In the complex world of industrial construction, where projects often involve highly regulated environments and intricate designs, having robust engineering support is essential. McCormick Construction understands this critical need and emphasizes the importance of integrated engineering support throughout the project lifecycle. By collaborating closely with trusted third-party engineering partners and utilizing our internal, collective industry expertise, McCormick ensures projects are executed smoothly, efficiently and in alignment with clients’ operational goals.
Why integrated engineering support matters
Treating engineering as a separate phase can lead to disconnects between design and construction, resulting in costly rework, delays and inefficiencies. McCormick Construction takes a different approach by integrating engineering support from the outset. This involves leveraging the technical expertise of our engineering partners and collective internal experience to provide calculations, drawings and construct-ability input, ensuring compliance with applicable codes and specifications. By doing so, McCormick identifies design challenges early, aligns with construction standards and streamlines project execution.
Benefits of early engineering involvement
- Seamless coordination across disciplines: Early engineering involvement ensures all aspects of the project are well-coordinated, reducing the risk of misunderstandings and miscommunications that can lead to costly rework.
- Faster decision-making: With engineering support integrated into the project team, decisions can be made more quickly, as technical expertise is readily available to address questions and challenges as they arise.
- Regulatory compliance: Engineering support helps ensure projects comply with relevant regulations and standards, reducing the risk of non-compliance and associated penalties.
- Optimized safety and performance: By considering safety and performance from the design stage through to project completion, McCormick ensures projects are not only compliant but also safe and efficient.
- Better lifecycle value: Early engineering involvement can lead to designs that are more sustainable and efficient over the project’s lifecycle, providing better long-term value for clients.
Industry-specific benefits of engineering support
Different industries face unique challenges in industrial construction projects. Engineering support tailored to these specific needs can significantly impact project success.
- Renewable energy: For renewable energy projects, engineering support is crucial for optimizing layout and ensuring structural integrity. This helps maximize energy production while minimizing environmental impact.
- Industrial manufacturing: In industrial manufacturing, engineering support focuses on optimizing facility layouts for efficient production workflows and ensuring equipment installations meet safety and performance standards.
- Food and beverage: For food and beverage processing facilities, engineering support is vital for designing systems that meet stringent hygiene and safety regulations, ensuring compliance and reducing the risk of contamination.
- Agriculture: In agricultural projects, such as grain storage facilities or processing plants, engineering support helps design structures that can withstand environmental stresses and meet operational requirements.
Real-world impact: Preventing a fall hazard
During our design review of an elevated pump platform at a chemical processing facility, a potential safety hazard was identified. The vendor-supplied layout lacked adequate guardrail coverage around a hatch opening, creating a 6-foot fall hazard. McCormick Construction’s integrated engineering team addressed this issue through the following actions:
- Identified the hazard during design review before fabrication started
- Redesigned the hatch area with a self-closing safety gate and removable railing section for equipment hoisting
- Coordinated with structural engineers to ensure modifications met load and clearance requirements
- Updated fabrication drawings to produce compliant parts from the start
This proactive measure eliminated a significant safety hazard, avoided costly rework and ensured compliance with OSHA regulations.
McCormick Construction’s collaborative approach
McCormick Construction’s strong relationships with third-party engineering firms, alongside our internal collective experience, brings a wealth of robust, technical expertise to our projects. By partnering with these firms, McCormick achieves smoother project schedules, fewer change orders and better long-term outcomes for clients. This collaborative approach ensures that projects benefit from the latest engineering practices and technologies, ultimately delivering greater value to our clients.
“By integrating engineering support from the outset, we can identify design challenges early, streamline project execution and ensure that our builds align with clients’ operational goals, ultimately leading to smoother schedules, fewer change orders and better long-term outcomes.” –Dan Shefland, COO and Shareholder, McCormick Construction
For industrial construction projects, especially those in complex or highly regulated environments, integrated engineering support is a critical asset. McCormick Construction’s collaborative approach with trusted engineering partners ensures projects are executed efficiently, safely and in line with clients’ operational goals. By highlighting the benefits of early engineering involvement and showcasing McCormick’s capabilities, it’s clear this integrated approach leads to better project outcomes and greater client satisfaction.