As we celebrate National Engineers Week beginning on February 16th, we are excited to shine a spotlight on the incredible work of our engineering department here at Fuchs. This week is dedicated to recognizing the innovative minds and technical expertise that help drive our success. To give you an inside look at the heart of our operations, we sat down with members of our engineering team to discuss their recent projects, the cutting-edge technologies they employ, and the collaborative efforts that ensure our efficiency. Through a series of insightful questions, we aim to highlight the vital role our engineers play in shaping the future of Fuchs.
Q: Can you provide an overview of the engineering team at Fuchs, including team members, roles, and the primary goals and responsibilities of the department?
A: The engineering department at Fuchs supports operations in various ways. From increasing transfer rates for higher production to modifying equipment for better ergonomics, we focus on improving efficiency and maintaining functionality within our manufacturing plant. The engineering and maintenance teams continuously enhance our Preventative Maintenance Systems to increase uptime for building systems and operational equipment. Helawe Elias, our continuous improvement engineer, collaborates with operations to reduce the primary causes of downtime in the blending, packaging, and milling departments. Additionally, the engineering team develops and writes all capital requests for large-scale projects and improvements for the plant.
Q: What innovative technologies or methodologies does the engineering department utilize to stay ahead in the industry?
A: Our engineering and maintenance team uses Computer-Aided Design (CAD) systems to design projects and repairs. AutoCAD helps all team members visualize concepts and improvements. The team also has a strong understanding of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), which control much of our blending systems and other equipment such as the premier filler, milling systems, and HVAC systems. The engineering team is always seeking automation solutions that will work in our environment, improve performance, and reduce ergonomic strain.
Q: Can you describe some of the key projects our engineering team has worked on recently and their significance to Fuchs’ operations?
A: We created and installed a warehouse racking layout, increasing our storage capacity by 2,600 pallet locations and reducing our need for outside warehouse space. We modified our transfer system on our blending tower to increase transfer rates from 6,000 lbs per hour to 12,000 lbs per hour. Additionally, we designed and installed double dump stations on two of our mixers to enhance throughput rates. We are also finalizing the design for our packaging area to increase capacity for future production growth.
Q: How does the engineering team collaborate with other departments to ensure seamless integration and efficiency in operations?
A: We have a management of change process in which we review all major projects or significant process changes with each department. Each department provides sign-off once an agreement has been reached on how the project should proceed. This system ensures that all operation departments are on the same page and maintain effective communication to create quality products for our customers.
Interested in joining our team? Visit our careers page to check out our current job openings!