Engineering consultancy Archives - Page 2 of 5

Engineers Week 2022

As part of Engineer’s Week 2022, Tandem donated a ‘Curiosity Box’ to the 3^rd class in a local school. The Curiosity Box is an award-winning science and engineering toolkit designed to nurture children’s’ passion for discovery, experimentation, and exploration. Students completed practical experiments in engineering, maths, and chemistry. The main aim of Engineers Week is to promote engineering as a profession of choice to children in Ireland.

Tandem also donated virtual reality viewers to the 6^th class pupils. Developed for the Science Museum, the Virtual Reality Goggles Wonderlab® turn almost any mobile phone into a virtual reality viewer. The VR viewers can help students understand the nature of light as part of the National Curriculum for Science.

Fill Finish (Aseptic Processing)

Fill Finish operations (Aseptic Processing) are an essential element of the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical supply chain. The ability to safely, efficiently and robustly produce some of the world’s leading therapeutics in an aseptic manner is critical to the supply of life changing therapies throughout the world.

At Tandem we have a team of Project Managers and Engineers with extensive Fill Finish experience who specialise in the delivery of Aseptic processing projects.

We provide leading expertise in the areas of Fill Finish Facility and Cleanroom design (including GMP design reviews), Clean and Black utility design, HVAC design including Isolator Technology, Vial, Syringe, and Cartridge Filling and Closing, Lyophilisation, Barrier/Containment Technology (Isolators/RABS), Parts Washing and Autoclaving, Formulation and Compounding, CIP/SIP systems, and Ready to Use Single Use Systems. We also provide expertise in Process Automation systems required within Fill Finish facilities.

Tandem delivers these services throughout the entire project life cycle and can offer a full turnkey package from overall Project Management, Concept Design, Detailed Design, (including process equipment specification and procurement), Construction Management, Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation right through to Operational Readiness.

Biopharma Capabilities

The Biopharma sector accounted for €106 billion in national exports in 2020, that was an increase of 17% on 2019 (CSO). The industry continues to make significant capital investments, with over €100 million invested by just four of Ireland’s established multinational biopharma sites in 2021. Facilities are cutting edge and technologically diverse in manufacturing cell and gene therapies, drug substance and drug product.

Tandem brings our clients a wealth of experience to delivering their key projects. Its team of Project Managers, Design Engineers, Construction Managers and CQV Engineers have extensive drug substance and drug product experience and have worked in some of the top Biopharma companies in the world.
Delivering expertise in the areas of equipment specification and design of facility and cleanroom, clean and black utilities, HVAC, electrical, instrumentation and process automation to ensure consistent controlled manufacturing to the required quality standards.

Tandem offers clients a full life-cycle package from overall project management, concept and basis of design, detailed design, (including process equipment specification and procurement), construction management, commissioning, qualification, and validation right through to operational readiness for commercial operations.

CSR Update 2021

Tandem chose three charity partners in 2021, Focus Ireland, Make-A-Wish Ireland, and The Rainbow Club – Centre for Autism. As usual, Tandem’s staff and contractors have gone above and beyond in their contributions to our fundraising efforts and in their event participation. To date, Tandem has raised over €6,000 for its chosen charities and its fundraising efforts continue throughout December. Below is a roundup of Tandem’s activities in 2021.

In March, Tandem participated in the Focus Ireland Camino de Quarantine, a virtual walk covering the distance from Saria to Santiago de Campostela, 114km of the French way of St. James. Tandem also fundraised for Easter Eggs that were delivered to both Focus Ireland and The Rainbow Club, just in time for Easter.

In October Tandem participated in Shine a Light Night, in their fundraising efforts for just one day the team surrendered a comfortable night in bed to experience a fraction of what homeless people endure every day.

Also in March, Tandem ran a competition to fundraise for Make-A-Wish Ireland, we packed a jar full of jellybeans and donators guessed the number of sweets in the jar. The closest guess was just 34 sweets off the total! The sweets were then donated to Temple Street children’s hospital.

Throughout July Tandem participated in Make-A-Wish Ireland’s “Wheels for Wishes” campaign. The challenge was to cycle 250km during the month. Also in July, we ran a Virtual Race Night, a night of horse racing with colleagues and their families that was good fun and for a great cause.

In October Tandem organised a fundraising hike on Carrauntoohil in aid of the Rainbow Club, it was a huge success and was a first for many of the participants. One of the highlights of The Rainbow Club’s year is the upcoming Santa visit, Tandem have also raised money to support the gift giving at that event. Tandem has volunteered some time to assist with clearing land for their expansion and will be back again over the coming weeks to further assist with the expansion and to help setting up their all-important Santa visit.

Throughout 2021 Tandem has also engaged with other charities, groups, and sports clubs, delivering sponsorship, and fundraising to support their work and their events. It has been a hugely successful year to date, we thank all our staff and contractors for their support and their time.

Tandem is delighted to round up a great year of Corporate Social Engagement with a very busy December supporting our charity partners. During December, Tandem raised €610 for the Rainbow Club’s Santa visit, and our personnel volunteered to help with Christmas preparation at the club.

Tandem has supported Focus Ireland by volunteering 24 hours during December at the Remembrance Christmas Tree on Patrick Street in Cork, of which Focus Ireland is one of the recipients this year. Our personnel also donated a collection of gift items to Focus Ireland in time for their Christmas delivery to clients.

To end our 2021 CSE programme, Tandem’s Christmas Quiz, Raffle and Auction raised €790 for Make-A-Wish Ireland.

The Rainbow Club Centre for Autism, Focus Ireland and Make-A-Wish Ireland perform amazing work in the service of others every day, and it has been a pleasure working with them all throughout this year. Tandem wishes to thank all of its personnel that have gone above and beyond in their contributions to our fundraising efforts and event participation in 2021!

Rotary Tree of Remembrance Focus Ireland

Pharma Industry Awards 2021

Tandem is delighted to be shortlisted as a finalist in the Pharma Supplier of the Year category of the Irish Pharma Industry Awards for the second year in a row.

The Pharma Supplier of the Year award, sponsored by H2 Compliance, recognises the supplier that has provided a ‘best in class’ service, solution, product or goods to Ireland’s Pharmaceutical industry.

Congratulations and best wishes to the shortlisted nominees across all categories of the 2021 awards. Tandem looks forward to the awards ceremony on November 11th and participating in this celebration of excellence in the Irish pharmaceutical industry.

Cork Chamber Large Company of the Year Finalist

Tandem is thrilled to be selected as a finalist in the 2021 Cork Chamber Company of the Year Awards. To receive this recognition from the Chamber is a great honour and we are privileged to be counted amongst the finalists.

Congratulations to all of the finalists, we look forward to the ceremony on the 26th of May.

Spotlight on Services: Project Controls

The Tandem Project Controls team provides specialised expertise across project lifecycles to reduce client risk, improve value and deliver positive outcomes in all sectors of the built environment. Services include cost control, procurement, contract administration, risk management, scheduling and document control.

Through cost estimates Tandem will establish project viability and a robust baseline. It delivers value management and value engineering, lifecycle costing and cost forecasting. Tandem will estimate and plan costs to proactively manage the project budget, optimising cost performance from inception to completion. Tandem delivers and manages cost reports throughout the project lifecycle and manages cash flow forecasting.

Tandem will expertly schedule each phase of a project from concept, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning through to qualification, validation and operational readiness. It delivers man-loaded schedules and S-Curves with weekly earned versus actual progress reporting. Tandem’s critical path analysis, progress updates, identification of slippage and development of recovery plans delivers clarity and transparency. Tandem develops portfolio scheduling for PMO’s and micro-schedules for complex areas of work where detailed coordination is required.

Tandem offer procurement services and will prepare tender packages for trade contractors and equipment vendors, it will perform tender walkdowns and lead bid clarification meetings. Tandem will undertake commercial and technical bid analysis, issuing award recommendations on tender reports, managing vendors and leading final negotiations.

Tandem will identify the most appropriate procurement and contracting strategies to minimise risk to time, cost and quality. It will prepare contractual documentation, ensuring all parties are familiar with their contractual obligations and remain compliant at all times. Tandem employs timely communication to ensure the smooth progression of the contract. Tandem will implement change management procedures that facilitate well informed decisions and ensure effective financial management. It will deliver certification of monthly valuations, assessment and agreement of contractual claims, assessment of contractor claims for delays and provide advice when assessing claims for any time extensions and costs for delays.

Tandem’s expertise in risk management delivers analysis of potential project risks. Tandem will develop risk mitigation strategies, maintain a Risk Register and regularly communicate the mitigation status with stakeholders. Tandem also implement controlled processes and practices for the creation, review, modification, issuance, distribution and accessibility of documents.

Thrive Wellbeing Initiative

Entering 2021 under lockdown conditions, Tandem’s Thrive Wellbeing Committee was acutely aware that this lockdown was different. In March 2020, people adopted very positive health behaviours, engaged in constructive leisure time activities such as redecorating, rediscovering the joy of gardening or just getting through a list of chores. In 2021, people are experiencing lockdown fatigue, when moods are low and if we let them, they can affect those positive health behaviours that we established a year ago. The committee also recognised that a lack of societal interaction was having a heavy impact on people’s mental health. These coupled with the pressure of school closures, travel restrictions, altered work arrangements and inability to see family members are all reasons why Thrive put in place a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing wellbeing and providing a positive social outlet for all of our employees and contractors.

Our Q1 initiatives included a series of lunchtime pilates classes. Classes were designed to alleviate the stress caused by sitting at a desk for long periods of time. Introducing simple stretches that could be utilized at any time during the workday to ease tension and reinvigorate.

The committee has run informative lunch and learn sessions on nutrition and resilience. In January we welcomed Marc Murphy, a nutritional therapist, lecturer and clinic supervisor with the College of Naturopathic Medicine in Cork. Marc demonstrated healthy meal ideas while talking through the nutrition benefits of the meals and specific ingredients. In a similar vein, Thrive is sending emails with healthy meal planning ideas, twice weekly, to staff and contractors.

In February, we received a talk on resilience from Maureen O’Dwyer, a registered Mental Health nurse and Nurse Therapist with Highfield Healthcare in Dublin. Maureen walked us through the tools and techniques used to cultivate a mindset oriented towards greater self-compassion, which helps to reduce anxiety levels and decrease the risk of high stress levels and associated burnout.

The Thrive committee ran an outdoor photography competition, emphasising the requirement to adhere to government guidelines and remain within 5km of home. The competition resulted in 22 entries including images from locations such as Kerry, Cork, Dublin, Mayo and Clare. The winning entry was called ‘Blanketing the Green Road’ and can be viewed here: Photography Competition

Thrive has also established a book club, to encourage the joy of reading, to suggest new genres of books and to provide a social platform for discussion. Aptly, the first virtual book club meeting took place on World Book Day, 4th March. It was a great success with lively discussion and participation, the event delivered the intended fun and social interaction.

Lastly, Thrive has set up three exercise communities, for running, walking and cycling. The comradery is facilitated by WhatsApp groups and they have become lively forums for discussion.

The running group’s first challenge was to cumulatively run from Cork to Cheltenham and back before the Cheltenham racing festival. The walking group challenge was 21 in 21, to achieve individual walking goals for 21 days in a row. The cycling group virtually cycled from Tandem HQ to Croagh Patrick before St. Patrick’s Day.

The feedback from staff and contractors regarding these initiatives has been extremely positive. We look forward to continuing them, at the same time hoping that our virtual social activities can be replaced with safe, face to face social interactions in the not-too-distant future.

Engineers Week 2021

As part of our CSR Programme, Tandem’s Engineers participated in Engineers Week during Feb 27th – March 5th by hosting a series of virtual visits to transition year students in Cork. Engineers Week promotes the importance of engineering as a profession and aims to positively showcase engineering as a rewarding and creative career choice. Five engineers from Tandem gave presentations across the following disciplines: Electrical, CSA, Building Services and Process & Chemical Engineering.

Under normal circumstances Tandem would facilitate a week-long learning experience for transition year students at its headquarters. This year, our engineers delivered an overview of engineering as a career and their own career path to date. The presentations included their second and third level education journey, a description of the type of work & industries that their engineering discipline is typically involved in, their day-to-day activities in their engineering work and their career aspirations.

Oral Solid Dose Capabilities

Oral Solid Dosage (OSD) facilities, producing tablets & capsules, use well defined unit operations, regardless of production volumes or usage for single or multiple product manufacture. Facilities typically include Dispensing/Formulation; Blending; Granulation; Drying; Compression/Encapsulation; Coating; Packaging & Receiving/Warehousing Operations.

All OSD facility full life cycle project requirements can be designed & managed by Tandem’s team of Project Managers, Design Engineers, Construction Managers & CQV Engineers with extensive OSD experience.

Tandem will expertly deliver your desired project outcomes in Facility & Cleanroom design, Clean & Black utility design, HVAC design, OSD equipment unit operations including clean support process areas for quick turnaround without unacceptable risk of product exposure (i.e., dust & cross-contamination), Primary & Secondary Packaging operations, Serialisation & Warehouse design.

Tandem also deliver expertise in ATEX & process safety to ensure correct containment requirements are outlined & embedded in the design process. Our building services engineers provide extensive experience in BMS/EMS systems to support the monitoring of critical processes within an OSD facility.