On site in New Mexico, LotusWorks’ role continues to evolve as part of its long-standing partnership with a leading global semiconductor client. Having first supported the site through commissioning work in 2019, LotusWorks expanded its presence in 2025 following the award of additional scope across the USA. That expanded scope marked a new step in a partnership that spans more than 30 years.
For the LotusWorks team in Rio Rancho, that growth has moved quickly from mobilisation to momentum. From a team of 16 to almost 20 people in just a few months, the group is building more than technical capability. They are building a culture where people support one another, learn together and take pride in the work they do.
Supporting electrical, mechanical and ultra-pure water operations, the team provides critical facilities support across a defined scope. Led on site by Site Lead Rick Madrid, the team brings together experienced technicians, specialists and engineers who are helping maintain performance, strengthen safety and support the continued development of the site.
The team’s role reflects a core strength of LotusWorks: building skilled, site-based teams that can integrate quickly, take ownership of technical responsibilities and support complex facilities with consistency and care.
“We have electrical, mechanical and ultra-pure water specialists, so there are three different groups that we support,” Rick explains. “Day to day, we’re focused on preventative maintenance and keeping the site operating safely and efficiently.”
The team’s responsibilities are varied and essential. Across the mechanical side, LotusWorks has ownership of specific equipment. On the electrical side, the team supports calibration responsibilities. Within ultra-pure water, the team provides operations, maintenance and engineering support for full systems. Together, these responsibilities help ensure that important site infrastructure is maintained, monitored and supported with consistency.
Bringing Experience Together
The early days of the team were shaped by a fast transition. A number of employees joined LotusWorks having previously worked directly for the client, bringing valuable site knowledge and first-hand understanding of the facility. Others joined from contractor or external backgrounds, adding different perspectives and technical experience.
That blend of experience has been a major advantage for the team. Those who already knew the site could begin contributing quickly, while those from outside brought fresh eyes and new ideas. Together, they have created a team that understands the importance of both continuity and improvement.
“The evolution was quick on the mechanical and UPW sides because we had a lot of experienced people coming in,” Rick says. “We could take on the scope and start executing right away.”
On the electrical side, the ramp-up has involved more training, particularly around instrumentation and calibration. This has been part of the natural development of the team. As people become certified and build familiarity with site-specific systems, standards and expectations, the team’s capability continues to grow.
That willingness to learn has been central to the team’s development. Technical experience matters, but so does attitude. The focus has been on building a team of people who can follow a planned schedule, adapt to new ways of working and contribute to long-term success on site.
“We look for people with a forward-looking attitude, not people who are looking back,” he says. “Experience is important, but so is the willingness to learn a new way of doing things.”
Performance, Safety & Trust
One of the clearest measures of the team’s progress within the new scope has been its performance against schedule. From the beginning, the focus has been on planning, accountability and making sure the numbers reflect the work being completed.
The results have been strong. The team has consistently maintained high performance against schedule, including stretches of 100% completion. Rick says the goal is to average around 98%, and the team has achieved that throughout its first seven months on site.
Just as important has been the team’s safety performance, reflecting one of LotusWorks’ core values in action. In the same period, the LotusWorks team has worked without injury and has developed a culture where people actively look for potential issues. Safety walks take place regularly, and the team raises observations even in areas outside its direct scope.
“Safety is a big milestone, and performance against schedule is the other area where I think we have maintained what we needed to maintain,” Rick says.
That safety mindset is especially important given the type of work the team performs. In the summer months, heat and hydration are real concerns. Some work takes place on high rooftops, where access can be difficult if an incident occurs. For the team, looking after each other is not separate from the work. It is part of how they operate.
Working as One Team
The culture across the team is practical, supportive and team-first. Although the group is made up of different technical disciplines, there are no barriers between them. If the mechanical team can support the water team, or one group can help another build knowledge, that is encouraged.
“We do not have walls here,” Rick says. “We are one team, and we make sure we support everybody.”
That culture has helped new employees settle in quickly. Experienced team members have stepped forward to train others, share knowledge and support certification. Across the team, that approach is helping people build confidence, develop new skills and support one another’s progression.
“You are certified in this,” he tells team members. “Let’s make sure we get your entire team certified in that.”
By taking ownership of defined responsibilities across mechanical, electrical and ultra-pure water systems, LotusWorks has been able to provide focused support in areas that are important to day-to-day site performance. That reliability has helped build confidence and created opportunities for the team to expand its contribution.
“The client is seeing the advantage of having us here. They are seeing the work we are doing and how our team performs.” Rick says.
The focus is on bringing in people who not only have the right technical experience, but who can also add to the culture already developing on site. As new opportunities emerge, the team is hiring strategically, looking for people who understand the environment, can adapt quickly and are ready to support future work.
Since mobilising under the expanded scope, the LotusWorks team in Rio Rancho has built strong early momentum. Through planning, technical ownership, safety focus and a culture of shared support, the team has built a sturdy foundation for continued growth on site.