Company upgrades DCS platform to improve bottom line
Schneider Electric helped Dow Corning upgrade its distributed control systems (DCSs) to help Dow Corning's Carrollton, Ken., plant reduce its capital expenditure by 50%.
Schneider Electric helped Dow Corning upgrade its distributed control systems (DCSs). Modernizing its existing Foxboro I/A Series control system to the new EcoStruxure Foxboro DCS is expected to help Dow Corning’s Carrollton, Ken., plant reduce its capital expenditure by 50%. And because the project was completed ahead of schedule, Dow Corning was able to gain two extra days of production and revenue.
"We worked closely with Schneider Electric to develop a strong action plan that enabled us to modernize our distributed control system and take better advantage of new, value-focused technology solutions," said Chris Wolfschlag, project manager, Dow Corning.
Working in tandem, Schneider Electric experts helped upgrade Dow Corning’s existing Foxboro I/A Series control system to the EcoStruxure Foxboro DCS in phases, ensuring continuous, transparent operations. The team retained much of the DCS infrastructure, including its human-machine interface (HMI), field wiring and documentation, which prevented any need for a complete system shutdown or any halt to production.
"Modernizing to the EcoStruxure Foxboro DCS helps us improve how we control the efficiency, reliability and safety of our operations, in real time," Wolfschlag said. "Because it gives us better visibility into the financial and business performance of our operations, we are better able to evaluate how our decisions and actions impact our overall operational profitability."
Dow Corning upgraded to the EcoStruxure Foxboro DCS with an eye toward speeding project execution and reducing engineering, operating and inventory costs. Additionally, through the project management, cabinet design, factory acceptance testing, start-up and additional modernization services Schneider Electric is providing, Dow Corning expects productivity to increase as well.
Schneider Electric
www.schneider-electric.com
Dow Corning
– Edited from a Schneider Electric press release by CFE Media. See more Control Engineering DCS stories.
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