Buying Guidelines of Automation
by: Michael Katz / owner Dial-X Automated Equipment, Inc.

1. Consult with a reputable automation vendor with the capabilities of taking full responsibility for designing and building automation equipment, building vibratory feeder bowls, designing and building controls for the automation equipment, and the electrical and pneumatics.  A single source vendor will result in less expensive equipment for you with more productive automation resulting in fewer service calls.  If, however, a service is required, the vendor should be capable of handling most problems. 

2. In selecting, a vendor for your automation, you should contact previous customers of the vendor and ask about the quality of the equipment, the service provided, and the training of their personnel, prior to sending a request for a quotation to the vendor.

3. Select approximately three reputable automation vendor's when requesting a quotation for your automation project.  Send parts (assembly components and unassembled components) and ask for budgetary pricing.  This will save both yourself and the vendor time in determining if the project is viable.

4. If at all possible, you should visit the vendor's facility to review the equipment on their floor being built at that time.  Acquire a list of previous customers of the vendor's in your area. If possible visit them to review the equipment that has been built by the vendor.

5. Request a Certificate of Insurance from the vendor.

6. If the project is viable and you have received budgetary pricing from the vendor, you should request that the vendor visit your facility to review the project further.  This meeting should include the vendor, two individuals in management, two individuals in maintenance, and two individuals from the assembly department.  It is essential to have the input of all departments to assure a successful project.

7. Supply the vendor with the following:

* Assembled components; as system will produce.
* Specifications of any equipment your company prefers. Keep this short but complete.  Be sure to include the color you request the system to be painted or any other specific options required by your company.
* Two sets of updated prints of components; making notes on print if any of the parts are not to print or contain flash/burrs or any other imperfections.
* If molded parts, samples from each cavity are required.
Provide information that your Quality Control Department would be looking for during assembly at your facility.

8. Management, Maintenance and Production personnel should discuss the project to its entirety prior to issuing a purchase order for the project.

9. Schedule a chain-of-command, agreeable with your company and vendor.  There should be only one person from each company communicating with one another.  A second person, however, may be required for back-up.

10. At the time a purchase order is issued, inform your Management, Production and Maintenance departments of the vendor selected for the project.

11. At the time vendor requests your presence to review design upon its completion, a representative from your Maintenance and Production departments should be present, as well as your Engineering Department.

12. Run-off of the equipment at the vendor's facility should include a representative from your Maintenance, Engineering, and Production departments.  Any production parts ran at this time should be given directly to your Quality Control Department for their inspection.

13. Delivery of the equipment should be made by a reputable machinery rigger and should be shipped from the vendor's facility directly to the customer's facility. Equipment should be moved on an air-ride tractor and trailer only.

14. When equipment is wired and large enough, an airline is ran to the system; vendor should be notified of this. You should have parts on hand; same as vendor had on their floor for run-off of the system.  Any/all personnel that were involved with the approval of the design and run-off at vendor's facility should be involved, as well as one person from your Production department from each shift running the system.

15. It is likely that immediately following training by the vendor at your facility of the equipment, you will have some minor problems.  You should document any/all problems incurred over the first two week period of production and describe them in detail.  Approximately two weeks into running the system, contact vendor and request vendor to come to your facility to discuss all problems documented.  A copy should be sent to them for their review prior to the visit.  Major problems, however, should be dealt with immediately.