OMCO Solar
Increased efficiency by 18x and improved quote accuracy
CASE STUDY
OMCO Solar is a leading provider of solar trackers and fixed tilt solutions. With 5 manufacturing plants in 4 states, this US-based team has a large footprint in the industry with continuous, rapid growth. They were seeking a way to streamline their design process, improve accuracy, and enhance collaboration between their engineering teams. They found the solution in PVFARM, a cutting-edge solar design platform that has revolutionized their workflow and delivered significant time and cost savings.
The Challenge
OMCO Solar has long been recognized by its customers for its exceptional responsiveness and ability to meet tight deadlines – a testament to their dedicated team and efficient processes. However, this high level of service came at a cost. The engineering team was consistently working extended hours, navigating the complexities of manual topography analysis and layout creation using AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and Excel.
The opportunity for manual data entry errors also lingered, adding a layer of potential risk that the team diligently worked to mitigate. While OMCO Solar consistently delivered on its commitments, the time-intensive nature of these tasks presented a challenge to scaling operations and maximizing team efficiency.
"It would take hours to populate the data needed to give a customer what they needed to install the piles, and then to iterate that process when even small changes are made is really the difficult part."
The Solution
To address these challenges, OMCO Solar turned to PVFARM. The platform's ability to produce rapid and accurate layouts, particularly the topography analysis and tracker layout tools, were a perfect fit for their needs.
PVFARM seamlessly integrated into OMCO Solar's existing workflow, enabling their engineers to quickly adapt to the new software. The platform's collaborative features also fostered better communication and coordination between different engineering disciplines.
Results
PVFARM reduced the time required for topography analysis and layout creation from hours to just minutes, representing an 18x improvement in efficiency. This dramatic time saving allowed the team to respond to client requests much faster and deliver projects even more efficiently.
Increased accuracy in project quotesin addition to time savings, PVFARM also improved the accuracy of calculations, eliminating the risk of errors associated with manual data transfer between different software programs. This resulted in more accurate project quotes leading to less change orders after the PO.
Wilson estimates that PVFARM will deliver a 3x return on investment for OMCO Solar once the team is fully proficient with the software. PVFARM has not only streamlined OMCO Solar's design process but has also enabled them to expand their service offerings. They can now confidently provide layout creation services to clients who don't have their own designs, opening up new business opportunities.
Beyond Efficiency PVFARM has facilitated better collaboration between different departments. The mechanical engineering team can now perform calculations that were previously handled by the electrical engineering team, freeing up the latter to focus on other critical tasks.
Final Thoughts
PVFARM has proven to be very impactful for OMCO Solar, delivering significant time and cost savings, improving accuracy, and enhancing collaboration. The platform has empowered the engineering team to work more efficiently and effectively, ultimately benefiting both the company & its clients.
.png)
.svg)