Efficient manufacturing is profitable manufacturing. Keeping your plant running smoothly and effectively can be a lot easier when you have a vendor that’s willing to partner for success.

To see how your current instrumentation calibration vendor stacks up, use this simple scorecard to rate them on the attributes below using a scale of 1–5 where:

5 means the attribute always describes them without question.
4 means the attribute almost always describes them.
3 means the attribute describes them more often than not.
2 means the attribute occasionally describes them.
1 means the attribute almost never describes them.

THEY ARE AUTOMATION EXPERTS.

Automation drives efficiency, and nothing is more frustrating than an operator standing around. The best industrial instrumentation partners are always seeking ways to ease workload by providing the tools and software that integrate automation into all aspects of a client’s manufacturing processes.

THEIR CONTROL SYSTEMS MAKE RUNNING YOUR PLANT EASIER.

Make sure they can deliver tools like process controllers and systems that automatically and reliably perform multiple functions like controlling temperature, ramping, soaking and timing loads. Systems should also provide alarms via remote notifications when user-defined events occur. Another key feature to seek is automatic start functionality, which enables a furnace to start and complete a run without an operator being present.

THEY EASE YOUR PAPERWORK BURDENS.

Documentation is required by most customers, so automatic, digital documentation through an
advanced supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system can take a messy paper process and turn it into something you never have to worry about. Human-machine interface (HMI) software, such as SpecView, keeps critical data just a couple mouse clicks away.

THEY ARE QUALITY EXPERTS.

Whether you have to meet stringent Nadcap standards, AMS 2750 or any other kind of certification, you need a provider with the talent and experience to ensure that your quality system is where it needs to be. The right vendor can help ensure you’re meeting industry requirements, protecting you from audit issues that lead to lost customers and downtime.

THEY MAKE YOUR PROCESSES MORE CONSISTENT.

Maintaining the consistency of the controllers and control systems within your facility has many benefits. The standardization allows for easier training, simplified operation, repeatable results and more convenient access to spare parts.

WHAT YOUR SCORE MEANS:

20+: Your instrumentation vendor is making the grade.
15-19: It’s time to talk with your current vendor about their performance.
14 or below: You need a new instrumentation vendor.

To learn more about how to properly evaluate your industrial instrumentation vendor, download our vendor compliance survey or contact Conrad Kacsik to speak with our team.