Design Solutions & Integration

10/02/2026

The UL508A label on a control panel is not a one-time credential. UL makes unannounced visits to certified shops. If the shop isn't ready, it can lose its certification entirely.

That matters to anyone specifying "UL-listed" on a panel order. The shop has to be doing the work right every time, not just when the auditor scheduled a visit.

There's also a component requirement most buyers don't think about: every individual part inside that panel has to be UL certified. One non-certified breaker, one unrated terminal block, and the panel itself can't carry the UL label.

The label means something because the accountability behind it is real. We break down exactly what that build process looks like at the link.

Learn what makes a UL508A control panel shop reliable and how they ensure compliance with your control panel orders.

09/22/2026

Continuing our Employee Spotlight series! 🎉

Meet Jayden Siemonsma, our Supply Chain Manager and a 12-year DSI veteran.

Jayden built her entire career here, starting as a purchasing admin and growing through AP, invoicing, payroll, HR, and purchasing management without ever needing to leave to find something new.

In her words: "There's always been opportunities to take on something new or continue building my career here."

That's the DSI difference. As an employee-owned company, our people have a real stake in what we build together, and it shows.

We're proud to have you, Jayden. 💙

09/22/2026

Common assumption: Any major PLC platform can do the same job, so just pick the cheapest one.

What manufacturers usually find: The platform choice affects more than the hardware. It affects how well your components integrate, how fast your team can troubleshoot, and what a migration costs if you ever decide to switch.

Allen-Bradley's advantages show up in those details. We wrote about what they are and where other platforms compete well.

Read here:

Comparing Allen-Bradley PLC to Siemens, Mitsubishi, and others? Here is what manufacturers need to know before deciding to stay or switch.

09/18/2026

This week's Employee Spotlight belongs to John Serr, our Operations Manager for the Northern Region and a 12-year DSI veteran.

John started here as an apprentice electrician. Over the years he worked his way up through journeyman, crew foreman, and project manager before stepping into his current role overseeing operations and estimating across the Northern Division.

In his words: "I enjoy the work that we do and the people I work with. It makes the days go by way easier than they could elsewhere."

That's what it looks like when someone genuinely loves where they work. At DSI, that kind of satisfaction doesn't happen by accident. As an employee-owned company, everyone here has a real stake in what's being built, and people like John are the reason it keeps growing.

Proud to have you on the team, John!

07/31/2026

What actually happens when you split electrical, automation, and field services across three separate contractors?

On paper: specialized expertise at competitive pricing.

In practice: three parties who each own a piece, nobody who owns the outcome, and a coordination requirement that falls entirely on your operations team.

OSHA's multi-employer rules apply to every one of those contractors on your site. Toolbox talks, job planning, hazard correction - that coordination doesn't happen by itself. Every additional contractor is another party to brief, track, and hold accountable.

The risks are real and specific. We laid out exactly where they show up.

Full post here:

Managing multiple oilfield electrical contractors creates accountability gaps that compound over time. Here's what's actually at stake.

07/28/2026

"The right classification is the foundation of a safe electrical system."

That idea applies to every hazardous location project. Class I, Division 2 requirements influence the design, construction, and installation of electrical equipment from the very beginning. When teams understand the environment first, they make better decisions throughout the project. The result is improved safety, smoother installations, and fewer costly changes after equipment reaches the field.

Strong projects are built on good information. Hazardous location classifications provide that foundation.

How does your team approach hazardous area planning during the design phase?

👉 Read the full article here: https://relyondsi.com/class-1-division-2-hazardous-location/

Class 1 Division 2 areas are common in oil and gas. Learn what C1D2 means, what equipment it requires, and the real cost of getting it wrong.

07/23/2026

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱.

Here's a look at one of our team members completing an underground tie-in with the precision, craftsmanship, and attention to detail our customers rely on. It's this commitment to quality, safety, and ex*****on that helps keep projects moving and operations running.

07/04/2026

This Fourth of July, all of us at Design Solutions & Integration want to thank the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country. Your sacrifice is the foundation of the freedoms we enjoy every day.

From our crew to yours, have a safe, proud, and Happy Independence Day!

06/11/2026

Competitive bids can lower project costs.

But fragmented ex*****on can increase project risk.

When fabrication, electrical, automation, and field services are managed by separate vendors, every handoff becomes a potential failure point.

The challenge isn't finding qualified contractors.

The challenge is maintaining accountability, communication, and schedule alignment across the entire project lifecycle.

Our latest article examines why many operators are reevaluating how they structure complex projects.

Read more: https://relyondsi.com/oilfield-field-services-integration-split-vendors/

Splitting oilfield field services integration across vendors creates finger-pointing, missed timelines, and accountability gaps.

06/01/2026

A look at a recent SWD tie-in completed by our crew in the field.

Great work by the team making it happen safely and efficiently. We appreciate the dedication our field personnel bring to every project and the trust our customers place in us.