How to Choose an Automation System Supplier? (4)
One can confidently say that a good provider is a global provider.Wide-ranging competencies, experience in process automation, design and production capabilities, financial backing, as well as a structured human resource framework, an in-house machinery park, and adequate facility resources, enable the global delivery of machines.
Only a few providers have the potential for a global reach. This requires significant financial backing and human and infrastructural resources. A global provider must meet several additional requirements, such as ensuring business continuity, risk management, proper documentation flow for projects, and change management, additional validation of design capabilities, and meeting extra verification criteria for potential and quality.
Communication with the Client
Efficient communication and documentation flow in sales, project, and acceptance phases are crucial for the successful execution of investments. The sales process for capital goods typically runs on multiple levels simultaneously. Various departments, including technical (e.g., process engineers), decision-making, advisory (e.g., maintenance services), purchasing, and management, participate in the information flow process. Hence, appropriate actions must be tailored to the specific organizational and decision-making structure of each client. It is therefore beneficial to choose a provider who effectively manages sales, project implementation, and post-sales processes.
Adequate Facility Resources
The provider should have buildings and production halls that allow for comprehensive production, commissioning, and trial production. Therefore, it is important to ensure adequate hall space and transport routes (e.g., for truck access). The production hall should have access to utilities with appropriate parameters, allowing for safe operation of the line during trial commissioning.
ELPLC S.A. possesses significant technical and financial potential, enabling their machines to operate successfully in many countries beyond Europe. Their workstations, stations, and production and assembly lines are operational in Slovakia, Spain, Bulgaria, Russia, the Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom, China, Mexico, and the United States, among others. At ELPLC S.A., the sales process is coordinated and supported by the Sales Department, ensuring the highest level of communication and guaranteeing a smooth flow of technical information. This process includes demonstrating ELPLC S.A.’s competencies and resources, collecting data for conceptual work, presenting concepts, implementing changes to concepts, and submitting technical-commercial offers that meet the client’s needs, up to coordinating the flow of order documentation. All this ensures that the process of selecting a “tailor-made” solution is quick and efficient.
During the project implementation phase, ELPLC S.A. assigns a Project Manager to communicate with the client. The Project Manager has comprehensive knowledge and competencies for smooth project execution. They are the primary communication line and coordinate work across all execution branches. The Project Manager manages the production process, machine commissioning, acceptance, documentation handover, and oversees post-sales support for upgrades and adaptations to any changes in the process.
During the investment implementation phase, ELPLC S.A. develops a work schedule that is presented to the client. The Project Manager oversees its execution. Any corrections and changes are made continuously in consultation with the client to ensure the project is completed within the planned time frame.
