Best Practices: E Tech Group’s Proven FEED Study Process

• General,
• Life Sciences,
• Manufacturing,
• Mission Critical,

| May 2, 2025

A thorough, well-executed FEED study is the foundation for the success of technology projects.  E Tech Group’s structured FEED study process opens up possibilities, aligns stakeholders, evaluates options using clear decision criteria, and establishes a detailed plan of execution. By following this proven approach, organizations can reduce project risk, prevent costly late-stage changes, and confidently move forward with a well-defined roadmap for project implementation success.

By E Tech Group Director of Corporate Development, Cassy Gardner

Figure 1: E Tech Group’s FEED study process is divided into three stages.

Stage 1 – Design a Decision-Making Framework

Identify and involve all stakeholders

Within digital technology and automation, because the systems involve many users and support personnel, there are many stakeholders that must engage in the decision-making process. It’s important to identify and involve all stakeholders in the FEED study analysis to ensure that everyone’s needs are thoroughly considered during the project’s planning, thus avoiding late-stage changes. 

Key stakeholders from the owner’s side typically include representatives of personnel who own or will directly operate the final system, including:

• Project Sponsors & Finance: Define overarching business and project objectives, oversees budgeting, ROI, and long-term project financials.
• Automation: Considers automation requirements, control strategies, and technical standards.
• Process/Production SMEs: These individuals bring deep knowledge of specific processes or production steps to align automation design with manufacturing demands.
• Commissioning and Qualification Experts: Responsible for ensuring the system is tested and documented according to validation protocols.
• IT (Informational Technology): Oversees network architecture, data management, cybersecurity, and system connectivity.
• Quality: Ensures compliance with internal and external quality standards.
• EH&S (Environmental Health & Safety): Aligns system design with safety and environmental regulations.
• Operations: Provides day-to-day operational insights, user interface requirements, and training needs.
• MSAT (Manufacturing Sciences and Technology): Advises on specialized knowledge; ensures the automation design supports process performance.
• End Users/System Operators: Offer practical feedback on usability, system workflows, and maintenance.
• Validation/Compliance (regulated environments): Ensures that final design meets validation and compliance requirements.

Key stakeholders from the integrator team provide specialized expertise in the design, implementation, and support of the selected system. These include:

• Project Manager: Primary point of contact for the project; oversees its scope, schedule, and budget.
• Technology Platform SMEs: Experts in the automation and digital technology available to clients. They are the architects of systems that transform manufacturing capabilities who have been in the trenches of automation.

Identify and define each stakeholder’s needs and desired outcomes

Together, E Tech Group and the client explore the possibilities that technology can provide to the manufacturing site or to the project and how these could drive business outcomes.

Additionally, each stakeholder identifies their needs from the systems that will be implemented. Some examples may include short-term project cost and schedule or long-term alarming and data management requirements. These goals determine the decision criteria for the next step.

Identify decision criteria.

Based on the previous step, the criteria for evaluating a decision are finalized. All identified criteria are scaled with respect to their relative importance. For example, if cost and schedule are part of the criteria, decisions will be evaluated based on both cost and schedule. However, if cost is a more heavily weighted criteria, then a lower cost, longer lead time option will be prioritized over the opposite. 

This stage aligns all stakeholders in agreement with how decisions will be made in upcoming steps, which helps individual stakeholders embrace the selected option, even should it not fully align with their own preferences.

Identify options that will be considered using the decision criteria

As an example, a variety of potential DCS platform options may be identified for evaluation.

Stage 2 – Evaluate the Options

Evaluate each option using the decision criteria

Continuing the example from above, each identified DCS platform is evaluated based on the decision criteria. The details and nuances of each DCS is considered against the client’s goals and needs.

A decision is reached

By measuring each option against the decision criteria including their relative weighting, the best fit choice is identified.

Document each decision

A critically important step in the process, documentation should include each decision’s rationale and any assumptions that were made to reach it. This step serves two primary functions:

• Stakeholders may change through time and new stakeholders may need help understanding the rationale behind a decision.
  • Decisions are commonly made based on certain assumptions. However, should circumstances change and those assumptions be invalidated, it may be worth reconsidering certain aspects of the project.

Stage 3 – Plan for the Selected Choice(s)

Creation of an execution plan for the chosen option(s)

All details are determined for each selected option. Some details may include:

• Bill of Materials: Detailed lists of materials, equipment, and services required for the project.
• Overall cost estimate: Costs estimated for the entire scope of the project including procurement and installation. Depending on the level of investment in a FEED, this is typically a budgetary range.
• Implementation scope: A full breakdown of the work required for the project’s execution.
• Implementation schedule: A timeline outlining the time required, and the sequencing of implementation activities.

At the conclusion of a well-executed FEED study, clients obtain a comprehensive roadmap to guide implementation. This structured, methodical approach allows stakeholders to move forward with confidence, knowing that each decision is supported by thorough analysis and robust planning.

Closing Remarks

A well-executed controls and automation FEED study maximizes the project investment for a client. It lays the groundwork for capitalizing on technology along with predictable project outcomes, minimized costs, and smooth implementation. By following a proven, structured process, organizations can identify and incorporate stakeholder needs, evaluate all options using clear decision criteria, and ensure thorough documentation and planning for each selected choice. Investing in a high-quality FEED study reduces project risks, prevents costly late-stage changes, and aligns system performance with operational and business objectives. Ultimately, a well-structured FEED study provides the clarity and confidence needed to execute automation and control projects successfully, ensuring they meet stakeholder requirements and support long-term organizational goals.