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Case Studies
SWAT Specialty Welding
and Turnarounds
Implemented immediate back office support and automated staffing processes to enhance Specialty Welding’s reputation for delivering industry-leading turnaround support.
During turnarounds at downstream facilities, the race is on to perform
hundreds of projects around the plant. A big part of that work involves welding services for mission-critical assets; work requiring specialized expertise that’s hard to find. SWAT had earned the reputation for being a trusted provider of these specialty welding services for Gulf Coast refineries and petrochem facilities—but wanted more.
Challenges
Reducing risk of customer loss through growth and diversification of customer base
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Expanding operations into key refining states outside of Texas
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Implementing a back-office team to support operations
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Streamlining staffing processes to scale up for large turnaround projects
Value Creation
Complete implementation of back office team: CFO, Controller, HR and Safety Management
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Developed a digitized staffing process to ensure quick tracking, selection and assignment of personnel resources to new projects
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Supported negotiations with California Unions to open the door for SWAT into California refineries (taking CA revenue from $0 to $40M in a single year)
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Built new facilities to support expanding fabrication operations
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Tripled size over three years
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Established a Board of Directors including outside directors Carin Barth, board member of Enterprise Products, and Walter Pinto, retired 25-year executive of LyondellBasell
Conclusion
Leveraging Prominence, Tightening Processes
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Operationally, Hastings Equity Partners implemented a back-office team and improved the manual staffing processes with a digitized, automated approach. Hastings also supported service expansion beyond welding, by repositioning the company as elite turnaround teams. SWAT is now bidding out a wider scope of work and winning projects at a larger scale. With tighter processes, better marketing and more opportunity, SWAT is competing at a whole new level.