How to Select the Right Rockwell Automation Integrator for Your Manufacturing Environment
Nobody plans to flush money down the drain on a failed automation project. Yet, it happens constantly in manufacturing. The symptoms are always the same: missed deadlines, mysterious technical issues, finger-pointing, and that sinking feeling as you realize this quarter’s numbers are shot.
Picking a qualified Rockwell Automation integrator could be your most crucial vendor decision this year. What is the difference between a good and a mediocre integrator? Six figures and your professional reputation. But good luck figuring out who’s who from their nearly identical websites and sales pitches.
Technical Expertise: The Real Deal vs. Paper Tigers
Yeah, certifications are nice. Necessary even. But don’t be dazzled by framed certificates on the wall.
What matters is whether the candidate has gotten their hands dirty with YOUR specific equipment. Ask uncomfortable questions like:
- “Tell me about the last project you did using this exact model of ControlLogix.”
- “Walk me through how you’d approach migrating and integrating our legacy programs.”
- “Show me examples of HMI screens you’ve built for operations similar to ours.”
A plant manager I know hired an integrator with a fancy PowerPoint and zero experience in dairy processing, which required an extensive learning curve.
Industry Experience: No Substitutes Accepted
Manufacturing processes vary widely between sectors. The requirements for a pharmaceutical operation are far different than those for automotive or packaging. Your integrator needs to know the peculiarities of your world.
Grill potential vendors about:
- Past projects in your exact industry (not “something similar”)
- How they’ve handled regulatory requirements specific to your products
- What they know about your production environment that’s different from others
- Real case studies with numbers that you can verify
If they start spouting generic automation benefits without industry-specific insights… show them the door.
Project Management: Where Projects Succeed or Fail
Fancy tech skills mean squat if the vendor can’t bring a project in on time. Period.
Look for:
- Evidence they’ve managed projects of your scale before
- Their method for handling inevitable scope changes
- How they’ll communicate when (not if) problems arise
- References you can call, who will vouch for their schedule adherence
A buddy who runs operations at a packaging facility learned this the hard way. His integrator had brilliant programmers but no project management structure. The project dragged on, 14 weeks past the deadline. The technical work was eventually solid, but by then, they’d missed their seasonal production window, costing them nearly $800K in lost revenue.
Risk Management: Their “Plan B” Better Be Solid
Stuff goes wrong. Always. What separates the pros from the amateurs is what happens next.
Demand answers on:
- Testing procedures before cutover
- Their rollback strategy if things go sideways
- Contingency plans for dealing with the unexpected
- Support availability when systems hiccup at 2 am
The Real Cost of Cutting Corners
I’ve seen companies try to save $40K on implementation only to hemorrhage $25K per day in downtime when things go wrong. That math doesn’t work, no matter how you slice it.
The right Rockwell automation integrator isn’t just another vendor. They become a strategic partner that understands that their success depends entirely on your production lines running better after they leave than before they arrive.
When making your choice, remember—this isn’t just another purchase decision. It could be the difference between hitting your numbers this year and explaining to the board why you didn’t.
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