Feedback: OEM finds integrator for ‘whatever it takes’ automation
By Control Engineering Staff -- Control Engineering, 3/8/2007
A cavity pump manufacturer who is interested in automated assembly (but more focused on the design and building of pumps) wanted to automate its manual data collection process. So Enon, OH-based "seepex Inc." found a system integrator with exactly the skills they needed.
"We're planning to automate our data acquisition and assembly operations," says Matt Brown, seepex manager of quality, standards and internal systems, "but we need outside help to make that happen." He used the 2007 edition of Control Engineering's "Automation Integrator Guide" to make the connection. Eventually, Brown says, they'd like to automate the assembly process too, looking at automation as long-term savings opportunity. Recognizing that their core expertise is pumps, rather than automated assembly, they're going to farm out the project. The budget, Brown says, is "whatever it takes," as long as the automation project yields a net cost savings
To find the right system integrator for the job, Brown used the hard-copy edition of the 'Automation Integrator Guide,' mailed with the December 2006 issue of Control Engineering magazine. 'I identified all of the integrators listed in Ohio, then checked the index in the back to see which had data acquisition and database management experience,' said Brown. He then visited their Web sites to learn more.
Brown found 101 system integrators located in Ohio. He narrowed his search by focusing on those who professed 'data collection' or 'database management' as an engineering specialty. He says he 'put more effort into looking at companies who had bigger ads.' Brown says he found what he wanted. 'I'm still waiting for one quote,' he told Control Engineering in mid-January, 'but we've already had a couple of integrators come in to talk to us.' His project will be getting underway shortly.
The on-line edition of the Automation Integrator Guide with multiparameter search tool allows a search for system integrators by any combination of industies served, areas served, engineering specialties, product experience, corporate affiliations, or professional affiliations. A search by name function also is available. Complete profiles including contact information and Web site addresses are available on-line for every integrator listed in the hard-copy edition.
To request a custom search of the Automation Integrator Guide's database or to sign up for a listing, contact consulting editor Vance VanDoren at 765-296-7600 or vance@control.com.
—Vance VanDoren, Control Engineering consulting editor
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