Lets talk about costs..
Cost is something we all care about be it the cost of electricity to the cost of a new car. Cost is that thing lurking just behind every situation or decision that causes doubt or hesitation. Cost is more than just numbers and we all see that when we seek out the things we need. Do you buy the cheapest toilet paper you can find or do you just go for the soft stuff that wont shred in your time of need. There tends to be balance to some degree. If you just need to fill in a hole any dirt will do. But when it comes to trash bags no one wants to deal with garbage water so go for the good bags.
What is the point and what is the connection to automation? When you were shopping for toilet paper you likely did not just go for the cheapest option. You thought about being in that compromised position and not wanting John Wayne toilet paper. You know that paper that's ruff and tough and takes shit off no one. When you look at costs you have to look past to see what your situation will be once the decision is made. Do you think a company in China or India is going to come to your aid when a new machine or process goes south? Are they going to have the experience to guide you and help you get just that thing you need? Are they going to tell you the truth or just feed a line of crap? These are all questions you 100% know the answer to. Laying out 2 or 3 quotes and just skipping to the costs is 20% of the story. Companies in India are always cheaper as they full well know its going to get a curbside guarantee. It delivers and wont do anything they said it would what do you do? Good lucking trying to go after a company in India or China. In that situation you have bought John Wayne toilet paper and it is what it is. Dont get tunnel vision on just the cost as its part of the story but far from the whole story.
Doing something one time the right way is always the cheaper and faster option. You got this machine for half the cost and saved a ton of cash. I mean you cant get any parts and no one wants to touch it but hey you saved 50%. No, you received 50% or just what you paid for. No matter what you produce, if a person comes to you and says they can get the exact same for 50% you would call BS in one second flat. If you make a box that sells for $100 and I say I can get the exact same for $50 you would tell me it can not be the same. We all have this knowledge and have all been through some version of this. When I buy your $100 box I can call you if a weld cracks or I need another the exact same. If I cant figure out how to install it you will help me out and if I need an extra set of bolts you have them. This is part of the reason your box costs $100 and its part of what I buy for my $100. This is the exact same situation with any machinery of any type. If you think only on the upfront cost you are doing yourself a huge disservice. What do you get for the money you spend and why is one option cheaper than the other.
We are all forced to live in the real world where any thing that can go sideways will. What do you do when that time comes and who is going to help. Who you spend your money with and who you trust plays a huge role in getting a positive and successful outcome. You can save 30% by getting something from India but what are you really getting? Automation is a process where you learn and grow. Be careful who you put your trust in and don't forget to look at the whole picture. Its a situation I see far too often unfortunately. I have found myself undercut by some company in China as price was the only thing given any weight. Low and behold a year or so later I get a call that they need to talk. That is when I hear the horror story about the cheaper option that was chosen. Now I have to see the company deal with buying the right solution and investing more money than they needed to. It makes no difference how cheap any solution is if it is not going to work as that is just wasted money and time. Having toilet paper that dissolves in your hand like a fart in the wind is about as useful.
If you need good answers to good questions feel free. Finishing can be a handful so reach out to someone that is going to steer you straight.
Topics metal finishingAutomation