"So they can educate others? "
Anybody that worries about losing IP is a bit off IMO. Drawings get shopper around constantly in the engineering business. Anybody that violates confidentially agreements would be out of business before they put the phone down.
Anyway, I don't think that what JBI is doing is rocket science. The only real technological advantage is the catalyst. everything else is just mechanical.
"CRA is doing that work. Working with a large engineering firm like that makes building more machines easily."
Actually, I just had a look on the web at what CRA does. They could do engineering work, but it is not their forte. I would have thought Islechem would be the ones providing engineering services to document a design. That design would then be maintained in-house by JBI. But, you could be right.
Terry:
This is my vision of how a design/build effort would go. This assumes that an external machine shop would be employed to provide fabrication services.
- system would be modeled (conceptual design). Likely done by Islechem.
- dimensional design would take place. Detailed drawings of all items with modifications as required and custom items.
- Procurement would begin for materials as well as fabrication of custom components and modification of equipment.
- Build would take place according to drawings. Material from procurement shipped direct to site, along with custom items.
- Equipment (Long Lead) items are critical path. There would be several, including the processor. Plan would be to ship those items to external machine shop for prep work. Afterward, shipped to site for erection.
- it all comes together and results in As-Built drawings. Final construction package is As-built drawings.
Notice that the above DOES NOT REQUIRE a machine shop. Note also that the above requires PLANNING. That is what I do.
It appears as if this has been done 1 step at a time with no thought to the grand plan. Just an impression. It is as if it was built by hand with documentation or drawings being an afterthought.
Is this your impression and do you agree with my plan/ approach as describes above WHY, WHY NOT?
Of what use is a machine shop to JBI in the long run?
I have seen machine shops in many places I worked. In fact, and LARGE manufacturing company has them. JBI is not large.
IMO machine shops are necessary in case custom parts are required. Given economies of scale that large plants embody, that would be much faster than going outside for it. I have also seen machine shops becoming necessary when the equipment is so old (1960's CANDU plants) that parts are no longer available for some equipment.
JBI does not fit the above. The objective for JBI is to build something that is repeatable and can be built by anybody. If you look at the Envion unit one can imagine a set of drawings that go along with it to allow for rapid erection of the plant. No Viagra necessary. JBI is a small plant that is intended to only be a pilot.
A machine shop?
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