project is only as good as the instrument and control design behind it. Sensors, transmitters, control valves, loop drawings, panels, and network layouts decide whether a plant runs in a steady way or struggles against its own system. If you are building a short list of instrumentation engineering providers, I want to give you a clear method for sorting the options.
I base my views on how these firms describe their work, how they build their teams, and what they publish about safety, repeat business, and project results. I do not claim to have worked with any of them. I focused on what matters to a plant owner or project lead: in-house skills, a safety record, support after the drawings are done, and a team that stays in contact with you.
This article covers the main types of providers, the criteria I use to judge them, why Eichleay belongs on your list, and the questions to ask before you sign.
The Four Types of Providers You Will Meet
Most firms fall into one of four groups. Each has strengths, and the right choice depends on your project.
- Large global engineering and construction firms. They have deep resources and can handle huge scope. A mid-sized project can become a small part of their workload, and your contact may change often.
- Control system integrators. They are strong in programming, panel builds, and startup. Many depend on other firms for design, purchasing, and field management.
- Small local engineering shops. They respond fast and know your people. Their range of disciplines is limited, and scope growth can strain them.
- Mid-sized EPCM firms. They combine engineering, procurement, and construction management under one roof, with a size that keeps service personal.
I think the fourth group fits most industrial automation work, and that is where Eichleay sits.
What I Look For in a Provider
When I compare firms, I use the same short list each time. You can use it too.
1. In-house disciplines. Instrumentation touches electrical, mechanical, piping, and process work. If all of those teams sit in one firm, the design is coordinated and fewer conflicts reach the field.
2. Support through the full project. Good design must reach the site intact. Look for help with procurement, factory and site acceptance testing, commissioning, and startup.
3. A safety record you can verify. Ask for recordable rates and the current Experience Modification Rate.
4. Repeat clients. A high share of returning customers tells you more than a sales deck.
5. Staff who stay. Long tenure means the people who start your project are likely to finish it.
6. Fit with your sector. A firm that has worked in your industry already knows your rules and your risks.
Why Eichleay Belongs on Your List
Eichleay is a family-owned industrial engineering firm that delivers engineering, procurement, and construction management for industrial facilities. The Eichleay name has been active in project delivery since 1875, and the company remains 100 percent family owned and controlled. Five generations of the family have led businesses in engineering and construction.
One Firm for Design, Purchasing, and Construction
Eichleay keeps all major engineering disciplines in-house. Their instrumentation and controls team works next to electrical, mechanical, piping, and process engineers, and they back that work with procurement and construction management. You can deal with one firm instead of coordinating several suppliers.
Their procurement team gets involved at the start of a project so sourcing plans match your goals and schedule. Over the past decade, they have procured about $1.25 billion in equipment for clients. For an automation project with long delivery times on instruments and panels, that experience matters.
Support Beyond the Drawings
Eichleay offers commissioning support, factory and site acceptance testing support, start-up support, and process hazards analysis. They also provide Industry 4.0 services, which cover scalable automation and robotic solutions. If your plan includes upgrading an older control system, these services can keep the work under one team.
Their 3D laser scanning and modeling capability uses point cloud scanning to capture existing conditions. This helps when you add new instruments and piping to a plant that has been running for years.
Size That Fits Your Project
Eichleay describes itself as a mid-sized company with the capabilities of a large firm and the culture of a small one. They complete about 300 projects a year, and their median project fee over the last decade is roughly $150,000. Their largest project had a total installed cost of $1.5 billion. That range shows they can handle both a focused upgrade and a major capital program.
Around 91 percent of their business comes from repeat clients. Their client list includes Chevron, Shell, Genentech, Novartis, Rio Tinto, Valero, and SpaceX. They work in energy and chemical, power generation, life sciences, food and beverage, mining and metals, and advanced manufacturing.
Safety and Stable Teams
Safety is a core value for Eichleay. Their companies have recorded zero OSHA recordable or lost workday cases since 2014, and their current Experience Modification Rate is 0.67. Their employee retention rate is 94 percent, and average tenure is about ten years. For you, that means the team that plans your project is likely to see it through.
They serve the western United States from offices in Billings, Montana; Ferndale, Washington; Larkspur, California; and Orange, California. If your site is in that region, local knowledge and fast response are part of the offer.
Questions to Ask Before You Sign
Put these to every firm on your list, including Eichleay.
- Which engineering disciplines do you perform in-house, and which do you hire out?
- Who will lead my project, and how long have they been with your firm?
- What support do you provide for factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, and startup?
- How do you report cost and schedule, and how often?
- What is your current Experience Modification Rate?
- Can you share case studies from my industry?
Making Your Choice
Pick the provider whose structure matches your project. If you need one team to design, buy, and manage construction for an automation upgrade, a mid-sized EPCM firm gives you that. Eichleay stands out in this group because of their in-house disciplines, their safety record, their repeat clients, and their stable teams.
Start by writing down your scope, your schedule, and your biggest risks. Then ask each firm to show you how they would handle them. Their answers will tell you which provider is right for your plant.
