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SL Controls are looking forward to attending the PPMA show in the NEC Birmingham on Tuesday 29th September – Thursday 01st October. The Processing & Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA) is the UK’s trade association for suppliers of processing and packaging machinery to the UK market. The PPMA represents over 400 member and associate companies. Our […]
Read MoreOver 40 AbbVie staff members took on the challenge of cycling from Sligo to Dublin on the 15th and 16th May 2015. Cyclists came from the two main AbbVie sites in Sligo – AbbVie Ballytivnan and AbbVie Manorhamilton Road facilities. The above photo captures Darragh McMorrow and Keith Moran from SL Controls presenting the sponsorship […]
Read MoreSL Controls-ECubers™ TY 2015 Challenge was successfully ran in Mercy College Sligo recently. Mercy college Technology students joined forces with Summerhill College Engineering students to complete the challenge which encourages students to actively explore and develop their Technical Skills. ECubers™ aims to produce the most knowledgeable and skilled Equipment Systems Engineers of the future who […]
Read MoreSL Controls attended an ISPE Event on Career Guidance and Development entitled ‘Think Forward, Think Success’ in the Lighthouse Cinema, Smithfield, Co. Dublin on Thursday 21st of May last. The event was organised by the ISPE Young Professional committee of which SL Controls Compliance Director Dermot Mc Morrow is a member. The main objective of […]
Read MoreSL Controls Compliance Director Dermot Mc Morrow met with Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD at their Project office at Galway Technology Centre (GTC) in the IDA Industrial Park, Mervue, Co. Galway recently. The Minister was very interested to hear that SL Controls has evolved into an internationally recognised industry leader in […]
Read MoreSL Controls are delighted to announce the further expansion of our project offices with the addition of the East of Ireland office located in the Bracetown Business Park in Clonee, Dublin 15. This expansion is due to ongoing projects and recent contracts secured and will serve as a springboard to further grow the business in […]
Read MoreIn response to recent contracts secured, we are delighted to announce we are recruiting up to 10 Engineering staff over the course of the coming months and aim to push this growth further throughout 2015. These roles will be in Galway, Limerick, Sligo and Dublin. This expansion is in response to the growing demand for […]
Read MoreSL Controls are delighted to announce the further expansion of its project offices based in the National Technology Park, Limerick. This expansion results from recent contracts awarded. The new office space will also provide additional capacity for increased delivery of the company’s equipment system integration services to the medical devices and pharmaceutical sectors.
Read MoreSL Controls attended an ISPE Seminar on Serialization entitled ‘Serialization – Practical Considerations for Implementation’ in the Crowne Plaza, Blanchardstown, Co. Dublin on 23rd October last. During the event a panel of experts shared the latest regulatory updates on Falsified Medicines as well as Serialization strategies, challenges, practical experience and solutions. SL Controls hosted a […]
Read MoreSL Controls have been successfully re-assessed for ISO accreditation and have been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 quality standard.
Read MoreMeet the Team: Riley Moloney
1. What do you do at SL Controls? I am a Validation Engineer working on projects for large multinational pharmaceutical companies. My role involves creating and reviewing documentation for the validation of utilities and equipment, procuring and setting up Linux servers, and completing various tasks on different servers to ensure they are set up correctly […]
The Benefits of Agile Development for Digital Transformation in Life Sciences
Software applications play a crucial role in digital transformation, modernisation, and improvement projects in the life sciences sector. This includes everything from bespoke applications to configured off-the-shelf solutions to customised vendor platforms. In all these situations, agile development processes offer a range of advantages. Agile development has a long history in the software industry, but […]
Promoting Mental Health During SL Controls Mental Wellbeing Week
Last week was Mental Wellbeing Week at SL Controls with a series of events and initiatives around the important issue of mental health in the workplace. This included an employee anchor day on Thursday 10 October, World Mental Health Day. Employees who were able to work from one of our offices enjoyed a pizza lunch […]
A Preview of the Future at the Ignition Community Conference 2024
The SL Controls team has returned from the Ignition Community Conference 2024 where they got a better understanding of how the new release of Ignition scheduled for January will benefit our customers in the life sciences sector. Systems Architect Brian McLaughlin also participated in an integrator panel discussion covering the technologies and trends that are […]
See You at Pharma MES 2024
It is just a few days to go now until Pharma MES 2024, and the SL Controls team will be there. Taking place this year in Berlin, Pharma MES 2024 is one of the most important events in Europe for pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing. In addition to the focus on manufacturing execution systems, this year […]
Case Study: Efficient Validated Approach for Comparing Automation Software Project Files
Leading automation applications and platforms continue to transform processes and operational performance in the life sciences sector. They offer an extensive range of features that continue to improve and evolve. That said, even the best automation platforms and applications have limits. They are designed and developed for specific purposes, and, in many cases, they perform […]
Looking Forward to the Ignition Community Conference 2024
It is now less than two weeks until ICC 2024 – the Ignition Community Conference 2024 – and SL Controls is delighted to be attending. In-person places are sold out for this very popular event in the industrial automation calendar, but Systems Architect Brian McLaughlin will be there to represent Ignition Premier Integrator, SL Controls. […]
Meet the Team: Conor Davey
1. Describe your job as if you were explaining it to a five-year-old. I work with machines to help make them manufacture products in a factory smarter or faster. This normally means programming the machines to share their data and present it to an operator who can then make better decisions based on that information. […]
What is the Unified Namespace (UNS)?
The unified namespace (UNS) is a hot topic in manufacturing right now, largely because it is a key component to digital transformation success. We’ll explain what UNS is in this blog and why it is so important. At a high level, it is about data, integration, and communication. Data, Integration, and Communication Data is at […]
Meet the Team: Wes Hanbidge
1. Describe your job as if you were explaining it to a five-year-old. My job is similar to building a house. First, I speak to the house owners to get to know them and understand their requirements. From there, we agree on the price and the amount of time it will take to build it. […]
Case Study: Transitioning Batch Production Compliance Processes from Paper to Glass
Digitalisation and smart manufacturing projects and initiatives can come under a number of different headings. One of the most common is paper-to-glass, where legacy, paper-based processes are digitalised and, where possible, automated. Paper-to-glass projects deliver significant improvements measured against a range of KPIs. They can also help establish a foundation for further digital transformation projects […]
Celebrating Wins Together: SL Controls Company Outing 2024
Members of the SL Controls team got together recently in Athlone for our annual company outing. The day started with a puzzle solving challenge called Beat the Box organised by Orange Works. We had to work together as a team to identify the code which turned out to be our employee appreciation tagline: Celebrating Wins […]
SL Controls Teams Compete in Summer Activity Challenge
Promoting good physical and mental health is an important priority for SL Controls, and it never hurts to add in a bit of friendly competition. So, throughout the month of June, 30 members of the SL Controls team split into five teams to compete in our summer activity challenge. Participants could engage in any type […]
Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers in Tipperary
SL Controls engineers recently completed an engineering education programme with 5th-class primary school pupils at Youghalarra National School in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland. SL Controls Systems Architect Volker Winhausen and Senior Validation Engineer Andrew Ryan took part in the programme which is run by STEAM. STEAM is an organisation that partners with industry to inspire […]
Reinforcing Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a central priority for SL Controls, so we took the opportunity last week on National Diversity and Inclusion Day to reinforce our commitment to making positive changes. This included launching company-wide unconscious bias training as well as our second DEI employee survey. The survey aims to capture the views […]
International Women in Engineering Day 2024 – Enhanced by Engineering
International Women in Engineering Day takes place this weekend, on Sunday. The theme for International Women in Engineering Day 2024 is Enhanced by Engineering, so the focus is on women who have enhanced by engineering “people’s everyday lives and are helping to build towards a brighter future”. SL Controls is an engineering company. The majority […]
Meet the Team: Nav Dharni
1. Describe your job as if you were explaining it to a five-year-old. I’ll describe my job as kind of like baking a cake. So, in order to bake a cake, a project manager would have to see how we get to the end goal, which is we want a cake, but in order to […]
Case Study: Successful Implementation of POMSnet MES in Life Sciences Sector Facility
Digital transformation is a key priority for manufacturers in the life sciences sector. A crucial element of most digital transformation strategies is the implementation of MES (manufacturing execution systems) and/or modern SCADA solutions to digitalise processes and increase automation. The customer who is the subject of this case study wanted to achieve this objective. They […]
Meet the Team: John Downey
1. Describe your job as if you were explaining it to a five-year-old. I manage projects for various medical and life science clients. My role involves supporting commercial activities, understanding customer requirements, and building a project team and scope to deliver to those requirements. 2. What types of projects are you working on at the […]
Celebrating Cultural Diversity at SL Controls
The 21st May is World Day for Cultural Diversity 2024, an initiative to highlight the richness of the world’s cultures and encourage intercultural dialogue. To celebrate, we asked the SL Controls team to share information and reflections about their country and culture. Watch the video now.
SL Controls Achieves Premier Integrator Status for Digital Transformation Platform Ignition
SL Controls has been certified as a Premier Integrator for Ignition, the digital transformation platform for industrial automation. Ignition by Inductive Automation features flexible and fully customisable SCADA and MES (manufacturing execution system) functionality with comprehensive integration capabilities. NNIT Group company SL Controls is one of only three Ignition Premier Integrators in Ireland and the […]
Why Choose POMSnet as Your MES in the Life Sciences Sector
Manufacturing execution systems (MES) are becoming increasingly important as organisations strive to improve productivity, compliance, and control while taking advantage of the opportunities presented by digital transformation technologies. The question is increasingly becoming which MES platform to choose, as there is a variety of options available. One of those options is POMSnet Aquila MES (also […]
Workplace Wellbeing Week 2024 at SL Controls
SL Controls is marking Workplace Wellbeing Week 2024 with a number of initiatives and events, culminating in Workplace Wellbeing Day on Friday 26 April. Hosted by Ibec, the aim of Workplace Wellbeing Week/Day is to promote social, mental, and physical wellbeing in the workplace. We have initiatives and events taking place throughout the week: Mindful […]
Meet the Team: Frank Quinn
1. Describe your job as if you were explaining it to a five-year-old. I think probably the easiest way to describe what I do is I work closely with customers to provide solutions to their needs, such as improving their productivity, reducing their waste, and reducing their costs. 2. What are you working on at […]
SL Controls Speaking at Northwest’s Robotics and Digitalisation Event
SL Controls engineers Derek Loughlin and Conor Davey will be speaking at the Northwest’s Robotics & Digitalisation Event this week. The event is open to companies who want to embrace and learn more about implementing digitalisation technologies. It will feature experts from the digitalisation field, including SL Controls. The Northwest’s Robotics and Digitalisation Event will […]
Infographic: Reasons to Choose SL Controls as a Graduate
Over a third of our employees at SL Controls joined our team as a graduate. Find out more in our infographic about why graduates choose SL Controls, why they stay with us, and why you should look at the opportunities that we have available. Reasons to Choose SL Controls as a Graduate Pay and […]
7 Reasons to Upgrade Your Legacy SCADA System to the Ignition Platform
Do you have a legacy SCADA system in your manufacturing facility that is creaking at the seams? Are you worried about the risks posed by your outdated SCADA system, or are you frustrated by the limitations it places on your modernisation efforts? Are you simply fed up with the high and difficult-to-control costs? Upgrading your […]
SL Controls Engineers Start New Primary School Engineering Programme
Two SL Controls Engineers, Andrew Ryan and Volker Winhausen, have started a new 10-week STEAM programme. They are teaching engineering principles to 5th class primary school pupils at Youghalarra National School in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland. STEAM is an organisation that delivers programmes in partnership with industry to inspire children in STEM subjects – science, […]
Meeting Tomorrow’s Engineers at Explore Engineering 2024
Explore Engineering 2024 took place at Shannon Airport in Clare last week and the event was a huge success. The engineering showcase continues to go from strength to strength as young people and their families meet engineering companies in the region to explore the potential career opportunities that exist in the engineering sector. Deirdre Loughlin, […]
International Women’s Day 2024: Inspiring Inclusion in Engineering
Today is International Women’s Day and the theme this year is Inspire Inclusion. It is a theme that we fully support here at SL Controls, and it is part of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy. To mark International Women’s Day 2024 and this year’s theme, we spoke to some of SL Controls’ female employees […]
Meet the Team: Diane Maher
1. Describe your job as if you were explaining it to a five-year-old. I help machines and robots that make everyday items like your toys. I make sure the machines are running well, with no problems. 2. What types of projects are you working on at the moment? I’m working on a project implementing upgrades […]
SL Controls Named as a Top 20 Ignition Integrator Worldwide
Each month, Inductive Automation publishes the top integrators of its leading industrial automation platform, Ignition. For the period January to February 2024, SL Controls is 13th on the leaderboard out of more than 1,600 currently certified Ignition integrators. SL Controls takes a customer-focused approach when recommending and selecting technology stacks, but the features, pricing structure, […]
How Digital Transformation Drives Significant CAPA Quality Process Efficiency Savings
In regulated industries, CAPA (Corrective and Preventative Action) is a core component of your Quality Management System (QMS). Your CAPA quality process is essential for regulatory compliance reasons, but CAPA is also about improving product safety, operational safety in your plant, productivity, OEE, cost-base, and more – the list goes on. CAPA aims to identify […]
SL Controls at Explore Engineering 2024 – We Hope to See You There
If you or someone close to you is considering a career in engineering, make sure you have 7 March 2024 in your diary. That is the date of the Explore Engineering Showcase in Limerick. SL Controls has been a proud supporter of Explore Engineering for several years and the team is looking forward to going […]
Infographic: Combined SCADA and MES Platforms Explained
Download the infographic as a PDF Combined SCADA and MES – Full Stack OT Platforms Explained Full Stack OT (operational technology) Platforms combine SCADA and MES (manufacturing execution system) functionality into one solution. Here’s an overview: What is SCADA? Data acquisition Data communication Data presentation Machine control What is MES? Production order management, scheduling, […]
Engaging the Next Generation of Engineers
Two members of the SL Controls team, Chief Technology Officer Paul Clarke and Talent Acquisition & Onboarding Associate Aoife Burns, recently completed a 10-week STEAM teaching programme with a class of primary school children from Strandhill National School. STEAM is an organisation that partners with companies like SL Controls to deliver fun and interactive classes […]
Combined SCADA and MES Solutions for Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturers
The traditional manufacturing software stack – often referred to as the ISA-95 model – is well established in a range of industries and sectors, including the pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing industries. Companies have built structures and processes around this model that facilitate profitable production, regulatory compliance, and effective quality control. However, hierarchical structures like […]
Meet the Team: Johnpaul Nwachukwu
1. Describe your job as if you were explaining it to a five-year-old. In my role as a Systems Engineer, I harness cutting-edge technologies, including data, software, and hardware, and seamlessly incorporate them into an existing platform and system to increase efficiency. 2. What types of projects are you working on at the moment? I’m […]
Reasons to Choose SL Controls for the Next Step in Your Engineering Career
At SL Controls, we operate at the cutting edge of our industry, providing best-in-class solutions for manufacturers in the life sciences and technology sectors. Our solutions automate and digitalise manufacturing processes as well as integrating equipment and systems across all production operations and business processes. It’s an exciting field to work with great opportunities and […]
The SL Controls Team – A Year in Review
It has been a busy and interesting year for the SL Controls team as we welcomed new colleagues and got to know our existing colleagues better. Here are some of the stories we published throughout 2023 that give an insight into the people who make SL Controls the team and company it is. Embracing Equity […]
Supporting Our Local Communities this Christmas
The SL Controls team has taken part in initiatives to support our local communities this Christmas. We had a Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 15 December to coincide with our monthly anchor day where staff come into the office rather than working from home. As part of the Christmas Jumper Day, staff made donations to […]
Meet the Team: Paul Clarke
As SL Controls CTO, Paul Clarke is responsible for the technical capability of the business and its future direction via a technical roadmap. He also provides support to all our business functions. This includes supporting the commercial teams in generating new opportunities and providing technical consultancy to our staff and customers. You can find out […]
How to Choose the Right Full Stack OT Platform
Manufacturers in the life sciences sector have been going through a period of continual change as organisations automate processes, integrate equipment, and make better use of data along Industry 4.0 principles. Part of this process of change is the growing trend to switch to Full Stack OT Platforms. Full Stack OT (operational technology) Platforms are […]
7 Reasons to Choose SL Controls as a Graduate
Choosing a graduate position is a big decision in the life of any newly qualified engineer. This blog aims to give you a flavour of what you can expect from SL Controls and why you should consider applying for one of our graduate roles. If you want to find out more about what we do, […]
International Men’s Day at SL Controls – Building Mental Resilience
At this time of the year, there is a lot of focus on men’s physical and mental health with the annual Movember campaign taking place throughout November and International Men’s Day this Sunday, the 19th. The theme for International Men’s Day 2023 is “Zero Male Suicide”, so we asked men on the SL Controls team […]
Understanding Cybersecurity Risks When Bridging the IT/OT Gap
Bridging the gap between IT and OT is a key objective for a growing number of organisations in the life sciences sector. The benefits of doing so are substantial, including having increased OT oversight and being able to use OT data to transform business operations. When bridging the IT/OT gap, it is essential to understand […]
SL Controls Coffee Morning Raises Money for Children’s Health Foundation
The SL Controls team held a coffee morning on Halloween earlier this week to raise money for the Children’s Health Foundation. The Children’s Health Foundation supports sick children and their families in Children’s Health Ireland hospitals as well as the urgent care centres in Temple Street, Crumlin, Connolly, and Tallaght. Employees made their own donations […]
Externalisation in the Life Sciences Sector Through the Growth of CDMOs and CMOs
CDMOs (contract development and manufacturing organisations) and CMOs (contract manufacturing organisations) have been a feature of the life sciences sector for many decades. However, this part of the sector is changing and growing, making externalisation an even more critical element of worldwide pharmaceutical and medical device development and production. A lot of the change taking […]
Promoting Good Workplace Mental Health on World Mental Health Day 2023
As this is World Mental Health Day 2023, we are taking the opportunity to promote good workplace mental health across SL Controls. This includes issuing an updated Mental Health and Wellbeing policy to all employees that includes expanded information on the supports the company makes available to individuals and managers in relation to mental health […]
Password Security Best Practices for the Life Sciences Sector
Pharmaceutical and medical device companies are high-value targets for cybercriminals, making cybersecurity a high-priority consideration. A key component of good cybersecurity is adopting password security best practices. Good password security is important to protect IP and patient data, as well as ensuring operations can continue without the often significant interruptions that can occur as a […]
Meet the Team: Bryan Slevin
1. Describe your job as if you were explaining it to a five-year-old. My job is to make sure that people actually do what they say they are going to do. We are dealing with companies that make medicine and medical devices, so it’s very important that we keep our standards high. We do a […]
Dynamic Learning Week – CPD at SL Controls
This week is Dynamic Learning Week at SL Controls. Dynamic Learning is our Continuous Professional Development (CPD) initiative where we support our employees as they enhance their skills. The aim is to foster a learning culture that is dynamic, pushes boundaries, and facilitates innovation. During Dynamic Learning Week, we are hosting a series of events […]
SL Controls Staff Attend First Aid Training Course
A number of SL Controls staff attended a first-aid training course over the summer. The training days took place at our Sligo and Limerick facilities, and they were well attended by a broad section of the team. Senior Systems Engineer Conor Davey was one of the organisers of the training. He said: “I was happy […]
Automated Guided Vehicles and Autonomous Mobile Robots in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are technologies that are transforming the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. When implemented properly, they can help manufacturers in the life sciences sector overcome some of the most difficult of today’s challenges, as well as improving productivity, efficiency, and quality. Both technologies are similar as they […]
Meet the Team: Jisa Varghese
1. Describe your job as if you were explaining it to a five-year-old. I write programs or sets of instructions to create applications used in medicine-making factories or hospitals. 2. What types of projects are you working on at the moment? The current project I am working on involves creating a development environment to configure […]
Promoting Healthy Living During Fitness Month at SL Controls
We ran a Fitness Month at SL Controls this summer as part of our Live Well at SL programme. It brought out some friendly competitiveness as the participants were split into teams to earn points by walking, running, cycling, or swimming. Those taking part in the competition used the Strava app to record their activity […]
Mobile Manufacturing in the Life Sciences Sector – Opportunities, Risks, & Challenges
Manufacturing in the life sciences sector is dominated by large-volume, high-speed production facilities where business models are based on economies of scale. This approach has served the sector and society very well over the past decades, especially in the developed world. Now, however, there is increasing interest, research, and innovation in a different form of […]
Meet the Team: Josh Morris
1. Describe your job as if you were explaining it to a five-year-old? I work on machines to get them to a point where they’re running well and making the products they are supposed to be making. I also find all the little problems with them and make them run better than they were the […]
Celebrating Fathers Working at SL Controls
Our ESG champions recently decided to celebrate the many fathers working at SL Controls, so we asked the dads on our team about their thoughts on being a father and what it means to them. We put this video together with the responses.
SL Controls Launches Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy
SL Controls has launched its first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy, reinforcing our commitment to nurturing a workplace environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. The aim of the policy is to create an open and inclusive culture where everyone feels valued. Shauna Ryan, SL Controls Director of People and Culture, said: “Diversity, equity, and […]
Celebrating SL Controls Female Engineers on International Women in Engineering Day 2023
Today is International Women in Engineering Day, so it is the ideal opportunity to celebrate the female engineers in SL Controls and the fantastic contribution they make to the company. We have women engineers working in a range of roles across all parts of the business. Days like International Women in Engineering Day also bring […]
SL Controls Urban Adventure and Viking Cruise – 2023 Company Outing
The SL Controls company outing took place over the weekend as the team headed to Athlone last Friday. Despite the storms in parts of the country, the weather held up as we were split into teams to compete in an Urban Adventure competition. Armed with iPads, the teams set off to find various hotspots around […]
Meet the Team: Kristian Fitzgerald
1. Describe your job as if you were explaining it to a five-year-old? An automated factory is a place where a lot of robots make things such as medicines. We write a list of steps for the robots to follow to allow them to make the medicines. 2. What types of projects are you working […]
Eliminating Manual Data Entry – An Essential Requirement for Pharma and MedTech Manufacturers
Digitalising pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing facilities is a high priority for companies in the life sciences sector. Achieving this priority involves developing fully integrated production lines while maintaining (and improving) compliance with GxP regulations. Eliminating manual data entry is an essential requirement to reach this level of digitalisation. The rewards of creating the fully […]
The Benefits of Dynamics 365 Mixed Reality for Manufacturers in the Life Sciences Sector
Cutting-edge technologies are helping manufacturers in the life sciences sector improve productivity while also addressing challenges – challenges that include skills availability, product quality consistency, production oversight, and OEE (a measure of equipment and overall production line performance). Examples of these cutting-edge solutions include Manufacturing Execution Systems, process automation solutions, and equipment systems integration solutions. […]
Meet the Team: Blessing Nwachukwu
1. Describe your job as if you were explaining it to a five-year-old. I work with cool technologies and provide innovative solutions to problems! I am a systems engineer and I work on new technologies and digital tools, including technologies related to augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality. I also work on automating workflows […]
Digital Regulatory Audits – the Fully Compliant, Less Costly, and More Efficient Solution
Like other companies, manufacturers in the life sciences sector faced a number of challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. One specific and unique challenge was how to conduct a regulatory audit when people couldn’t travel and there were restrictions on who could meet, where, and when. At SL Controls, we developed and successfully implemented a digital […]
Workplace Wellbeing Week 2023 at SL Controls
This week is workplace wellbeing week at SL Controls. We have a series of events planned throughout the week, culminating on Friday 28 April, the official IBEC National Workplace Wellbeing Day. According to IBEC, National Workplace Wellbeing Day is “Ireland’s biggest celebration of workplace health and wellbeing”. Shauna Ryan, SL Controls Director of People and […]
Overcoming the Manufacturing Challenges of Cell and Gene Therapies
Considerable progress has been made in the development of cell and gene therapies (CGTs) over recent years. Many new CGT products have already been approved by regulators in the US, EU, and other parts of the world, and many more are in development. The most exciting part is the improvements in patient outcomes that CGTs […]
Meet the Team: Eamonn McManus
1. Describe your job as if you were explaining it to a five-year-old. I am an operations manager in SL Controls, so I am responsible for ensuring our portfolio continues growing through existing and new clients. I work with the commercial team to onboard new projects for our engineers to work on. 2. What […]
9 Game-Changing Trends in the Life Sciences Sector
The life sciences sector continues to grow as new therapies, drugs, and products are developed. New manufacturing and business technologies are also driving change in the sector, as are ever-evolving regulations and best practice guidelines. So, where is the sector heading? Here are nine game-changing trends in the life sciences sector to be aware of: […]
Smart Manufacturing Strategy Overview for the Life Sciences Sector
All sections of the life sciences sector understand the need to evolve operations using the cutting-edge technologies, processes, and best practices that come under the smart manufacturing umbrella. However, it’s important to take a structured approach, with a carefully developed and implemented smart manufacturing strategy. In this blog, we’ll look at why it is important […]
Embracing Equity at SL Controls on International Women’s Day
SL Controls is proud to support this year’s International Women’s Day theme, Embrace Equity. It’s an especially important message to get across in engineering as the sector seeks to attract more women. The International Women’s Day theme of Embrace Equity is about going beyond equality, where equality is the goal rather than the approach. After […]
Engineering in a Box Lessons for 4th Class Pupils at Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh, Limerick
Encouraging the next generation of employees and entrepreneurs to consider engineering is important to us at SL Controls, so we jumped at the opportunity to get involved with STEAM Education again. Last year, two of our engineers had a fantastic experience teaching children in a Sligo primary school about engineering topics and concepts. This time […]
Meet the SL Controls Team at Explore Engineering 2023 in Clare
The SL Controls team is looking forward to the annual engineering showcase, Explore Engineering. It takes place this year on Thursday 2 March and it’s back to its former home, Shannon Airport. Explore Engineering is aimed at students, teachers, and parents with the goal of showcasing the career opportunities that exist in the engineering sector […]
SL Controls Announces 100 New Highly Skilled Jobs in Ireland
SL Controls is proud to announce the creation of 100 new highly skilled jobs in Ireland, helping us achieve our growth objectives and our plans for further expansion in target markets around the world. The new jobs will bring the SL Controls workforce to a total of 220. The roles will be based in Ireland, […]
SL Controls Shortlisted for Innovator Excellence Award
We are delighted to have been selected as a finalist for the Innovator Excellence Award at the upcoming Sligo Chamber of Commerce Excellence Awards. We are one of three finalists for the award, which is sponsored by Atlantic Technological University. Keith Moran, CEO at SL Controls, said: “The Innovator Excellence Award category this year is […]
Smart Manufacturing Considerations for Pharma and MedTech Manufacturers
Most pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers have implemented new technologies and processes over the past number of years that would come under the smart manufacturing umbrella. You are probably also now considering the next stage on your journey. What are the smart manufacturing solutions and opportunities that you should explore next? There are a number […]
Opportunities in the Life Sciences Sector for Software Developers
An unwelcome trend has emerged over the past number of months for software developers working in the tech industry. That trend is one of job cuts, tech companies scaling down investment plans, and general uncertainty. This is resulting in many developers looking for alternative career options. The life sciences sector is not just an option, […]
Meet the Team – Shane McLaughlin
Describe your job in 5 words Trusted partner delivering technology transformation. What is a cool thing you are working on right now? Can’t tell you (client confidentiality and all)… but it’s cool. The tech is cool too. A lot of tech that I’m currently working with the SL team wouldn’t have seen. I’m working a […]
Smart Manufacturing Trends for 2023 in the Life Sciences Sector
Manufacturing in all sectors and industries is changing as smart manufacturing technologies, the industrial internet of things, and Industry 4.0 best practices continue to advance. What about the life sciences sector specifically? Here are the 2023 smart manufacturing trends that pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers need to be aware of. Integration of MES, SCADA, and […]
14 Tips for Your Engineering CV
Writing a compelling CV will help you land the ideal engineering job – one that pays well, challenges you, presents opportunities for career progression, and strikes the right work-life balance. How do you write a great engineering CV, though? Here are our (updated) 14 tips: 1. Make It Relevant Tailor your CV to the job […]
Staff Wear Christmas Jumpers to Raise Money for Rescue Service
SL Controls staff wore Christmas jumpers to work on Friday to raise money for Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue. Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue was instrumental in the search for our friend and colleague Donal Kennedy who sadly passed away in September. Members of the SL Controls team searched side-by-side with the Ballybunion Sea & […]
2022 Christmas Gatherings at SL Controls
The first in-person Christmas gatherings at SL Controls took place over the weekend as staff at our regional offices got together for a night out ahead of the seasonal break. Over 70 people attended the get-togethers which took place in Sligo, Galway, Limerick, and Maynooth. Shauna Ryan, Director of People and Culture from SL Controls […]
Mental Health First Aid Awareness Training Provided to SL Controls Team
Are you able to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems? Would you know how to engage in a conversation with a colleague, family member, or friend you are concerned about? These were some of the topics covered in a recent Lunch & Learn session at SL Controls. Lunch & Learn is […]
Smart Manufacturing Solutions and the Importance of Data Integrity
Transforming your life sciences facility into a factory of the future involves implementing smart manufacturing solutions as part of a digitalisation strategy. Those solutions will ensure you get the benefits of digitalised processes while establishing the foundations for the next stage of your journey. There will be challenges, however, and one of the most important […]
Celebrating Fathers at SL Controls Ahead of International Men’s Day
Tomorrow is International Men’s Day, an event focused on celebrating and highlighting positive male role models as well as raising awareness of the importance of wellbeing in the lives of men and boys. To mark International Men’s Day, we are celebrating the many fathers who work at SL Controls, exploring how they juggle home and […]
SL Controls’ Fiona Chung Inspiring Students About STEM Career Opportunities
SL Controls Validation Engineer Fiona Chung will be joining other STEM advocates (including an Irish astronaut candidate) this evening at an event promoting careers in STEM. The event, which is part of Science Week 2022, is organised by medical device company Abbott and is being held at the Atlantic Technological University in Sligo. Fiona will […]
Meet the Team – Saoirse Kearse
1. Describe your job in 5 words Equipment automation and quality compliance 2. What is a cool thing you are working on right now? Factory automation would probably be the coolest right now. In one project I am working on, we are trying to get as much digital factory technologies onto the site as possible. […]
The Importance of Systems Integration to Optimise Your SCADA, MES, and ERP Systems
Systems integration is an essential part of any modernisation and improvement project in manufacturing organisations. Systems integration is also the cornerstone of Industry 4.0, and it is central to the development of the smart factory of the future. What does systems integration mean in practice for manufacturers in the life sciences sector? One of the […]
Meet the Team – Mark Hogan
Describe your job in 5 words or less Challenging but very rewarding. What is a cool thing you are working on right now? Right now, I’m working for a pharma company in Germany. The project involves connecting about 100 machines to an MES system. It’s a big project but it’s interesting because there is such […]
A New Look – GAMP 5 Second Edition
GAMP 5 is one of the most important validation and computer system assurance guides for the life sciences industry. This year saw the release of GAMP 5 Second Edition. So, what’s new and what’s changed? The original GAMP 5 was published in 2008, and it went on to become the globally accepted guide for the […]
The Importance of Integration in the Factory of the Future – a Priority Topic at Pharma MES
Technology and pharmaceutical industry leaders came together this month at the Pharma MES conference to discuss, among other things, the development of the Factory of the Future. SL Controls CTO Paul Clarke was involved, hosting discussions on the importance of integration in the development of Smart Factories Pharma MES took place in Berlin, Germany, from […]
Supporting World Suicide Prevention Day 2022
At SL Controls, we take the issue of mental health in the workplace and wider society seriously, so we are pleased to lend our support to World Suicide Prevention Day 2022. The campaigning day takes place tomorrow, Saturday 10 September. It aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and focus attention on the message that suicide […]
What is ALCOA+ and Why Is It Important to Validation and Data Integrity
ALCOA+ is a set of principles that ensures data integrity in the life sciences sector. It was introduced by, and is still used by, the FDA – the US Food and Drug Administration. It has relevance in a range of areas, particularly in relation to pharmaceutical research, manufacturing, testing, and the supply chain. As well […]
Meet the Team – Aoife Burns
Describe your job in five words Matchmaker for company and candidates. What is a cool thing about your job? I help candidates get their dream job and achieve their career goals, which is a pretty good feeling. There is lots of variety too – no two days are the same. The jobs market is also […]
Three Legged Races and Sack Races – Team Building Activities Old-School
In the first in-person company outing since before the Covid-19 pandemic, the SL Controls team went back to school on Friday. Well, back to old-school sports day. The location was Willow Park FC in Athlone where the team-building activities included three-legged races, sack races, wheelbarrow races, and a tug of war. There was also a […]
What You Need to Know About Technical Engineering Roles at SL Controls
As SL Controls continues to expand, we regularly have technical engineering vacancies to fill. What type of work would you be doing if you were recruited into one of these roles, and what is it like working at SL Controls? This blog will give you an overview, but we are also available to provide you […]
Benefits of Industry 4.0
The benefits of Industry 4.0 technologies, processes, and systems include improved productivity and efficiency, better flexibility and agility, and increased profitability. Industry 4.0 also improves the customer experience, including through more personalised and intelligent products. Understanding and then contextualising these benefits is important, particularly in highly regulated industries like medical device, pharmaceutical, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. […]
Reflecting on 10 Weeks of Teaching a Class of Primary School Children About Engineering
Over the past few months, we have been following two SL Controls engineers as they delivered a STEAM educational initiative to a 5th class in Strandhill National School. The 10-week programme was devised by STEAM, an organisation that aims to inspire children about science, technology, engineering, the arts, and maths. STEAM partners with companies like […]
Meet the Team – Niall Malone
What do you do at SL Controls? The easiest way to put it is if something is broken on a production line at a client facility, I try to fix it. Most of the jobs we work on come from customers who are not happy with their current production processes, they want something improved on […]
What You Need to Know About Validation and Quality Systems Engineering Roles at SL Controls
Validation and quality engineering are a core part of the services that we offer to clients. This means we have a large team of validation and quality engineers at SL Controls. That team is growing, too, as our company grows and expands into new markets. If you are considering taking on a new role in […]
Case Study: Successfully Integrating Production Equipment with New PAS-X MES Implementation
The Project The project outlined in this case study involved integrating the PAS-X MES platform into a customer’s production line. The customer is in the life sciences sector. SL Controls’ parent company, NNIT, was the lead on the project. NNIT provided full support for the integration process, including scoping, design, deployment, and validation. The first […]
Renaming the SL Controls HR Department – Why and What it Means
The HR function in companies like SL Controls has evolved considerably. The traditional style of HR was largely focused on compliance and recruitment. Both areas are still incredibly important, but modern companies now have a much broader range of requirements. As a result, we recently began an exercise to clarify the list of activities that […]
Striving for Gender Equality on International Women in Engineering Day 2022
Today is International Women in Engineering Day, an annual event to celebrate women working in the field of engineering. It is also an opportunity to encourage more women to consider engineering as a career, as well as encouraging all stakeholders in the industry to do more to achieve gender equality. After all, engineering remains a […]
Supporting Pride Month 2022 at SL Controls
Diversity and inclusion are central to everything we do at SL Controls, whether it is race, socio-economic background, religion, age, gender, or sexual orientation. Therefore, we fully support Pride Month here in Ireland and around the world. Shauna Ryan, SL Controls HR Manager said: “We do a lot of work around diversity and inclusion at […]
Meet the Team – Isabel Batista
What do you do at SL Controls? I am a Validation Engineer. I work alongside the software engineers at SL Controls on many different client software implementations and solutions. As a Validation Engineer, I provide quality assurance and technical expertise. My role is to make sure the implementations and solutions that we develop at SL […]
SL Controls Celebrates National Diversity and Inclusion Day 2022
Diversity and inclusion have never been more important in business, so we are proud to support IBEC’s National Diversity and Inclusion Day 2022. At SL Controls, diversity and inclusion aren’t just for the 14th of June, however, as they are a central priority for our company and the growth strategy we are pursuing. Norma Mulligan, […]
What Is PAS-X and Is It the Best MES Solution for Your Pharma Manufacturing Facility?
MES (manufacturing execution system) platforms are becoming increasingly indispensable tools in manufacturing facilities, including in the life sciences sector. There are many MES options available (including PAS-X), so it’s important to get the right advice and support to ensure the implementation of a solution that works for your organisation today and into the future. In […]
SL Controls Turns 20!
It’s our anniversary this month at SL Controls, and this year we turn 20! It’s a significant milestone that we celebrated recently across our various office locations. Images: celebrating our 20-year anniversary at SL Control’s Irish offices – Maynooth, Sligo, Limerick, and Galway (playing Tekken!) SL Controls was launched in Sligo in 2002 to […]
Meet the Team – Declan Costello, SL Controls Project Manager
What do you do at SL Controls? I’m now a Project Manager working with local and international clients to ensure the smooth rollout of projects across sites in Europe and the US. This means having to reign in the different parties involved in the project, hosting multi-functional calls, and managing the different areas of expertise. […]
Inspiring the Next Generation to Love Engineering
“Where do we start, as there have been so many highlights over the last five weeks?” That was Fiona Chung’s response when asked how the STEAM Engineering in a Box programme was going. The team and the children they are teaching have reached the halfway point of the programme. STEAM is an organisation that works […]
Successful Return of the Explore Engineering Showcase in Limerick
The SL Controls team was delighted to have been involved in this year’s Explore Engineering Showcase in Limerick. The event, which was formerly known as Limerick for Engineering, took place at the end of last week after a two-year absence because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Explore Engineering Showcase promotes engineering as a career […]
SL Controls Ukraine Fundraising Appeal
Like you, we have been shocked at the events taking place in Ukraine and the ongoing humanitarian crisis that the war has created. As a company, we wanted to do what we could to help the families and individuals who have been affected by the conflict in such unimaginable ways. We launched a fundraising effort […]
SL Controls Raises Money for 2022 Darkness Into Light Fundraiser
Employees at SL Controls took part in the Darkness Into Light fundraising event over the weekend. The money raised across Ireland as part of this event is for the suicide and self-harm prevention organisation, Pieta House. SL Controls has taken part in Darkness Into Light for several years, including the curtailed events that took place […]
Employee Benefits at SL Controls
It’s not that long ago when salary was the main, if not the only factor, to influence a decision to accept a job offer at another company. Today, there is an increasing focus by employees in all sectors on the full package being offered by prospective employers. This includes salary, of course, but it also […]
Come and See Us at the Explore Engineering 2022 Showcase in Limerick
The Explore Engineering 2022 Showcase event in Limerick is just two weeks away, and we are looking forward to attending. We have been at the event before when it was known as Limerick for Engineering, although this is the first time it has been held since the Covid-19 pandemic. What’s it all about, though? The […]
Meet the Team – Adam Barriger, SL Controls Systems Architect
What do you do at SL Controls? I am a Systems Architect. My role involves working with the technical and engineering leadership teams in the business to deliver solutions for customers. Describe your job without using the words engineer or engineering. Making stuff do stuff, so the stuff is the right stuff. And fixing stuff […]
SL Controls Commits to Sustainable Development Goals
At SL Controls, we firmly believe in the collective responsibility of everyone to build a sustainable future for the planet. Continuous improvement is a core part of our business, and that translates through to sustainable development where we are fully committed to continuously working to improve how we operate. To achieve this, we have set […]
Utilising the Power of Ignition in the Delivery of MES Solutions for the Regulated Sector
The regulated sector, including pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, is going through a period of transformational change. These changes are being driven by new product innovations, market pressures, the evolving regulatory landscape, and customer/end-user demands. MES solutions, powered by the platform Ignition, are enabling manufacturers to respond, including manufacturers in highly regulated industries. SL Controls […]
SL Controls Engineers Introduce Engineering to Primary School Children as Part of STEAM Initiative
Talk to any business leader in the field of engineering and they will tell you we need more people to enter the profession, particularly from under-represented groups like women. So, when the opportunity came up to participate in a STEAM initiative, we were excited to get involved. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and […]
SL Controls Sponsors Connacht Rugby U10 Blitz
SL Controls are proud to have sponsored the Connacht U10 Blitz at Sligo Rugby Club’s Hamilton Park on Saturday. Over 420 enthusiastic under-10 players from 20 different clubs took part in what was a perfect day for playing rugby. Keith Moran, SL Controls CEO, said: “We are proud to have been involved in this fantastic […]
Meet the Team – Michael Duffy, SL Controls Quality and Validation Engineer
What do you do at SL Controls? I am a Quality and Validation Engineer working on projects for large multinational pharmaceutical companies. My role involves reviewing quality documentation for quality systems and documentation for the validation of facilities, utilities, and equipment. The documents I review include user requirements, design specifications, performance qualifications, etc. Describe your […]
Women Should Break Free from Perceived Norms to Create their Own Path into Engineering
There are lots of different paths you can take to become an engineer, so don’t just follow the traditional route of going to college to get an engineering degree. That’s the message from Fiona Chung on International Women’s Day. Fiona is a Validation Engineer at SL Controls. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is […]
What is Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing and What Can You Expect?
Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing is on its way. It was announced last year as one of several new industry clouds that Microsoft is developing, and it is currently in preview mode. What can manufacturers in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and technologies industries expect from this new Microsoft solution? For us at SL Controls, Microsoft’s Azure […]
How Automation Can Address the Challenges in Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturing
There are a number of challenges facing the pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing industries. Those challenges include labour shortages and developing supply chain resilience. There is also an increasing requirement to become more agile, where production facilities can react faster to changing demands and expectations. Pharmaceutical and medical device companies also have to deal with […]
Meet the Team – Fiona Chung, SL Controls Validation Engineer
What do you do at SL Controls? I am a validation engineer. I work with clients to ensure their manufacturing systems are compliant with industry-specific standards and regulations. Describe your job without using the words engineer or engineering. My role is to plan, create, and execute tests that check if a company’s manufacturing system produces […]
What is Good Distribution Practice and How Does it Impact Thermal Compliance?
Good Distribution Practice (GDP) is a quality system for warehouses and distribution centres that process medicines. Historically, GDP only covered the movement of finished products from manufacturing sites to wholesalers, retailers, and patients. These parts of the supply chain are still covered by GDP, but the guidelines are now applicable throughout the whole supply chain, […]
Enhancing the SL Controls Offering with Ignition and POMS Certification
We have a broad range of capabilities at SL Controls and a philosophy of being technology agnostic. This makes it possible for us to deliver equipment systems integration, automation, and smart manufacturing solutions to a diverse range of clients. We also have an approach at SL Controls of continuous improvement, both in the skills and […]
Meet the Team – Shauna Ryan, SL Controls HR Manager
What do you do at SL Controls? I wear two hats. One is HR Manager, which means having responsibility for the full HR lifecycle. This includes everything from onboarding and induction to performance management, employee relations, and employee communication. My second hat is as a member of the SL Controls senior leadership team. This is […]
7 Warehouse Management and Supply Chain Trends for 2022
The past 12+ months has seen supply chains face considerable disruption – disruption that has altered perspectives and priorities. While Covid-19 is not the only reason for these disruptions, it is a significant factor. The pandemic isn’t over yet, either, bringing further uncertainty. While there are uncertainties, there are also opportunities in warehouse and supply […]
New Year – Time to Reflect on Your Career
New year, new career is a commonly used phrase. In fact, job websites often report a spike in activity over the New Year period and into January as people look for new opportunities. Whether you are thinking about changing jobs or not, the New Year is an ideal time for an exercise that we should […]
Top Blogs of 2021
[full_width padding=”10px 0 10px 0″]Over the course of 2021, the SL Controls team has published blogs on a range of topics related to Industry 4.0, the Smart Factory, and equipment systems integration. Here are some of our top posts of the year.[/full_width] [full_width padding=”10px 0 10px 0″] [/full_width] [one_third padding=”30px 20px 0 0″] 5 Crucial […]
Employee Appreciation and Staying Connected Throughout 2021
When we moved to remote working at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, one of our priorities was to maintain as high a level of team camaraderie as possible. Senior management also believed it was important to recognise the hard work of everyone on the SL Controls team as we continued delivering for our clients. […]
Virtual Christmas Jumper Day at SL Controls
How do you have a Christmas Jumper Day at work when everyone is working from home? At SL Controls, we all met up in festive attire in our virtual canteen! We hold regular virtual canteen events to help everyone on the team stay connected with their colleagues. While not a perfect substitute for meeting up […]
5 Crucial Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 Focus Topics for 2022
At this time of year, it is common to see articles looking at the trends that will be important over the coming 12 months, particularly in relation to technologies. We even produce these articles ourselves at SL Controls. However, it is also important to look at smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 more broadly to assess […]
SL Controls Christmas Party Goes Virtual Again
The 2021 SL Controls Christmas Party took place on Friday evening and, like last year, it was a virtual event. In fact, the Christmas party followed a theme we have been adopting throughout 2021 – apart, but together. The full event took place on Zoom where we had a quiz hosted by DJ Mick. Magician […]
Health and Safety and Remote Working at Client Sites
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and as we look to the future at SL Controls with increased home working arrangements, we have adapted our policies on health and safety. There is now much greater emphasis on ensuring consistent standards between health and safety in an SL Controls office location and when an employee is working from […]
Project Management: The Importance of Economies of Repetition in Industry 4.0 Projects
One of the business outcomes that manufacturers want to achieve with Industry 4.0 projects is repeatability. Repeatability is about creating solutions that can be reliably and efficiently deployed multiple times. This goal of repeatability is also important in the delivery of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing projects. In project management, this can be referred to […]
SL Controls Shortlisted for Limerick Business Awards 2021
SL Controls has been shortlisted for an award at this year’s Limerick Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. We are in the running for the Best Employer: Employee Talent Development & Workplace Wellness award. It recognises companies that set high standards for wellness and talent development, and that create world-class working conditions for employees. The other […]
An Overview of the Industry 4.0 Cybersecurity Risk Mitigation Process
In previous blogs in this series, we looked at one of the unintended consequences of implementing Industry 4.0 technologies and processes – the increased attack surface. In other words, the more equipment you connect, the larger the target for would-be attackers. We also looked at the challenges of dealing with this Industry 4.0 cybersecurity issue, […]
Taking a Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity in the Transition to Becoming a Smart Factory
In a recent blog, we highlighted the cybersecurity risks that are created by the increasing attack surface in manufacturing organisations. As a quick recap, as you integrate systems, platforms, and equipment, and as you connect elements of your operation to the cloud, the potential attack surface in your organisation expands, exposing you to higher cybersecurity […]
How Good Distribution Practice (GDP) differs from Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
Good distribution practice (GDP) and good manufacturing practice (GMP) are quality standards and guidelines that have the same ultimate objective – to ensure medical device and pharmaceutical products are safe, meet their intended use, and comply with regulations. GMP focuses on manufacturing processes, while GDP covers distribution activities. There are crossovers between both manufacturing and […]
The Cybersecurity Risks Created by Industry 4.0’s Increased Attack Surface
Businesses in all industries face an ever-increasing range of cybersecurity risks. This includes companies in the manufacturing sector. When you look at regulated industries such as pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing, where patient safety is a top priority, cybersecurity risk levels can be even higher. Industry 4.0 technologies and solutions almost always modify existing risks […]
9 Soft Skills Engineers Need to Maximise Career Success
There has never been a better time to be an engineer. In many sectors, new technologies mean there are a growing number of opportunities for individuals with the right training and experience. Therefore, it can be frustrating when you think you’ve got the perfect CV but don’t get that call back after your interview. The […]
The Importance of Mechatronics Engineering and How to Become a Mechatronics Engineer
Mechatronics engineering is currently one of the most important fields of engineering in terms of Industry 4.0 and the ongoing technological advances this latest industrial revolution is bringing. Mechatronics engineers are pushing boundaries, enhancing productivity, and driving efficiency savings in a range of industries and sectors. This includes the life sciences and technology manufacturing sectors. […]
Taking a Positive Approach to Workplace Mental Health
There are many ways to shape a workplace mental health programme. In some situations, it can be a simple box-ticking exercise on a CSR to-do list. A more serious and considered approach looks to mitigate the potential negative impacts that the workplace can have on mental health, including mental illness and stress. These latter points […]
Build Once, Deploy Multiple Times in Seconds – Cloud-Based Solutions for Pharma & MedTech Manufacturers
For pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, repeatability is a primary goal when developing new manufacturing software solutions. The concept is simple – you select a facility or production line for the initial project, creating a software solution to deliver on your manufacturing and business objectives. Once you have that operational and delivering results, you can […]
How to Get Your First Job as an Engineering Graduate
Getting that first full-time job as a graduate engineer can be tough. It can also be frustrating, particularly when you hear that Ireland needs more engineers. This is because many of the jobs that are available require experience, even though they are graduate jobs. You do have options, though. Here are our tips for getting […]
The Essential Steps in Your Smart Factory Evolution
Moving your business closer to becoming a Smart Factory is widely regarded as essential to continuing competitiveness and profitability. Driving efficiency savings, making productivity gains, dealing with skills shortages – these are just some of the challenges that manufacturers face, all of which can be considerably mitigated with Smart Factory solutions. How do you get […]
Remote Working Health and Safety at SL Controls
Health and safety is a top priority here at SL Controls, so we have always had robust and continuously reviewed health and safety procedures in place. Like many other companies over the past 18 months, we have adjusted the way we operate and deliver our services, resulting in a greater level of remote working. Our […]
SL Controls Employees Take Part in Virtual Cycling Challenge
SL Controls has launched a virtual cycling challenge to help employees stay fit and connect with colleagues in this era of remote working. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in spring 2020, all SL Controls offices have been closed, with staff working either remotely or at client sites. The cycling challenge will help employees […]
An Approach to Remote Working that Maintains Standards and Improves Business Agility
Like many other companies, large-scale remote working became an abrupt reality at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. In fact, 100 percent of our staff moved to remote working overnight as our offices across Ireland closed in line with Government restrictions. We were in a good position as a company to deal with […]
New Equipment Systems Engineer Masters by Research Apprenticeship Launches
A new apprenticeship course has launched at the University of Limerick (UL), the Equipment Systems Engineer Masters by Research Apprenticeship. It was developed through a partnership between UL and the ESE Academy, with the ESE Academy taking the lead on the course. The apprenticeship is part of a wider programme at UL to develop world-leading […]
Irish software integration company SL Controls acquired by global IT group NNIT
SL Controls and NNIT join forces to further strengthen offerings in life sciences sector Global expansion plans for SL Controls are strengthened by acquisition SL Controls, the Irish specialist software integration firm, has today (July 5) been acquired by global service provider NNIT group. NNIT is one of Denmark’s largest IT operators with more than […]
Press Release: Call for female engineers to apply for key roles at SL Controls
Company has doubled number of female engineers since March But still a low number of applications from women in engineering Call being made on International Women in Engineering Day SL Controls, the specialist software integration firm, is looking for female engineers to join its team. In March, the company announced it would be creating 50 new […]
Women in Engineering – Saoirse Kearse, Software Quality Engineer
As this is women in engineering week, we are looking at the stories of women currently working in engineering to explore their route into the profession and why they think engineering is a good career. In today’s post, we talk to Saoirse Kearse, a Software Quality Engineer at SL Controls. Even at secondary school, Saoirse […]
Women in Engineering – Blessing Nwachukwu, Systems Engineer
As this is women in engineering week, we are looking at the stories of women currently working in engineering to explore their route into the profession and why they think engineering is a good career. In today’s post, we talk to Blessing Nwachukwu, a Systems Engineer at SL Controls. Blessing is originally from Nigeria and […]
SL Controls Supports Pride Month and Ensuring Engineering is an Inclusive Career for Everyone
Diversity in engineering is a big topic in Ireland and around the world. The equation is simple – we need more people, regardless of who they are, to become engineers, both to meet demand and to ensure we have equality in the workforce. However, solutions to the problem can be challenging. At the very least, […]
10 Characteristics of a Successful Engineer
There are many paths you can take as an engineer. Those paths can be quite different depending on the discipline you pursue,
Our New Website Goes Live!
The new SL Controls website went live today. It features who we are, what we do, and the industries that we serve. You will also find information on Industry 4.0 and systems integration for manufacturers in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and technology industries, as well as details of our latest vacancies. Check out our new […]
Escaping The Office In A Whole New Way In Our Latest Social Event
Working remotely and living under lockdown restrictions has made it difficult to arrange social events in the workplace. Like many other companies, we have turned to virtual events here at SL Controls. We call these events Celebrating Wins Together, and the latest one was held at the weekend. It involved escaping the office. […]
8 Essential Elements For De-Risking An Automation Project
Risks can enter an automation project at just about any stage. Those risks can result in serious consequences from budget and schedule overruns to unplanned downtime, disrupted supply chains, and more. Therefore, it’s important to de-risk your automation project at every possible stage. This ensures errors are reduced to a minimum, as well as ensuring the project […]
Members Of The SL Controls Team Take Part In Darkness Into Light 2021
As with so many things so far this year, 2021’s Darkness Into Light fundraising and awareness event had to be very different because of rules on travel and social distancing. That didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of members of the SL Controls team who took part on Saturday morning. Darkness Into Light is an annual event that […]
Tips for Working from Home Ireland
For many of us, the work experience has become very different over the last week or two.
National Workplace Wellbeing Day 2021 At SL Controls
National Workplace Wellbeing Day takes place on Friday, 30 April, and to celebrate we have a week of activities and initiatives planned to promote health and wellbeing at SL Controls. Those activities and initiatives are part of our Live Well at SL and Think Well at SL programmes. This Friday will be the seventh annual National Workplace Wellbeing Day. It’s […]
Qualification Of Cloud Infrastructure And SaaS To Demonstrate Regulatory Compliance
Cloud infrastructure solutions, as well as Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS),
Tips for Working from Home
For many of us, the work experience has become very different over the last week or two.
The Business Case for Smart Manufacturing
Advances in Smart Manufacturing technologies are changing the manufacturing sector forever.
Bridging The Machine To Cloud Gap For Life Sciences And Technologies Manufacturers
Industry 4.0 as a concept provides manufacturers with impressive benefits and wide-ranging opportunities.
Easter Virtual Family Fun At SL Controls
At Easter, we normally run fun activities for our employees and their families to take part in. This year is a bit different as we are in lockdown, but we haven’t let that stop us. Instead, we made our Easter activities virtual! We had a “How many Eggs in the Jar” competition. There were 294 […]
Press Release: SL Controls Announces Former PM Group CEO Pat McGrath As Its New Chairman
SL Controls Also Names John Scanlan As New Director Of Corporate Services SL Controls, the specialist software integration firm, has announced former PM Group CEO Pat McGrath as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of its Board. It is also announcing the appointment of John Scanlan as its new Director of Corporate Services. The announcement comes after […]
Putting Quality First At SL Controls
Like most businesses, there are several values and priorities that are important to us at SL Controls.
Celebrating Wins Together On St Patrick’s Day – Virtually!
Like many other companies, the SL Controls team is currently working from their own homes.
Transitioning to Smart Manufacturing – A Practical and Cost-Effective Approach
The business case for implementing smart factory technologies is compelling, with tangible improvements in revenue, output, quality, and safety, alongside reduced costs. It is not surprising, therefore, that smart manufacturing technologies are becoming an increasingly important competition driver. The technologies that are part of the Smart Factory include cloud computing, edge computing, vision systems, robotic […]
Choose to Challenge in Engineering – the Perspective of Female Engineers on International Women’s Day 2021
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is Choose to Challenge – challenging gender bias and inequality and choosing to celebrate the achievements of women. We decided to look at that topic from the perspective of some of the women who work for us at SL Controls. Specifically, two women who chose to challenge […]
Expansion Plans Create Job Opportunities at SL Controls
At SL Controls, we are entering an exciting period in our development. We have continued to grow over recent years, including through the challenging lockdown periods of 2020/21, and we expect that growth trajectory to continue. To deliver on our future objectives, we are working on increasing our workforce. We are also looking at expansion […]
Video: SL Controls Corporate Video
Video: SL Controls Corporate Video Find out more about SL Controls, the clients we work for, the solutions we deliver, and what we do, in our corporate video.
SL Controls Announces 50 New Highly-Skilled Jobs
SL Controls today announced the creation of 50 new highly-skilled jobs as we continue to expand and grow. The jobs will bring our total workforce to 140. The roles will be filled over the next 18 months and include Systems Engineers, Project Managers, Validation Engineers, and Software System Designers. To see the posts we are […]
Adapting Health & Safety Policies and Procedures for the New Remote Working Environment
A lot of things changed in the workplace when Ireland and other parts of the world entered lockdown conditions towards the end of Q1 2020. For companies required to continue delivering their essential services, remote working became an overnight necessity. Like other companies, we had existing remote working policies at SL Controls as our team […]
SL Controls Becomes Silver Renovation Patron of Hawk’s Well Theatre in Sligo
SL Controls has become a Silver Renovation Patron to support the planned upgrading of the Hawk’s Well Theatre in Sligo. The Hawk’s Well Theatre is a part of community life in Sligo, the location of our head office SL Controls. It opened its doors in 1982 but has roots that trace back to the 1950s. […]
Enhanced Test Systems and Data Management Key to Strong Growth for SL Controls Customer Ei Electronics
Ei Electronics manufactures industry-leading fire and carbon monoxide detection products. It supplies its products worldwide and has experienced strong growth over recent years, with 2020 being a record year for turnover. The company uses advanced manufacturing and test processes with integrated systems at all levels of production. This approach to manufacturing has been crucial to […]
The Business Case for Smart Manufacturing
Advances in Smart Manufacturing technologies are changing the manufacturing sector forever. However, those technologies don’t change your core priorities and goals. New technologies or not, you still need to deliver high-quality products that your customers need and want, plus you must maximise competitiveness, productivity, and profitability. Marrying up a transition to Smart Manufacturing with your […]
Infographic: Computer System Validation Vs. Computer Software Assurance
The FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) is due to release guidance on Computer Software Assurance. That guidance aims to put critical thinking at the centre of Computer System Validation (CSV) processes. In our latest infographic, we highlight the main differences between traditional CSV and the new Computer Software Assurace (CSA) approach. Traditional CSV […]
Is Your Company Ready for the FDA’s Upcoming Guidance on Computer Software Assurance?
Technology and computerised systems have evolved greatly over the past 20 years. In that time, cloud computing has become mainstream, and big data is here. When you also add the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), it’s clear that new manufacturing and business technologies will be truly transformative in the coming years. Yet, in the Life […]
What Is Live Well at SL – SL Controls’ Workplace Wellbeing Programme?
At SL Controls, we want all our employees to live well as we care about their health. That’s why we have put in place a structured workplace wellbeing programme called Live Well at SL. Live Well at SL is a central part of the culture at SL Controls as it aligns with our values, […]
How Industry 4.0 Supports Flexibility and Mass Customisation
“Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black.” That’s a quote from Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company. It’s a famous quote, but what does it have to do with flexible manufacturing and mass customisation? Does it have any relevance in the […]
Top Smart Factory Trends in 2021 for the Life Sciences Sector
It is common to look at the trends that will impact smart manufacturing over the next 12 months and beyond at this time of year. We are in unprecedented times, though, making the manufacturing trends that will impact the life sciences sector in 2021 even more important. Here are some of the key points you […]
14 Tips for Becoming a Successful Engineer
There are lots of career pathways you can take to become a successful engineer, and there are multiple fields you can work in. Those pathways don’t have to be linear, making it possible to direct your career in the direction you want it to go. Whatever path you take, the following 14 tips will help. […]
What is Digital Twin Technology and How It Benefits Manufacturing in the Industry 4.0 Era?
Understanding what is happening now on your production line, and predicting what will happen in the future, is essential for maximising OEE, optimising productivity, and improving business profitability. You can achieve all these things with digital twin technologies. Digital twin technology is one of the most important Industry 4.0 technologies currently available. Digital twins give […]
Benefits of Microsoft Azure for Manufacturers in the Life Sciences & Technology Sectors
Implementing Industry 4.0 and smart factory solutions in your manufacturing operation requires a fresh approach to solution delivery, platform implementation, and IT infrastructure. Central to most solutions is the use of cloud technologies, such as Microsoft Azure. At SL Controls, we have extensive experience working with a range of cloud solution providers. Plus, we offer […]
SL Controls Christmas Party Goes Virtual for 2020!
The SL Controls Virtual Christmas Party 2020 took place on Saturday evening, and it was a huge success! It was very different from Christmas parties in previous years as everybody was in their own homes connected virtually. However, it was still a fun and entertaining evening. Around 45 members of the SL Controls team joined […]
Why In-House Training and Upskilling Are Important in Engineering
In engineering, technology doesn’t stand still. Something that is the future soon becomes the norm with new developments coming hot on its heels. You only have to look at the rapid development of Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory technologies to see how fast technology advances. Keeping up with these changes through training and professional development […]
11 Manufacturing / Ramp Strategies that Smart Factory Solutions Facilitate
The manufacturing / ramp strategies in use on your production lines are crucial to the success of your business. Specifically, they enable you to profitably produce the required volume of products and, in most cases, leave room for growth in the future. Smart factory solutions allow you to take this a stage further by adding […]
Lockdown Stories: Managing the Transition with Darragh McMorrow
As with many other people across Ireland in similar positions, the early days and weeks of the Covid-19 lockdown for Darragh McMorrow involved a process of transitioning on multiple levels. Darragh is SL Controls Commercial Director. For Darragh, the transitions involved adapting and adjusting in the workplace, at home, and personally. There were many challenges […]
Expanding Manufacturing Capacity – the Ideal Time to Implement Factory Automation Solutions
Expanding manufacturing capacity is essential to meet growing customer demand, but it also presents your business with an opportunity to take further steps towards becoming a Smart Factory. You can even go further than this – implementing an SL Controls Smart Factory solution when expanding manufacturing capacity can improve your overall business and make the […]
Lockdown Stories: Taking on New Challenges and Supporting Local Causes
Like a lot of companies, SL Controls had to pivot quickly when the first lockdown was introduced in March of this year. The restrictions since then have varied as the country battles the Covid-19 pandemic, but life and work for SL Controls employees remains very different from what it used to be. We spoke to […]
Too Much Too Soon – Avoiding Factory Automation & Smart Factory Implementation Risks
The smart factory and digital manufacturing technologies are the future of manufacturing. That said, change in business carries risks, particularly when those changes involve creating fundamentally different business and manufacturing processes. Smart factory technologies are not immune to such risks. One of the clearest examples of how the smart factory can go wrong comes from […]