What is an Engineering Science company?
An Engineering Science company has personnel and infrastructure to apply advanced scientific methods to solve critical problems not well served by traditional deterministic engineering tools and methodologies.
Why should I do R&D on my process?
To stay relevant in the current competitive global market, companies need to constantly try to develop new version of their core designs or processes or improve the existing ones. An active R&D campaign is a rewarding focus to identify more cost-effective operations which eventually increase profit margin or the competitive edge by virtue of a more reasonably priced product.
Do you have test infrastructure that I can use to evaluate my new design?
Although many of Coanda's test rigs are proprietary, the Company's extensive overall test infrastructure can be leveraged to provide cost effective testing and evaluation programs for clients.
Does Coanda get involved with partnerships on technology development projects?
Coanda works with clients on scopes ranging from incremental product/process improvements to full technology development programs. Coanda can partner with clients from initial investigation phases through proof of concept and feasibility studies.
Do you do sample testing (e.g. particle sizing, rheology)?
Coanda's analytical labs are designed to conduct sample testing for internal projects primarily, but requests to test samples for third parties will also be considered on a case by case basis.
I just graduated with a degree in (topic x), are you hiring?
We have a whole section of our website dedicated to the careers currently available. You can explore the current opportunities on the careers page.
How long does a typical project take and roughly how much does it cost?
The answer to this can vary quite a bit depending on the scope of work, the depth and complexity that a client would like to pursue and most importantly whether we are building a lab model to run tests.
Small projects where a client is looking for some insight into their process problem and is looking for a quick answer can often be solved with CFD, a straight analytical approach and/or a literature review and some consulting. These projects can often be concluded in a 2-6 week timeline and come in anywhere from $5k to $20k.
Mid-size projects can typically involve large scale CFD models and multiple parametric runs that engage large amounts of our cluster. Alternately, a mid-sized project can include a small laboratory model and flow loop or one that reuses some of our extensive fixed infrastructure and inventory of past models. Examples of this would be nozzle testing in our existing spray facility, or a flow loop model that incorporates components that we pull off the shelf. These projects typically take 2-4 months and cost $25 to $100k.
On the higher end, we have undertaken projects that involve significant lab models and flow loops (multiphase, cryogenic etc.), often at multiple scales in order to sufficiently study the problem at hand. These projects will often include CFD and feasibility studies at the front end to help identify the experimental scope. A thorough analysis of the data collected and comprehensive report is typically delivered. These projects are often in the $200k - $500k range and be completed over 8-12 months. Quite often, once an investment is made into an experimental apparatus of this scope, clients will conduct repeat projects studying different aspects of their process.
How do we estimate the cost of a research and development project given the uncertainty in these types of projects?
Coanda makes every effort to provide its clients with budget estimates that are as accurate as possible, by carefully identifying and quantifying the key sources of uncertainty and risk. Coanda’a ability to provide reliable cost estimates is partly related to Coanda’s long 22-year history and broad experience though over 1000 major research and development projects. Project scope and key deliverables are also designed and specified in a manner that is consistent with, and reflective of, the project objectives and the key uncertainties associated with the area(s) of pursuit.
Are Coanda’s projects fixed bid or time & materials?
Most of Coanda’s projects are research and development projects which have uncertainty in their scope and final deliverable. Given the exploratory nature of these projects, the time & material billing structure is the preferred approach given its reduced administrative overhead associated with respect to scope adjustments based on progressive learnings. Fixed bid structures are regularly used for project with very well-defined scope and deliverables, where there is relatively limited cost uncertainty.
What's the process for setting up projects?
Coanda assigns a Proposal Lead to work with a client to understand their problem and to prepare a Proposal outlining the key phases of the proposed solution (scoping study, dimensional analysis, analytical/physical model design, experimentation etc) and the estimated cost.