Client: International Maritime Industries (IMI), part of Aramco
Sector: Industrial / Maritime
Service: Data Center Gap Assessment & Tier-2 Certification Consulting
Business Challenge
International Maritime Industries (IMI) operates a mission-critical industrial ecosystem supporting large-scale maritime manufacturing, shipbuilding, and logistics. While IMI maintained a functional data center, its infrastructure needed to be upgraded to meet Tier-2 certification standards — essential for improving reliability, reducing downtime risks, and strengthening business continuity.
The challenge was to identify gaps across electrical, mechanical, cooling, and IT systems, and build a clear certification-aligned roadmap. IMI sought a vendor-neutral assessment that would highlight deficiencies and outline upgrade priorities without disrupting ongoing plant operations.
Solution
Flint International was engaged as IMI’s consulting partner to lead a comprehensive Data Center Gap Assessment and Tier-2 Readiness Program. The consulting engagement provided IMI with a holistic view of structural, operational, and compliance-related gaps, along with actionable recommendations for remediation.
Our engagement covered:
- Electrical Power & Redundancy Review: Assessment of backup systems, load distribution, failover capabilities, and overall electrical resilience.
- Mechanical & Cooling Adequacy Evaluation: Review of HVAC capacity, redundancy, cooling efficiency, and environmental controls.
- IT Infrastructure & Operations Assessment: Analysis of system reliability, network resilience, structured cabling, and operational governance.
- Tier-2 Compliance Mapping: Compilation of a detailed readiness report aligned with Uptime Institute Tier-2 certification requirements.
Solution Implementation Process
The consulting program followed a structured three-phase assessment and readiness roadmap model:
Phase 1 – Baseline Assessment & Gap Identification
Comprehensive review of electrical, mechanical, cooling, and IT systems to benchmark the facility against Tier-2 requirements. Identification of deficiencies affecting redundancy, reliability, and operational continuity.
Phase 2 – Compliance Framework & Remediation Planning
Development of a compliance-aligned roadmap detailing system upgrades, capacity enhancements, and risk mitigation actions. Evaluation of vendor-neutral options to ensure flexibility in future expansion.
Phase 3 – Upgrade Prioritization & Certification Readiness
Creation of an actionable implementation plan covering timelines, sequencing, and impact analysis. IMI received guidance to prepare for upgrades without operational disruption, ensuring full alignment with Tier-2 certification pathways.
Customer Benefits
- Clear Certification Roadmap: A structured, step-by-step plan enabling IMI to progress confidently toward Tier-2 readiness.
- Operational Risk Reduction: Identification of critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and strategies to mitigate downtime.
- Vendor-Neutral Insights: Objective assessment enabling cost-efficient planning and future scalability.
- Enhanced Infrastructure Resilience: Strengthened power, cooling, and IT capability supporting long-term operational stability.
Result
Flint’s strategic assessment empowered IMI to upgrade its data center with clarity and precision. With a comprehensive and vendor-neutral roadmap, IMI is now positioned to achieve Tier-2 certification, reduce infrastructure risks, and scale its digital backbone to support future industrial growth.
