Control Systems Engineering

A Conversation with Lori L. Stokes, Electrical Engineer

Understanding the complexities of control systems is not always easy to navigate.  With 24 years experience as an electrical engineer with a specialty in this niche area, Lori Stokes assists a wide variety of clients in choosing the best systems for their projects.

A project engineer with Henneman’s Industrial Technology Group (ITG), Lori joined Henneman in 2002. Previously, she was an engineer for tire manufacturer Bridgestone/Firestone for 15 years and with glass manufacturer, PPG Industries for one year. Having come from the industry side, Lori has an advantage in meeting the challenges of working with all kinds of customers and projects.

For those who may not be familiar with control systems, Lori helps to break it down.

“In simplified terms, a controls engineer is responsible to take a process or a machine and design the electrical system to control its behavior,” she explained.
 
Lori explains that an integral part of the control engineer’s job is to design and program the electrical control system.  “We have to specify the control system type, the number of Input/Output (I/O) modules for the Controller Chassis, the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) and motor starter requirements and the field placement of the sensors.” 

She continued, “We then have to layout all of the components in the control enclosure and specify the size of the enclosure.  Schematics have to be developed to show the wiring of all devices and components associated with the control system enclosures.”

“We often get involved with connecting the control system to a network to be able to transfer data between control systems. Once the installation is complete, the programming of the controller and user interfaces to control the process has to be in place.  Then the fun begins; the commissioning and start-up,” Lori said.

ITG is currently involved in an energy savings utility project for Bridgestone.  As lead engineer on the project, Lori explained that she is designing a system so the customer can get utility rebates by replacing constant speed motor starters with variable frequency drives at a manufacturing plant.  This will allow them to vary the speed of the motor based on demand and save energy she said.
 
ITG is also working on a project with Kraft Foods to design a new control system for an ingredient that will be added to a cheese process. In addition, ITG is working with the State of Illinois to assist them with designing a system to monitor power consumption.

A major trend in control systems is communication protocols Lori said.  Ethernet communication to other systems can be a big savings she said.  The sizes of the systems are also getting smaller which is of value as space is often at a premium.

 “Control systems are becoming quite complex and often involve a large physical area,” Lori said.  “When this occurs, we may place these control systems in remote enclosures that are then networked to the main controller.  Ethernet is quickly emerging as the primary network today; but there are many networks in use and we try to support them all.”

As one of the few women in this specialized area of control engineering, Lori said she really enjoys the challenges and rewards.

“Though there is often a short window of opportunity on many of our industrial projects to complete the installation and though we may be working weekends and holidays on a start-up, there is a lot of satisfaction in overseeing a smooth installation and meeting the customer’s schedule and expectations,” Lori stated. 

LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT

F. Eric Granzow, P.E., LEED®AP

Vice President – Director of Mechanical Engineering Operations

It was a combination of luck and friendship that got Eric Granzow his start as a mechanical engineer. Eric grew up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and during his high school years was fortunate to have a drafting teacher who was also a mentor. During college at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, Eric had the opportunity to intern at several companies in roles ranging from production support to product design to testing.

“What I learned from these internships was that factory engineering was not exactly for me,” Eric said. “I tend to do best when my day to day activities vary and I am continually challenged. Since I was a dual major, I graduated a year after most of my college friends and had the opportunity to ask them about their experiences and decided that consulting sounded the most likely fit,” he said.

With more than nine years of engineering design experience, Eric says he made the right choice to work as a mechanical engineer. Eric joined Henneman Engineering in the Iowa City office over three years ago. Eric is a licensed professional engineer in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, and is a LEED Accredited Professional.

Eric specializes in healthcare engineering and is currently project manager and lead mechanical engineer on a new chemistry building at Iowa State University scheduled for completion in July. Eric is especially proud of the fact the new building design focused on energy efficiency and has a projected energy consumption savings equal to 47 percent when compared to the ASHRAE base building standard.

Though every project is rewarding in its own way, Eric says he finds those with technical challenges the most rewarding. One recent example he described is the renovation of a unfinished operating room into a hybrid operating room which included the use of permanent imaging equipment.

Eric explained, “This equipment required 9’6” ceiling height for proper operation and the structural elevation in most of the room was 10’ with a maximum of 10’9”. The project required a significant amount of coordination both during design as well as during construction. Once completed, the owner was very impressed with the efforts of the entire team and is very happy with their new OR.”

When not at work, Eric plays as much golf as he can and has enjoyed this pastime since he was 10. He says he finds golf both relaxing and mentally challenging. Eric also likes to travel and has been to Europe including Austria and Germany and soon hopes to add Australia to the list.

Eric also keeps busy with various volunteer activities and is very involved with his local chapter of ASHRAE where he served as Chapter President from 2008-2009 and today is the Region VI Vice Chair for Electronic Communications.

Eric’s role models include his father and actor Michael J. Fox who he said has made the most of what he has even with Parkinson’s disease. Eric’s personal credo is to become a well respected and recognized member of society.

A movie enthusiast, Eric lists his Top Five films as Farris Bueller’s Day Off, PCU, Independence Day, A Few Good Men, and Top Gun. Also an avid reader, Eric’s favorite book is The Last Lecture, in addition to spy thrillers by author David Baldacci.

After nine years of a rewarding career, Eric says he is just getting started and explains why he loves what he does. “I have the opportunity to provide high quality, environmentally friendly buildings for society while fulfilling my need to be continuously challenged. No two days have been the same in the nine years I have been in the field and I do not expect that to change any day soon.”