What can Houston Controls do for me?
Houston Controls provides Instrument, Electrical and Analyzer installation Maintenance, Planning, Design and Turnaround services to Industry.
Typical duties might consist of installation of equipment, electrical and instrumentation raceway and wiring, calibration and commissioning
of field devices, terminating, programming and configuration of control systems and electrical systems, removal and replacement of repaired items,
and troubleshooting and repair of malfunctioning systems.
Custom instrument and electrical control panel and junction box assembly can be cost-effectively performed offsite at our shop.
Short or Long-term personnel can be provided for routine or non-routine maintenance work, Turnaround work, Capital Project work,
Planning or Design work.
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What unique expertise does Houston Controls bring to the table?
Houston Controls’ business model is unique in that Account Managers and Project Managers interact with the client and take
responsibility at all stages of the project, including initial development, determination of manning, commercial arrangements and
ultimately execution of the actual project. Company Officers, Account and Project Managers have strong technical backgrounds, and
are acutely aware of the client’s need for accurate estimation and high performance in project execution.
Houston Controls specializes in placing top-quality, trained and mature Instrument, Electrical and Analyzers specialists into
positions where they can be employed cost-effectively (meaning profitably) by the client.
Personnel are continually screened to eliminate weak performers, using a post- job evaluation system.
In addition, Houston Controls supports their employees by assuring that a qualified staff of Safety Professionals, and senior,
well qualified Supervisors are assigned to projects, commensurate with the size of the project. Houston Controls can participate
in the planning and scheduling of projects, including determination of best employee mix and skills required for ultimate success
of a project.
Houston Controls can help you determine your needs using realistic, experience based estimates, combined with computer modeling based
on projected work list and project duration.
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What is the billing rate, all inclusive, that I can expect to pay?
Billing rates are under continual review, since rates can vary from area to area,
and season to season, based on Market conditions. Houston Controls strives to provide the most cost-effective terms possible to our clients,
since we know that this is the key to satisfied customers and repeat business. Billing rates are negotiated on a
contract-by-contract basis to meet the client’s needs. Houston Controls recommends a straight pass-through with mark up, relieving
the client of the burdensome distraction of managing commercial arrangements and providing instead a flexible, reliable resource.
Your Account Manger will be glad to assist you in making these decisions and providing you with commercial guidance specific to your need.
Top of PageHow do I contact Houston Controls when I need them?
Directly contact the Houston Controls offices at PH. 713-672-1200 or contact an Account Manager:
Top of PageWhere are the Houston Controls Facilities located?
Houston Controls offices are located at:
2840 Center St, Deet Park, TX 77536
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Who are the Houston Controls Officers?
Dennis D. Johnston, President
David Martin, Vice President
Top of PageWhat size project can Houston Controls handle?
Houston Controls projects range from small on-demand services, to providing IEA technicians,
journeymen and planners for a recent $100MM Coker Turnaround. Houston Controls fielded over 40
Technicians and Journeymen for this project. The value of the project was over $1.7 MM for Houston Controls.
Top of PageHow long have you been in business?
Houston Controls was incorporated in October, 2005, as an expansion of Houston Industrial
Controls, which was established 1998.
Top of PageHow are you capitalized?
Houston Controls is incorporated in Texas, using the personal investment capital of the Company
Officers and a line of credit as needed through Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank
Top of PageWhere are Houston Controls personnel now employed?
Houston Controls has resident personnel in Plants owned by BP, Conoco-Phillips,
LyondellBasell, KMTEX, KMCO, and Calpine, and Southcoast and Vopak terminals, to name a few.
Top of PageHow many IEA personnel can Houston Controls supply?
We keep resumes and work histories on hand for over 1200 IEA personnel, with skill
sets ranging from Field installation to SAP support to design and planning work, and from
entry level to over thirty years experience. The client’s needs, however, are always
assessed to assure that personnel possess the skills required before being placed on the job.
Top of PageHow much notice is necessary?
Houston Controls can accommodate the need for personnel on short notice, however we believe
that planning and coordination are the keys to cost-effective project and turnaround work.
Our leadership personnel will coordinate IEA employee ramp-up and ramp-down with
leadership at the employing site for optimum results, since over-manning a job results in high
cost, and under-manning may result in completion delays, neither of which is desirable from
the clients perspective.
Top of PageIf I have a catastrophe, can Houston Controls support me on short notice?
Support can be provided within 24 hours for a small (up to 10 employees) force. Of course,
for larger forces, several days may be required to reach full force levels since
travel and re-location may be required.
Top of PageWhat is the average level of experience of your employees?
Houston controls employees have an average of 15+ yrs of experience. We are in the business of placing experienced, top quality people,
not trainees, and will provide journeymen unless the client requires an employee mix. The Client might desire an employee mix if,
for instance, the project has a number of simple tasks and the client wants to control costs, or if his safety procedures called for a
"buddy" system. Account Managers will be glad to assist the client in determining the optimum workforce composition if this style of manning
is desired.
Top of PageDo any of your employees have academic degrees or
experience as OEM employees or major company direct hires?
Yes, several are retired factory servicemen or are retired Major Company employees,
or have academic degrees
Top of PageWhat is the average age of your employees?
35-40 yrs
Top of PageDo you do engineering?
We subcontract engineering. We prefer to execute the Client’s designs cost effectively
rather than to develop them ourselves.
Top of PageWhat are your design capabilities?
Qualified people are provided to plant sites to perform design work. From an IEA standpoint, we can perform whatever in-house
design is desired by the client.
Top of PageAre your staff members members of the ISA or other technical societies?
Dennis Johnston is an active ISA member.
Top of PageHow do you invoice?
Invoicing is adjusted to meet the Client’s needs, and is negotiable on contract by
contract basis. We normally Invoice weekly net 30 or as by arrangement.
Top of PageWhat commercial terms are necessary for your business?
No special terms are required.
Top of PageAre all your employees pre-certified at HASC or other reciprocal site?
Because our personnel may be dispatched to multiple sites, all have Basic Plus as a minimum.
If the site requires it, training will be upgraded to Site-Specific. Employees
also receive basic training in company policies and procedures, and detailed training in
safety procedures and requirements.
Top of PageAre personnel pre-screened for drug use?
Employee drug and alcohol screening is a pre-employment requirement. Screening is performed in compliance with the
North American Substance Abuse Program (NASAP) utilizing approved third-party administrators (TPA's).
Top of PageCan I see employees’ resumes?
Yes, however the client should understand that the resume is not as meaningful as the
performance record the employee accumulates in service. While we carefully assess employees
before hiring, we do not place personnel based on a resume alone, preferring to allow our senior
Supervisors to assess the employee’s actual capabilities before he goes on site.
During the employee’s tenure at the facility, the employee is periodically evaluated and developed.
We strive for the proper match of employee capability with job demands.
Top of PageCan I meet your Corporate Officers?
Yes. Our Officers are pleased to meet clients, and would be glad to interact
with them any time it is of benefit to either party. Please understand,
however, that the Officers may be engaged in performing other duties or may be out of
the country on business, and special arrangements may be necessary.
Top of PageWhat is Houston Controls’ safety record?
Houston Controls’ TRIR is 0 as of April, 2009
Top of PageDo you have a safety culture?
Yes. Demanded and managed from top Officers to field through all personnel.
(See The Houston Controls Safety Policy ) Our TRIR of 0 is evidence of our
strong commitment to safety in all aspects of our business. Our policy is more than just words.
It is an attitude and behavior that is required of every employee, as a condition of
employment. If an employee will not comply with safe work practices, he will not work for Houston
Controls, and will not be placed at your plant site.
Top of PageDo you conduct safety training that is specific to your business model?
Safety training is conducted daily while jobs are in progress, and include all field personnel.
Job Safety Analyses are required tools before personnel begin work. Routine attendance at safety
meetings is required by Officers and Supervisors, and all leadership personnel. Training
addresses the hazards confronting the IEA field personnel (Pinchpoints, crushing, electrocution,
explosion, energy release, un-commanded operation, etc.) that are not necessarily covered by
generic Cient sponsored safety training.
Top of PageWhat do I do if there is a discipline or non-performance problem with one of your people?
These issues will be handled by communication with the Account Manager,
who will take the appropriate action. However, given the screening and performance evaluation
system that Houston Controls uses, performance issues are seldom experienced.
Top of PageDo you have a new employee indoctrination?
Yes, both for safety procedures and general Houston Controls practices.
Top of PageDoes Houston Controls perform shop surveillance work?
YES. We have several senior employees and retirees that specialize in this work.
Top of PageHow do I place an order for services?
Contact your Account Manager, or Dennis Johnston directly.
Top of PageAre you willing to submit more information for evaluation?
Yes, let us know what you desire. A standard pre-qualification document has been
developed which should address most of your questions. Contact your Account Manager if you
desire more information.
Top of PageAre you licensed to operate as an electrical contractor in the State of Texas?
Yes, our Texas Electrical Contractor License number is 25440.
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