Separate equipment supply from system responsibility
List who selects, purchases and warrants the robot, controller, EOAT, process equipment, fixtures, safety devices and adjacent machines. A hardware supplier is not automatically responsible for cell performance.
- Equipment selection and procurement
- Compatibility and interface approval
- Warranty route for each item
Assign engineering and programming owners
Mechanical, electrical, PLC/HMI, robot, vision and process programming need named owners plus input and output documents. Include software backups, source access, passwords and change control.
- Mechanical and electrical design
- PLC, HMI, robot and vision software
- Documentation and backup ownership
Define FAT, site work and acceptance
Agree what is demonstrated before shipment, what site utilities and production parts are required, who installs and commissions, and how SAT differs from FAT. Every acceptance criterion should have evidence and an approver.
- FAT parts, run time and pass criteria
- Shipping, installation and utilities
- SAT, training and production handoff
Close lifecycle responsibilities
Record response expectations, remote or on-site support, preventive maintenance, spare parts, consumables, warranty exclusions and responsibility for future part changes. These items belong in commercial comparison, not after delivery.
- Training and maintenance documents
- Critical spares and consumables
- Warranty and after-sales boundary
Decision checklist
Use the same inputs when comparing supplier proposals.
| Decision area | Inputs to confirm |
|---|---|
| Separate equipment supply from system responsibility | Equipment selection and procurement; Compatibility and interface approval; Warranty route for each item |
| Assign engineering and programming owners | Mechanical and electrical design; PLC, HMI, robot and vision software; Documentation and backup ownership |
| Define FAT, site work and acceptance | FAT parts, run time and pass criteria; Shipping, installation and utilities; SAT, training and production handoff |
| Close lifecycle responsibilities | Training and maintenance documents; Critical spares and consumables; Warranty and after-sales boundary |
Move from research to a commercial review
Send the current supplier list and open work packages to identify integration gaps.