Gabriel Rouanet, General Manager, Electronic Engineer, IASA & Gustavo Lara, Chief of Automation Department, IASA

“We believe we are the doctors of the production of our clients where we diagnose and repair,” says Gabriel Rouanet, general manager and electronic engineer.

Two factors define IASA's approach. First, there are no standard solutions. Every system is custom-built to match real operational workflows. Second, its open system model avoids restrictive software, allowing seamless integration, scalability and full client control over data and systems.

At its core, IASA connects enterprise planning with shop-floor execution through GMA, an in-house platform that links ERP systems, automation infrastructure and operational data. GMA reads production orders from ERP platforms such as SAP, executes them through PLC and SCADA systems and returns real-time information on production, consumption, inventory and performance. The platform also captures utility data, including energy, water and compressed air usage, while integrating laboratory, maintenance and quality information to create a complete digital record for each job. This enables full traceability across operations while providing real-time visibility into production performance and resource utilization.

As Gustavo Lara, chief of automation department, notes, “We don't have or it's not very common to have a standard solution. We just have to work with the customer and build a solution exactly for their particular need.”

A key advantage of GMA is its flexibility. Because the system is developed entirely in-house, it can integrate with legacy equipment, third-party applications and client-specific architectures, allowing IASA to build solutions around existing operations rather than forcing facilities into predefined structures.

The platform transforms production and resource data into actionable operational metrics, including OEE. It automatically detects equipment downtime, correlates events with production variables and provides both real-time visibility and historical analysis. By integrating laboratory data, quality control records, inventory systems and ERP platforms, it creates a unified production record that supports end-to-end traceability throughout the manufacturing process.

As a web-based system, it provides secure access through standard web browsers, enabling managers, operators and executives to monitor performance and make informed decisions from virtually anywhere. Its flexibility has supported deployments across a variety of industrial environments, including feed mills and palm oil processing facilities where visibility and operational control are critical.

Alongside its software capabilities, IASA delivers motor control centers, power distribution panels and control systems while also managing installation and commissioning. Together, these elements enable the company to provide integrated solutions that connect equipment, processes and business systems.

A Four-Pillar Operating Model

IASA structures its operations around four core pillars that ensure consistency across every engagement. The project pillar focuses on implementation, covering system design, integration and commissioning. The supply pillar ensures access to reliable equipment through established partnerships with global component manufacturers.

The service pillar delivers ongoing 24/7 support, enabling rapid diagnosis and resolution to keep operations running. The administration pillar ties everything together by consolidating production, quality, inventory and business data into a unified environment for reporting, analysis and decision-making.

Together, these pillars provide a repeatable framework for delivering tailored yet dependable solutions.

Customization as a Core Operating Principle

Both Rouanet and Lara emphasize a customer-first approach, rejecting one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, each system is custom-built around the client's actual workflow, ensuring alignment with real day-to-day operations rather than standard models.

A recent engagement with an animal feed manufacturer highlights IASA's execution capability. The company completed a full plant control upgrade in two weeks, replacing legacy systems across an operation with around 200 motors and more than 600 I/O points. Fully integrated with SAP, the new system enabled production to be driven directly by live sales orders.

It also supported multi-location coordination, with planning managed from Mexico and execution in Guatemala through a centralized platform. By connecting ERP, automation and reporting layers, IASA transformed a manual, paper-based setup into a fully digital operation delivering precise batch control, real-time visibility and complete traceability.

IASA's strength lies in combining hardware, automation, software and ongoing service into a unified operating model. Through GMA, it integrates ERP, production, quality and utility systems while transforming operational data into actionable performance metrics. Together, these capabilities enable manufacturers to move from fragmented operations to fully connected, data-driven production environments with complete visibility and control, bringing clarity, consistency and precision to modern industrial operations.