We help small and mid-size food manufacturers pass SQF audits, manage CAPEX projects, and build engineering programs — without hiring a full-time Engineering Director.
You know there are gaps in your program. You don't have time to find and fix them all before the auditor walks in.
Budget approved but no one to lead the project from spec to commissioning without it running over time and money.
Your engineers are good technicians — but you need someone who can think strategically, manage vendors, and own compliance.
With 35 years of hands-on experience in USDA and FDA regulated food plants — including a wide variety of products, including: Processed Meats, Bakeries, Hispanic Foods, Sauces, Dry Sausage, & Ground Beef. — We've seen every engineering challenge a food manufacturer faces.
As your Fractional Engineering Director, you get C-suite-level engineering leadership on a monthly retainer — strategic thinking, regulatory expertise, and technical depth at a fraction of the cost.
Pre-audit gap assessments, corrective action planning, and audit prep for SQF, FDA, USDA, Non- GMO, Costco, and Walmart audits.
From equipment specification through commissioning. I manage vendors, review bids, and keep projects on time and on budget.
PLC/SCADA troubleshooting, sanitary design review, throughput analysis, and equipment optimization.
Setting up preventive maintenance programs — asset lists, PM schedules, work order systems, and KPI dashboards.
RFP development, bid review, contractor oversight, and vendor accountability so you don't get taken advantage of.
Annual capital planning, equipment lifecycle analysis, facility improvement roadmaps, and engineering department development.
10–15 hrs. Single-site operations. Audit prep, basic CAPEX guidance, and monthly check-ins.
20–25 hrs. Ongoing SQF compliance, active equipment projects, CMMS rollout, and vendor management. Most popular.
30–40 hrs. Full outsourced Engineering Director. Multi-site, on-call availability, and on-site visits included.
As needed. Project overages, one-time site visits, expert witness, or short-term engagements.
Month one focuses on a baseline assessment — understanding your current state, prioritizing issues, and building a 90-day action plan. Retainers are month-to-month with 30 days' notice to cancel. Most clients stay 12+ months because the value is clear — but you're never locked in.
Every template comes from real audit experience and real plants. Most food safety templates online were written by people who've never been in a production facility. These weren't.
PRECISION FOOD ENGINEERING
Implement a robust Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system in your food plant with our comprehensive, ready-to-use template package. Developed from 35 years of hands-on plant-floor experience, these templates simplify food safety compliance, helping you meet regulatory requirements and confidently pass audits.
This package is ideal for small and mid-size food manufacturers who need to establish or update their HACCP plans, prepare for food safety audits (SQF, FDA, USDA), or ensure robust food safety management with minimal in-house overhead.
PRECISION FOOD ENGINEERING
Ensure optimal equipment performance, minimize downtime, and boost operational efficiency with our comprehensive Preventive Maintenance (PM) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Library. Developed from over 35 years of real-world plant experience, these CMMS-ready SOPs are designed specifically for food manufacturing facilities, helping you maintain compliance and extend the lifespan of your critical assets.
This library is essential for maintenance managers, plant engineers, and operations leaders looking to implement or enhance your PM programs, standardize maintenance tasks, and prepare for food safety audits with a robust, documented system.
PRECISION FOOD ENGINEERING
Transform your food manufacturing facility's maintenance operations with our comprehensive CMMS Implementation Toolkit. Developed from 35 years of hands-on plant-floor experience, this toolkit provides a structured, data-driven approach to setting up or optimizing your Computerized Maintenance Management System. Move beyond reactive repairs to proactive, efficient, and audit-ready maintenance.
This toolkit is perfect for plant managers, maintenance supervisors, and engineering teams in food production who are looking to implement a new CMMS, enhance an existing one, or simply establish more robust maintenance processes and documentation to drive operational efficiency and ensure compliance.
PRECISION FOOD ENGINEERING
Streamline your procurement process and safeguard your investments with our comprehensive Equipment Specification Bundle. Designed by seasoned food plant engineers, this bundle gives you every tool needed to specify, source, and commission processing, packaging, refrigeration, and utility equipment — from the first spec sheet through startup sign-off.
This essential toolkit empowers plant engineers, project managers, and procurement teams to define clear technical and sanitary design requirements, facilitate apples-to-apples comparisons between vendor proposals, and hold suppliers accountable to your exact operational standards from project inception to commissioning.
Develop precise specs with minimal effort, reducing design iterations and project delays.
Ensure clear communication with vendors, staying on budget and schedule with defined deliverables.
Facilitate competitive bidding processes and enforce accountability with standardized vendor requirements.
PRECISION FOOD ENGINEERING
Successfully navigate the complexities of capital expenditure projects in your food manufacturing facility with our specialized CAPEX Project Planning Workbook. Developed by industry experts with a deep understanding of food plant operations, this toolkit provides the critical tools and templates you need to meticulously plan, justify, and execute capital projects, ensuring optimal return on investment and seamless integration.
This comprehensive resource is an indispensable asset for plant managers, project engineers, and finance professionals responsible for capital investment decisions, project execution, and new equipment commissioning within food production environments. Transition from guesswork to data-driven project management.
Gain strategic oversight and ensure CAPEX projects align with production goals and budget constraints.
Master project execution, from planning to commissioning, with robust tools for efficiency and accountability.
Evaluate investments with precision, optimize vendor selection, and safeguard company assets.
PRECISION FOOD ENGINEERING
Ensure your equipment and facility designs meet the highest standards of hygiene and regulatory compliance with our expertly developed Sanitary Design Review Checklist. This comprehensive tool is specifically engineered for food manufacturing environments, guiding you through the critical evaluation of new and existing installations to prevent contamination risks and optimize cleanability.
Developed in alignment with 3-A Sanitary Standards, NSF/ANSI, and BISSC criteria, this checklist is an indispensable asset for plant engineers, quality assurance teams, and project managers. Leverage this resource to systematically assess every critical aspect of sanitary design, streamline your design review process, and confidently achieve audit readiness, ensuring food safety and operational excellence.
Conduct thorough design reviews to validate new equipment and modifications against stringent sanitary requirements.
Bolster food safety programs and ensure compliance with regulatory and industry standards.
Integrate sanitary design verification into project timelines, preventing costly rework post-installation.
Prepare for audits and demonstrate commitment to hygienic design principles effectively.
PRECISION FOOD ENGINEERING
Achieve and maintain SQF certification with unparalleled efficiency and confidence using our Complete SQF Toolkit. This comprehensive bundle integrates all essential templates and resources needed for successful initial certification or seamless recertification, ensuring your food manufacturing facility meets the highest global food safety standards.
Consolidating critical documentation, this toolkit provides a strategic advantage, streamlining your path to compliance and operational excellence. Invest in the complete solution and secure significant savings compared to purchasing templates individually.
Total Individual Value: $671
Bundle Price: $497
Your Savings: $174!
Ensure robust compliance and audit readiness with integrated documentation.
Implement and manage critical food safety programs with expert-designed templates.
Oversee comprehensive food safety systems and drive operational excellence.
Equip clients with a complete, ready-to-use SQF compliance toolkit.
PRECISION FOOD ENGINEERING
Structured courses for food plant engineers, maintenance managers, and QA directors — practical, applicable, and immediately useful. No fluff. No filler.
Everything a food plant engineer needs to pass an SQF audit — Edition 9, GMP requirements, documentation, and corrective action response. Coming Soon.
Implement or overhaul a preventive maintenance program using a CMMS — from asset list through KPI reporting. Coming Soon.
Planning and executing capital projects — from concept and justification through commissioning and close-out. Coming Soon.
Engineering principles behind sanitary design for USDA/FDA environments — equipment selection, facility layout, and 3-A/EHEDG standards. Coming Soon.
I'm a food manufacturing engineer based in Illinois. My career has taken me inside some of the most demanding USDA and FDA regulated environments — from Cargill's protein operations to small bakeries.
I've led engineering teams through SQF audits and FDA inspections, managed multi-million dollar CAPEX projects, implemented CMMS programs from scratch, and programmed PLC systems at 2am when a line needed to run by morning.
That's the gap I fill — giving smaller manufacturers access to the same caliber of engineering expertise that big companies take for granted, at a cost that makes sense for their size.
Education: BS Electrical Engineering, Six Sigma Green Belt, SQF Practitioner
Technical: PLC/SCADA/HMI (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Omron, Mitsubishi), Sanitary & Hygienic Design (3-A / EHEDG), CAPEX Planning, CMMS Implementation
Audits: SQF Editions 8 & 9, FDA/USDA, Costco & Walmart Supplier Audits, Kosher, Halal, Non-GMO, & Organic
Book a free 30-minute discovery call — or send me a message. I respond personally to every inquiry, usually within one business day. No sales pitch. No pressure.
In 30 minutes we'll cover your plant's current engineering challenges, upcoming audits or CAPEX projects, and whether fractional engineering is the right fit.
Prefer email? Reach me directly at tom@precisionfoodengineering.com. I work with a maximum of three fractional clients at a time — if you're interested in a retainer engagement, reach out soon.
Based in Barrington, Illinois. Available for on-site visits throughout the Midwest and nationwide for Director-tier clients. Remote services available anywhere in the United States.
Leveraging deep expertise across the industry, we work with a wide array of leading equipment manufacturers and technology providers to deliver optimal solutions for your food plant's engineering challenges.
Your Food Plant Needs Expert Engineering Leadership.