When evaluating your manufacturing processes and procedures, you know your requirements.

You have the data and the insight to support what you want and need to achieve, and deep down, you know you have to work with the right automation partner to meet these requirements using the data in order to build successful, sustainable production lines.

But what are the key things to look for in the right automation partner? Is it all about the technology? Cutting costs? Boosting productivity?

Is automation even the right option for your manufacturing process?

In this post, we look at some of the qualities to look for in an automation partner and the benefits working with a team like Innomech can bring.

Qualities of a reliable manufacturing partner

Good communication

Communication in any partnership is crucial, and in manufacturing with such high stakes, this is vital.

Communication should be simple and two-way. For example, do you have a dedicated person or team at your chosen supplier who you can contact with any issues or questions at any time?

Do they respond to your enquiries and questions in a reasonable time period? In manufacturing, time is of the essence, and we understand that downtime on a production line is costly – can you afford to wait days for a supplier to contact you to support you with an issue?

Is your feedback taken on board? Do they listen and demonstrate from conversations an improvement in service and delivery? Can they provide you with opportunities, sustainable solutions, and more?

Experience

Of course, the automation partner you are looking for must have a proven track record and experience in automation within manufacturing, implementing technologies relevant to your industry.

They should have a thorough understanding of your manufacturing processes and be able to provide appropriate automation solutions that then allow you to take your manufacturing processes further.

Scalability and customisation

Check that your chosen partner can tailor automation solutions to meet your exact requirements (at Innomech, we design, develop, and manufacture innovative, purpose-built automation solutions for the manufacturing industry, with each solution customised to meet individual requirements) and scale them as your business grows.

You need a reliable partner who will enhance your manufacturing processes, making integrations with existing systems seamless.

Reliability and support

What training, troubleshooting, maintenance, and updates are available to ensure a smooth transition and operation over time?

What level of customer support are you and your team provided with? Do you have a point of contact? Dedicated contact information? Helpdesk support, etc.

Security and Compliance

Manufacturing must remain compliant at all times, and it is your responsibility to ensure that any partner you work with prioritises the security of your processes and places compliance at the top of the agenda—especially when dealing with sensitive data or operating in highly regulated industries.

What security measures and risk assessments do they carry out to protect against cyber threats and ensure data privacy?

Check out their successes

Do your research.

What success have they had with other manufacturers? Is there a tangible return on investment? What are their quality standards?

Ask for references and check out testimonials and online reviews.

Continuous innovation

Choose a partner who always looks at continuous quality assurance. Who is committed to ongoing improvements to manufacturing processes through automation technology. Who invests in research and development and stays ahead of industry trends to ensure long-term value for your investment.

Benefits of working with the right automation partner

Finding the perfect automation partner helps you to focus resources and, in some instances, direct these resources to other areas of the business. Cutting production costs while driving revenue in different areas and optimising supply chains.

This streamlining of processes and clarity of focus helps support more efficient manufacturing, achieving high output levels without compromising quality.

And this is a significant point. With the right automation partner, quality is enhanced as you reduce the chance of human error, ensuring high standards that meet regulatory requirements.

With a good partnership comes future opportunities. Opportunities for your business growth and sustainability.

Working with the right automation partner will allow you to:

• Meet unique, individual requirements
• Boost productivity
• Improve quality across all production lines
• Reduce waste
• Build competitive advantage
• Increase process efficiency.

Innomech GB

At Innomech, we pride ourselves on our open and transparent communication. To us, all communication channels are open, and our dedicated sales team responds to all customer enquiries via email, phone, WhatsApp, Teams, LinkedIn, and more.

We believe that all partnerships should be strategic, and the automation partner you choose should support your business while you remain in control of your product line.

That’s why we work with you to achieve reliable and effective solutions that work.

Designing and manufacturing bespoke special-purpose equipment for the manufacturing sector – for an automation partner you can trust, contact our team today.