Guides, checklists and operational breakdowns.
Practical content for engineering managers, operations directors and IT teams responsible for manufacturing automation. No registration required. Speak to us if you want the full version.
Practical engineering resources.
BRCGS and PLC programs: what the standard does and doesn't say
BRCGS Food Safety doesn't mention PLCs by name. Where automation still meets the standard, through HACCP changes, CCPs and equipment, and what to have ready.
Read the guide →IEC 62443 and your OT asset inventory
What IEC 62443 is, why every part assumes you know what is on your network, and how an inventory, versioned backups and access logs support alignment.
Read the guide →NIS2 for UK food groups with EU sites
NIS2 isn't UK law, but it covers food production in the EU. Who's in scope, what Article 21 asks for, how it reaches UK suppliers, and what to have ready.
Read the guide →OT asset governance: what UK manufacturers need in place
Which cyber and audit rules actually apply to a UK manufacturer's OT, where NIS2 still matters, and the four records that answer most assessor questions.
Read the guide →What is OT asset management?
OT asset management is keeping a current record of every PLC, HMI, drive and network device: what it is, what it runs, how to restore it and if it's still made.
Read the guide →Discontinued PLC and Automation Parts Lifecycle
Lifecycle status for discontinued and phased-out PLCs, drives, HMIs and I/O from Siemens, Rockwell, Mitsubishi and more, with what each stage means and what to do next.
Open →OT Asset Management: The Manufacturer's Checklist
Eight questions to ask before your next audit. Covers PLC backup status, version control, engineer knowledge retention and compliance readiness.
Request this guide →IT Security Questions to Ask Before Remote PLC Support
A practical guide for IT and OT managers evaluating remote support tools. Covers device management, session controls, access logging and IEC 62443 alignment.
Request this guide →Engineering Cover Without the IR35 Headache
How a managed engineering service differs from direct contractor recruitment. What to look for, what questions to ask, and how to protect your organisation.
Request this guide →The Real Cost of OEM Callout Dependency
A breakdown of direct and indirect costs: callout fees, wait times, production downtime, overtime and the hidden risk of single-brand support contracts.
Request this guide →What to Include in a Control Panel Specification
A practical guide for engineering and procurement teams commissioning new or replacement control panels. Covers enclosure ratings, OEM preferences, documentation requirements and handover.
Request this guide →Real outcomes from UK manufacturing sites.
Anonymised operational breakdowns showing the problem, the engineering response and the measurable outcome. Client names withheld at their request.
Audit-ready OT asset register in five weeks
A pharmaceutical manufacturer faced a regulatory audit in eight weeks with no centralised automation record. ECS documented 60+ assets in five weeks; the audit passed with zero findings on the automation estate.
Read the breakdown →Peak production cover without agency risk
A packaging manufacturer needed to scale from 18 to 26 engineers for a 10-week peak. Shift Hero placed eight pre-briefed engineers with zero safety incidents.
Read the breakdown →From scattered OEM callouts to same-session resolution
A three-site FMCG group was spending £60–80k a year on OEM callouts with a 36-hour average response. Moving to Connect resolved 14 of 16 faults remotely in under 90 minutes.
Read the breakdown →Reducing PLC recovery risk across 12 production lines
A multi-line food manufacturer had no centralised record of PLC software versions. ECS established a Command Centre baseline across all 12 lines and cut time to fault diagnosis by 65%.
Read the breakdown →Not sure which service fits your situation?
Tell us what you are dealing with. We will tell you honestly whether ECS can help and which product is the right starting point.