Client Background

An industrial automation firm was contracted to retrofit a large food & beverage manufacturing facility in the Southeast U.S. with state-of-the-art robotics and process control systems. The project aimed to boost production efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure compliance with food safety standards, positioning the facility as a leader in high-volume production.

The Challenge

The retrofit required a specialized engineering team with niche skills in automation and process engineering, which the client struggled to source internally. Key challenges included:

  • Specialized Skills: Need for process engineers with expertise in food production systems, automation engineers proficient in robotics, and panel builders skilled in PLC programming and 3D modeling (e.g., Inventor 3D, AutoCAD 2D).
  • Compliance Requirements: Ensuring all systems met FDA and USDA food safety standards.
  • Aggressive Timeline: Completing the retrofit within nine months to align with the client’s production schedule.
  • Hands-On Expertise: Sourcing engineers capable of both design and on-site implementation.

Without rapid access to qualified talent, the client risked project delays and lost revenue.

The Solution: Partnering with Advastar Engineering

Advastar Engineering provided a customized recruiting solution to meet the project’s demands. Our approach included:

  • Niche Talent Acquisition: Sourcing process engineers with food & beverage experience, automation engineers skilled in robotics, and panel builders proficient in PLC programming and 3D modeling.
  • Hands-On Support: Supplying engineers capable of both office-based design and field-level implementation, ensuring seamless execution.
  • Compliance Assurance: Vetting candidates for knowledge of FDA and USDA standards to meet regulatory requirements.
  • Rapid Scaling: Deploying a full team within weeks, aligning with the project’s tight timeline.

The Outcome

Advastar’s recruiting efforts enabled the client to successfully complete the automation retrofit. Key outcomes included:

  • On-Schedule Delivery: The project was completed within nine months, aligning with the client’s production goals.
  • Efficiency Gains: The retrofitted systems increased production throughput by 20% and reduced waste by 10%.
  • Regulatory Compliance: All systems passed FDA and USDA inspections with zero deficiencies.
  • Client Expansion: The successful retrofit led to additional automation contracts for the client in the food & beverage sector.

Why Use Advastar Engineering Recruiters?

Advastar Engineering’s expertise in sourcing specialized talent for industrial automation projects ensured our client’s success. Our ability to deliver hands-on engineers and designers with niche skills allowed the client to meet aggressive deadlines and exceed performance expectations, reinforcing our value as a recruiting partner.