Frequently Asked Questions

We serve a diverse range of industries across Canada, including manufacturing, process industries, energy and utilities, logistics and distribution, food and beverage processing, and municipal infrastructure. Our engineering team has experience with both discrete manufacturing and continuous process applications, enabling us to deliver tailored solutions for your specific industry requirements.

NovaSync Systems has expertise across a wide range of automation platforms including Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Mitsubishi, ABB, and other major control system vendors. We work with PLCs, PACs, distributed control systems (DCS), SCADA systems, HMI platforms, and embedded control solutions. Our vendor-agnostic approach ensures we recommend and implement the best technology for your specific application rather than pushing a single vendor's products.

Yes, integration with existing systems is one of our core competencies. We understand that complete system replacement is rarely practical or necessary. Our team specializes in integrating new automation technology with legacy equipment, translating between different communication protocols, and creating unified monitoring and control interfaces that span multiple automation platforms. We have experience with virtually all industrial communication protocols including Modbus, Profibus, Profinet, EtherNet/IP, BACnet, OPC, MQTT, and many others.

Project timelines vary significantly based on scope and complexity. A simple PLC programming update or HMI enhancement might be completed in 2-4 weeks, while a complete SCADA system implementation or major process automation upgrade could take 3-12 months. We work closely with clients during the planning phase to establish realistic timelines that minimize operational disruption. Our project management methodology includes detailed scheduling, milestone tracking, and regular progress updates to keep projects on track.

Comprehensive training is included with all our automation projects. We believe that technology is only as valuable as your team's ability to use and maintain it effectively. Our training programs are customized to your team's experience level and specific system requirements. We provide operator training on HMI systems and normal operations, maintenance technician training on troubleshooting and system maintenance, and engineering-level training on system configuration and programming. All training includes detailed documentation and hands-on practice.

We offer flexible support arrangements tailored to your needs. Options include on-demand technical support on a time-and-materials basis, retainer agreements providing guaranteed response times and allocated support hours, full maintenance contracts covering preventive maintenance and system updates, and remote monitoring services where we proactively monitor system health. Many clients start with on-demand support and transition to structured agreements as their comfort with the system grows. Emergency support is available 24/7 for critical systems.

Cybersecurity is integrated into every project from day one. Our approach follows industry standards including ISA/IEC 62443 and NIST cybersecurity framework. Key elements include network segmentation separating control systems from business networks, industrial firewalls with deep packet inspection, secure remote access using VPN and multi-factor authentication, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning, patch management procedures balancing security with operational stability, and user access controls with role-based permissions. We also provide cybersecurity training for your team and assist with incident response planning.

Yes, we have extensive experience with regulatory compliance across various industries. This includes safety instrumented systems (SIS) designed to IEC 61511 standards, environmental monitoring and reporting systems meeting provincial and federal requirements, quality system integration supporting ISO 9001 and industry-specific standards, 21 CFR Part 11 compliance for pharmaceutical and food industries, and electrical code compliance (CSA, UL, CE marking). We work with your regulatory affairs team and, when appropriate, directly with regulatory authorities to ensure systems meet all applicable requirements.

Comprehensive documentation is a standard deliverable on all projects. We provide electrical schematics and panel layouts, P&ID (piping and instrumentation diagrams) updates, network architecture diagrams, PLC/DCS program documentation with commented code, HMI screen descriptions and navigation guides, I/O lists and device addressing tables, system operation manuals, troubleshooting guides, and maintenance procedures. All documentation is provided in both electronic and printed formats, and we maintain configuration management throughout the project lifecycle. Documentation standards align with ISA-5 and other relevant industry standards.

Getting started is straightforward. Contact us via phone, email, or our website contact form to schedule an initial consultation. During this no-obligation discussion, we'll learn about your requirements, challenges, and goals. For projects of interest, we typically conduct a site visit to assess existing systems and gather technical details. Based on this information, we develop a proposal outlining our recommended approach, timeline, and investment required. Once you approve the proposal, we'll assign a project manager and engineering team to execute the work. We pride ourselves on responsive communication and transparent project management from initial contact through final commissioning and beyond.