Business profile - Design and Analysis, Inc.

Since 2000, Hope’s Design and Analysis, Inc., has operated as a full-service mechanical engineering firm serving businesses in Hope and surrounding areas. Owner, Brian McKinley recently discussed the business’ genesis and humble beginnings to the types of work it does, as well as what has contributed to Design and Analysis’ longevity and what he hopes the future holds for the family-run business.

What type of work does Design and Analysis, Inc., do?
Contractual work. If it is mechanical we can design, build, fabricate, powder coat it, deliver and set it up. We do everything from soup to nuts. We’ve done work for diesel manufacturers and design and build projects, including agricultural sprayers.

What was the business’ genesis?
It is what I was trained in. It started in a room on the back of the house that was literally 6-by-12. From there we went to a little suite by Subway, then to South Street and then we bought this building.

What has been the key to the business’ success?
It is the quality of people I’ve had over the years. Being a business owner is like anything else in life there are highs and lows and when things are high don’t get too high and when things are low don’t get too low. There have been times you just want to say “That’s enough,” but that isn’t our nature. That is not what family does. We keep fighting and it’s been very good to me for almost 20 years.

What would you say are the main projects you do?
Right now, we are trying to get into the machine design and build world that seems to be up and coming and are working on machine design. With the tax breaks large corporations have gotten they have more money to spend on capital, capital projects and investments. So that whole trickle-down theory is working for me.

When you say analysis, what exactly does that mean?
An analysis would be like a structural analysis, vibrational analysis.

What is the fabrication process like?
If you would come in tomorrow and say I want a new lawnmower. I would say “OK, we can design that.” We would design it and you would say, “Yes, that is the one I want. Do an analysis and make sure the wheels aren’t going to break or the blade is going to fly apart” and any analysis you want done. You would then sign off on it and say, “Build me five of them.” So it involves literally everything from a napkin sketch to a product that the consumer might end up with on the back end.

What types of machine design does your business do?
I’ve worked on everything from plastic meat trays to diesel engine design and everything in between. You name it, we’ve done it.

What’s been the biggest challenge you have faced?
When you lose a major customer because they have a downturn and, consequently, contractors are the first to go.

What are your hopes for the future of Design and Analysis, Inc.?
I would like to continue to grow the business and grow our suite of tools in the machine design world and leave it to the kids. I’d like to look down from heaven someday and go, “Wow, look at that place. Can you believe I started in a 6-by- 12 room?”