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1. Have they solved your kind of problem before?
Automation in a pharma plant, a foundry and a packaging line share tools but not habits. Ask for examples from your industry and, where they can be shared, a reference you can call. A partner who knows your process asks better questions in the first meeting, and that is the clearest sign of real experience.
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2. Who owns the outcome?
Many plants end up with one vendor for the panel, another for the PLC program, a third for SCADA and a fourth for a dashboard, and nobody responsible when they do not work together. Ask whether the company will take responsibility for the whole chain, from field devices to reports, or only its own part.
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3. Will you meet the engineers?
Sales teams sell; engineers deliver. Ask to speak to the engineer who will write your program or lead commissioning. How they explain your machine back to you says more about the project than any brochure.
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4. How do they test before commissioning?
Ask whether the program and panel are proven at a factory acceptance test before reaching site. Companies that test off-line commission faster and with fewer surprises, because the debugging happens at their desk and not on your production time.
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5. What do you get at the end?
Commented source code, project files, as-built electrical drawings, a manual and operator training should all be in the scope. If the company will not hand over the source, you will need them for every change for the life of the machine.
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6. How fast can they reach your site?
Bangalore's manufacturing is spread across Peenya, Bommasandra, Jigani, Doddaballapur, Nelamangala, Hoskote and over the border in Hosur. Ask how quickly an engineer can be on your floor when a line stops, and what remote support is available before they arrive.
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7. What happens after the warranty?
Automation systems run for fifteen years or more. Ask about support contracts, spare-part advice and how changes are handled later. A partner who plans to be around for the life of the system will be happy to discuss it before you sign.
Written by the ASKworX engineering team