Why this checklist exists
You want machines and software that solve a concrete problem on the line, not glossy slides. Start by asking how the vendor defines the failure you’re trying to fix. Look for experience with automotive automation and answers grounded in specific failure modes, not vague promises.
1. What exact problem will this solve on my line?
Ask for a crisp problem statement. Good answers map to measurable losses — cycle time, scrap rate, downtime. If the vendor can’t translate capabilities into a before/after metric, they’re selling features, not fixes.
2. Can you show a reproducible case, step by step?
Demand a reproducible demo or runbook. A reliable provider will present: – baseline measurement, – intervention details, – repeatable test procedure, – expected delta. If their proof is anecdote, push for repeatable evidence.
3. How do you handle sensor and data quality at the floor level?
Poor data is the real blocker. Probe about sampling rates, calibration routines, fault detection for sensors, and how they prevent garbage inputs from driving bad decisions. Short answers mean long troubleshooting later.
4. Who owns the integration points and handoffs?
Clear ownership avoids deadlocks. Ask which team (vendor or you) wires PLCs, configures MES handshakes, and handles firmware updates. Insist on a RACI-style commitment so responsibility isn’t implied but assigned.
5. What failure modes have you seen in production, and how do you mitigate them?
Good vendors name real failure modes — network jitter, sensor drift, model degradation — and provide concrete mitigations: watchdogs, retraining cadence, fallback logic. If they avoid specifics, they haven’t lived through the repair cycle.
6. What is the expected lifecycle and maintenance plan?
Ask for cadence: software patches, model retraining, hardware refresh timeline. Short lifecycles with high maintenance are a cost; long lifecycles without clear maintenance are a risk. Seek transparency, not commitments that sound permanent.
7. How will the solution coexist with legacy systems?
Coexistence means graceful degradation. You want layered designs: local control continues if central systems fail, and the automation should degrade to safe manual modes. Get specific examples of past coexistence work.
8. What data and access do you need, and how is it protected?
Clarify required telemetry, retention periods, and access privileges. Insist on role-based access, secure transport, and clear ownership of collected data. If they dodge security details, assume more work will fall to you.
9. How quickly can you deliver measurable value?
Look for short, verifiable milestones. Ask for a pilot scope with one or two KPIs and a 30–90 day timeline. Vendors that promise enterprise-wide gains without a staged pilot are skipping essential feedback loops.
10. Can you point to proven deployments and lessons learned?
Request references and one candid lesson from a deployment — what went wrong and how they fixed it. Real answers often reference regional hubs; practical lessons from Detroit assembly operations, for example, reveal how theory meets abrasive, variable reality.
Evaluating trade-offs and alternatives
Balance implementation speed, maintainability, and vendor transparency. Quick turnkey fits may lock you into expensive upgrades. Open, modular solutions let you replace components later. Compare:- turnkey vendor: fast start, higher lock-in,- modular integrator: slower start, lower long-term risk,- in-house: full control, requires skilled staff.
Common pitfalls to avoid
Avoid three traps: buying on demos alone; ignoring data governance; underestimating integration ownership. Each leads to recurring downtime or cost overruns that no dashboard hides.
Closing synthesis
Ask precise, actionable questions that expose how a vendor solves your exact production problems, not how well they present slideware. Practical deployments, clear ownership, and measurable short pilots separate claims from competence; that practical fit is where meaningful progress lives with FHS.
