Application First

Beginner's Guide to Selecting an Automation Firm

Each application process will start with a functional specification, and if you are up for the challenge, you can do it yourself rather than letting the integrator do it. Below, you will see a free questionnaire that defines the functional specification by asking a list of questions that probe the physical measurements and parameters relevant to the application, product, process and constituent components. When the engineer completes the questionnaire, the functional specification has essentially been completed. If you feel you do not have the expertise to fill out the questionnaire, that's when a sales consultant can help.

Many system integrators will supply an equipment list in response to a RFQ without a functional specification, and the equipment list is usually based on the components that the integrator uses the most or product they represent, rather than the components that are best suited to solve your application. If you approve of an equipment list, you can end up spending a lot of money for a system that will not solve your application.

If you are dealing with an application that has been replicated numerous times, such as machine loading, then you can find a point and shoot integrator, but if your product or how you produce your product is unique, then you need a more skilled integrator, someone who had multidisciplinary talents in a wide range of applications, programming, interfacing, and system design under one roof. Out of about 900 integrators in the U.S. only 40-50 have the full range of talents to handle unique applications.

Application First

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