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The growth of Automation and Control at Mustang

Since its foundation as a stand-alone business unit, Mustang Automation and Control has steadily grown its reputation as a leading systems integrator.

Mustang Automation and Control specialises in providing engineering, specification, integration and implementation of control, automation, and information systems to the process industries. The Houston-based business has three operations centres in mainland USA, and has plans in motion for international expansion. "We're known in the marketplace as being vendor independent and for our project management and process control expertise," explains Don Colchin, president of Mustang Automation and Control.

The business unit's core automation experience encompasses everything from small individual projects to Main Automation Contractor (MAC) programmes for large engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects. Their extensive process control expertise ranges from conceptual design to start-up and commissioning. Their experts focus not only on project completion, but also on delivering the value the customer is expecting from the investment.

Indeed, the prestigious BP Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Development Programme is just one of many major projects to have been undertaken. This involved Automation and Control providing system design, scoping, system integration and development of engineering tools and standards for a series of BP's facilities covering four major deepwater developments: Thunder Horse and Atlantis on semi-submersibles, and Holstein and Mad Dog on spars.

Don says the projects that involve the provision of hardware and software are fully integrated and tested before shipment to avoid delays and additional cost. He explains: "We have 12,000 square feet of staging area in Houston and a remote instrument enclosure integration facility in La Porte, Texas to help ensure this happens.

"The strengths and experiences of our people mean critical project decisions are made during the front-end phase and are based on proven technical practices. Our experts are involved in the critical project steps of engineering, programming and FAT testing (final acceptance testing), start-up and commissioning to ensure project success. The results are better, faster and smoother projects for the client."

Don adds: "We bring to the client best-in-class technology with our vendor partners, together with best-in-class project execution and management by our people. While we have a proven track record with our customers in the United States, and are the second largest independent integrator in the country, we intend to continue expanding internationally using this reliable and successful formula."

Indeed, this blueprint for success has led Mustang to sign significant deals such as a global automation agreement with Chevron Upstream and the process control projects for ExxonMobil Chemical's Singapore complex. These and other achievements resulted in Mustang receiving a prestigious industry accolade; Control Engineering magazine's 2010 System Integrator of the Year Award for companies with revenue greater than $50MM.

"To have been a finalist for the award for the past two years was an honour, but to win this year is a testament to our proven project methodologies, strong relationships with our customers, and the depth of our service," says Don.

The service level provided by the Automation and Control business unit is supported by its people. Don elaborates, "We're proud of our people, and once they join us they tend to stay and grow with us. Mustang has been able to attain industry-leading low attrition for employees because of its policy of providing challenging projects for engineers to work on and recognised industry experts for them to work with. Each of our technology practices is headed by industry experts who provide the right environment for our people to succeed."

According to Richard Seale, manager of projects for Automation and Control, "Another strategy that has successfully driven the business unit's growth over recent years has been its Main Automation Contractor (MAC) approach, which focuses on supplying hardware, software, engineering, programming, integration, testing, and commissioning services for a client across multiple projects or facilities from one supplier. This, they explain, provides world-class quality, consistency, and importantly, cost-effective solutions.

Mustang is currently providing MAC services for ExxonMobil Chemical's second world-scale steam cracker complex in Singapore, including the detailed engineering design and site construction management for the process control of the facility.

"The MAC strategy is ideal for projects acrossmultiple process facilities or in the case where there are multiple EPC contractors working on a client's project,"affirms Richard. "The objectives of the MAC strategy are lower design costs, better start-up, improved operability, and consistent execution.

"We work with Wood Group's Gas Turbine Services division to provide these same benefits for power plants. The automation services we provided for Hawaii Electric Light Company's Keahole conversion project helped to enable the power generation facility to produce approximately 50 per cent more electricity from its fuel."

Another growth area for the business is environmental engineering. "Due to an increase in regulatory reporting requirements for emissions monitoring and control, our customers are seeking more from their compliance support systems," says Richard. "We have expertise around regulatory reporting requirements as a result of the development of our E!CEMSTM software product and are expanding our role to include environmental consulting services."

With Don due to step down at the end of the year, his successor Richard confirms that a future focus for Mustang Automation and Control will be the 'internationalisation' of the business. "We're celebrating successes but we also have challenges ahead of us. We intend to control our growth while looking to establish permanent centres outside of the United States, likely in the Middle East and Asia Pacific. As our business becomes more international, we will continue to focus on maintaining customer service in the United States, delivering outstanding projects with outstanding people."

Automation and Control team members proudly display the 2010 System Integrator of the Year award presented by Control Engineering magazine.