TelePro and Spectrum Systems Engineering (SSE) have longstanding relationships with many of our clients. This is due in large part to our project execution approach, with emphasis on delivering the highest levels of system quality and customer satisfaction, on time. Over 75% of our work is repeat business with existing clients, indicating the level of confidence they have in us. Our integrity and reputation for excellence are our most important assets and we work hard to maintain client trust.
TelePro, Inc. began providing industrial and laboratory software solutions and system integration services to manufacturing clients in 1976. These systems were generally built according to specifications supplied by customer engineers. In 1996 TelePro began expanding its in-house engineering and design capabilities, establishing Spectrum Systems Engineering (SSE). Today our staff includes experienced electrical engineers, physicists, and computer systems specialists with expertise in real-time process control, digital signal processing, real-time computing platforms, computer system communications, human-machine interface systems, database management, and industrial systems integration. As a result, we are able to provide engineered solutions as well as solutions based on customer-supplied designs.
In either case, our project approach is the same. First, we spend the time necessary to establish a clear understanding of the client's requirements. Next, we perform any preliminary engineering necessary and generate a detailed design specification. This specification represents our understanding of the functional requirements and outlines the proposed solution. It is reviewed with the client prior to proceeding with development work. Once the review is complete and the client approves the design, a project schedule is generated and development work begins. Integrity of the overall design concept is assured by disciplined adherence to the detailed design specification throughout development. If design modifications become necessary, they are reviewed with respect to the detailed design to assure proper integration before being approved for implementation.
During project execution, close contact with the client is maintained. This involves periodic progress reviews. These reviews assure that development direction remains appropriate and that the delivered product is consistent with expectations.
All systems are thoroughly tested during the development cycle. This testing ranges from module unit testing to full system staging using actual system hardware and/or process simulations, depending on the application. At the completion of development, the client is invited to witness a system acceptance test in which all functions are demonstrated and overall system integration is verified. The acceptance test plan is developed directly from the detailed design specification in order to guarantee thorough system testing.
TelePro / SSE systems are installed and commissioned at the client's site by the same individuals that design and develop them. This places the most technically competent people at the point of delivery and guarantees that the as-installed system remains consistent with the original design concept. These same people provide technical support after commissioning.
Depending on the application, training of customer personnel is provided after completion of the system acceptance test. Best results are generally attained when this training occurs during, or shortly after, final commissioning. This reduces the amount of time between training and actual system use, improving information retention.
A complete set of system documentation is provided. The following information is included:
- Architecture design:
- Detailed design specification
- Interconnect drawings
- Component lists
- Operating descriptions
- Support procedures
Our project approach typically involves the following activities:
- Initial client meeting to learn:
- Functional requirements and expectations
- External interface requirements
- Background of the problem or opportunity
- Project scope, constraints and timing
- Functional requirements specification / budget proposal
- Preliminary engineering
- Detailed system design specification, including:
- Functional specification
- Data requirements
- System interfaces
- Maintenance and diagnostic requirements
- Hardware architecture design
- Software architecture design
- Project schedule generation
- Development and unit testing
- Progress reviews with client
- Integration testing / system staging
- Client acceptance test procedure
- Documentation delivery
- On-site installation
- On-site integration and off-line testing
- Training
- On-site commissioning and startup support
- Technical support