The design and engineering process is often seen as the most crucial project step. But when the project is awarded or when it commences, it becomes only a guide or one of the non-critical steps of completion. It’s one of the most negligible costs in terms of the overall project scope but is the major and only step that will determine the overall outcome and cost of the entire project.
In the Philippines, when the project is completed, engineering design is not covered enough even to make a proper “as built” plan (for example) regardless if there were minimal or significant deviations on the project.
This is due to a need for more quality control requirements. It is always described as a “formality” when applying for the proper permits, certifications, etc. There is also the lack of accountability, credibility, etc. – all because of the essential Filipino culture that you can pay everything off just to cut corners.
DEFINITION AND PROCESS
Feedmill design is the process of identifying the requirements for feed to produce, the flow process by which you would produce the feeds, and the engineering of how you will build the plant based on all requirements and operations standards. It starts with the typical flow diagram design, equipment requirements and specifications, and quality output requirements while considering all mechanical, electrical, and auxiliaries that would complete the entire line.
TIP 1: ALL-IN-ONE STEP PROCESS
The above design process is standard and typical. Design and engineering for feed milling are typically done by 3-4 different personnel or departments, depending on the company’s size. The larger and broader the organization, the lesser and more complex it would be to optimize the outcome. The process should be an all-in-one step by 1 or 2 personnel – experienced with feed milling – covering all aspects of the design from the flow process, equipment supply process, plant and structural design, etc. The idea is to have a single entity handling each client/project to have a better output versus having a single entity do one aspect of the client/project and another entity do another, and so on.
Example:
- Project 1 – design, engineering, mechanical, electrical – Group of Mr. A
- Project 2 – design, engineering, mechanical, electrical – Group of Mr. B
Versus
- Project 1, Project 2 – design and engineering – Group of Mr. A
- Project 1, Project 2 – mechanical – Group of Mr. B
Etc.
TIP 2: COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN EXPERIENCE
A designer should be equipped with excellent experience in computer-aided design and project management software while fully experienced with knowledge of Feedmill construction, operation, and servicing. This requirement should be essential. The conveying of design parameters from paper to CAD is critical. A lack of the above will diminish a designer’s ability to convert and optimize ideas.
TIP 3: EXPOSURE TO FEED MILL CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS
An engineering personnel/team should be exposed to actual feed mill construction and operations. With the proper knowledge of building and/or operating the mill, all design parameters will point in the right direction, and they will optimize the final flow process and plant design. We can call them good points and ideas only on paper, but they will never be good.
Example:
Design input on flow which does not consider machine positioning or building/structure design – resulting in a higher cost of conveying elements or steel components on the mill
TIP 4: SCHOOL OF THOUGHT FOCUSED DESIGN
Design should focus on the school of thought rather than just based on what the engineer knows and has experienced. The world of mechanization processes always takes from which region a designer comes from, what brand/origin he experienced his milling skills on, etc. There should be openness to a different school of thought on the design parameters of each mill – and then applying it to modern-day approaches – and then considering the applicability of the design in their region highly – based on the current conditions.
Example:
The design team uses a China-based feed milling process (a design school of thought still based in Europe 30 days ago) and then applies it to a far region in the country, not considering what or how or why things are like this and that. In simple terms, the team can never apply a feed mill process made in a provincial region in China in, say, the Bicol Region of the Philippines.
An equipment parameter from the Netherlands can only apply slowly to the requirement in, say, Cebu province. So on and so forth. Adjustments need to be done correctly.
WHY VSM?
The right and most optimized key to reaching the best value for money in this field requires applying a flow process that uses perfectly to their region and feed requirement – which our group can only attain. We are the only team in the country that can design from start to end, considering all aspects, factors, parameters, etc. Experience in the field is one thing; ability is another. To put it, the design and engineering process to optimize is more of an art than rocket science.
If you need a trusted team to handle design and engineering of your feed mill in the Philippines, you may call us or send us a message via WhatsApp or Viber.