253: Rapid Execution in Industrial Automation: From FEED Study to Recommissioning in Five Months featuring Cassy Gardner and Chris Schleich of E Tech Group

6 snips

Sep 16, 2025

Join Cassy Gardner, Corporate Development Director at eTech Group, and Chris Schleich, Director of Engineering, as they delve into the high-stakes world of industrial automation. They share a riveting case study on reviving a mothballed solar facility, revealing how overlooked automation can lead to disaster. Discover the critical role of Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies and why early automation planning is essential. With insights on fostering client trust and balancing rapid execution, their journey blends technical expertise with invaluable life lessons.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Automation Is A Critical 10%

Automation often gets discovered only after construction begins, creating costly gaps.
Investing the critical 10% for automation shapes whether manufacturing works as intended.

ADVICE

Start Automation Planning Early

Start automation planning earlier than you think and engage experts as soon as possible.
Early involvement prevents stressful, costly facility startups and uncovers what you don't know.

ADVICE

Use A FEED Study To De-Risk Fast Projects

Use a FEED (front-end engineering and design) study to resolve unknowns before execution.
Send the right engineer on-site immediately to convert uncertainty into a clear action plan.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Manufacturers know that automation is table stakes in 2025, and yet it’s still a bit of an afterthought for some. You'd think something that can make or break a facility would be everyone’s number one priority. And as you'll hear in this episode, overlooking automation can sometimes have disastrous consequences.

In this episode, we sit down with Cassy Gardner and Chris Schleich from E Tech Group over virtual Pellegrinos to unpack a real-world case study. They were called in to revive a mothballed solar facility where the owners had accidentally destroyed critical automation infrastructure during demolition. Cut wiring, severed connections, damaged systems... all the stuff they didn't realize was essential until it was gone.

The two walk us through everything from why Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies matter (even when you're racing against the clock) to how “humble confidence” became their project philosophy. You'll hear about oversized electrical panels, “pit bull” project managers, and why sometimes the best sales strategy is just showing up when you say you will.

In this episode, find out:

Why automation often becomes an afterthought in capital projects, and the surprising impact that has
How automation may be a small slice of the spend, but determines how the plant runs
The most common pitfall manufacturers face when it comes to automation planning
What a FEED study is, and why it's essential in fast-paced projects
How "humble confidence" and "tenacious politeness" became guiding principles for E Tech
What happens when demolition destroys critical wiring and IO connections and how a hazardous monitoring partner failed mid-project
Lessons any manufacturer can apply whether that's running a project with 45 people or just five

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

“Typically, in a large capital project, the automation budget is around 10%. But it's a really critical 10% that you need to invest to have the manufacturing work the way you want to work.” – Cassy Gardner
“Automation relative to mechanical, electrical process, etc. has an outsized impact.”– Chris Schleich
“Always start earlier than you think you need to start. If you can engage a partner who is an expert in automation, you will set yourself up for a foundation of success.” – Cassy Gardner

Links & mentions:

E Tech Group, one of the largest engineering and systems integration companies in the US, providing automation, control and information systems

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.