Introducing bespoke automation means a commitment to a high capital value investment and facing up to some degree of technical risk. Fortunately, techniques borrowed from medical device and pharmaceutical product validation can help ensure the outcome is positive for all concerned.
Few would argue that automation offers compelling benefits in productivity, consistency, and cost effectiveness. That being said, engineering a new process or automating a previously manual operation requires both careful management and an understanding of the potential pitfalls in converting a user’s aspiration into a piece of machinery.