Considering upgrading your automation systems?

By Todd Smith

When you see all of the new and innovative automation system changes, it may be alluring to upgrade your system. However, 'new ' doesn't always mean better, and it might not even be something acceptable to your manufacturing process. What kinds of things should you be considering before you enter an upgrade plan?

First, it's crucial that you really know what your company wishes in the way of automation. If you are not qualified to make that evaluation, get a consultant. It's well worth the cash to have a seasoned set of eyes. They can find you savings and also help you avoid products that just will not fit with the remainder of your processes. That consultant can be ready to steer you towards a few automation execs who could use the recommendations in making a catalogued bid that compares apples to apples.

Speaking of which, almost every manufacturing company has pretty strict axioms on purchasing upgrades. Review your bidding process and how bidders are assessed. If there's a purchasing person, use them as your 'go to ', giving them the suggestions furnished by the advisor. These suggestions will go to potential bidders along with requests for any other documents required by policy.

A second element to upgrading automation is consistency. Hand choose several people who stay on this task from start point to end point. Look for a pleasantly-rounded team each of whom can offer experience on the automation upgrade being considered. You would like PC folk, researchers, engineers and other certified specialists looking at this from each angle. Remember that whatever you do at 'home ' has to work cooperatively with the 'outfield ' as well. The individual in command of your team can make choices as per the organization's objectives, but she or he is also culpable for those decisions.

One of the best justifications to upgrade is finding that competitors with cutting edge systems are digging tidily into your profit markups. If your automation appliances are reaching the end of its serviceable life you might well save money in continuing fix by getting an upgrade. The upgrade will also have certain warrantees that protect you going forward. In each case, confirm your upgrade meets a measurable corporate target.

Past this, you definitely have to think about the base line. Weigh cost factors against predicted results. And avoid bidders who do not give you real specifics. Just like any industry automation as buzz words like 'flexibility ' that have small meaning unless applied in a concrete way.

About the Author:

Todd Smith owns of Power Systems Incorporated, a company that offers automation systems.

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The Automation Industry: The Price of Down-time

By Todd Smith

There is no question the automation industry has made great steps and facilitated bigger precision and savings in all types of manufacturing endeavors. Nevertheless, automation (like every other system) can break down. It might also require straightforward maintenance once in a while. From a net result viewpoint its significant that a company know, with relative accuracy, what those down times cost so the figures can be utilised in budgeting and pricing.

Informed management is smart management. It isn't extraordinarily tough to analyze the price of down time by using specific parameters. Definitely the price of work is the first prime to spring to mind, but there's are also other considerations such as a product delay, bottlenecks or blockages in other parts of the manufacturing process while upgrades or repairs happen and so on. By having a look at these factors a company can determine the best timing for downtimes.

Let's utilise a simple example. Say company A knows that the demand for product experiences seasonal highpoints and lowpoints, it is smart to line up down time for a period when demand is the lowest. Or or doubtless cooperatively the company could begin watching for new automation equipment that is being offered at lower price-points and buy, then wait to install till that quiet season rolls around. The sole issue with the second eventuality is storage. If you don't have a facility for your apparatus then that cost has to be allowed for also.

In taking a look at your costs for down time, some managers weigh overhead costs heavily. However , when you consider that those costs are ALWAYS part of the company profile, truly the direct work is a far bigger weight. Together with those man hours there's also the employee's insurance, IRAs, overtime (if pertinent) etc. Also consider indirect work like inspectors, material handlers, experts, administrative staff or regular employees who have to take time from standard obligations to assist in managing the goals for the downtime.

Constants in the world of down time include equipment costs and work (including Quality Controls). Less certain is what kind of time you will need, how much production decreases, consultation, any fitting required, and shipping the mandatory parts. A flow chart can explain a lot of this info, especially if the maker is already using information gathering systems.

Once you have been through one automation down-time cost calculation you can use that information or any future such endeavors. Some factors will change unless you have got to try the same project, but having a functional format saves a great amount of time going forward.

About the Author:

Todd Smith is the founder of psifla.com, a website with information about automation systems

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