Custom / Not Sure
Open scoping when the automation type is unclear or spans multiple technology areas.
Tell us about your plant-floor process. If another approach fits your description better, we will say so.
Technology Overview
Open scoping when the automation type is unclear or spans multiple technology areas.
Problems It Commonly Solves
- You have a physical automation challenge but need help classifying the right technology starting point.
- Common application: Multi-process cells
- Common application: Early exploration
- Common application: Non-standard layouts
Suitable Conditions
- Early exploration before committing to a single technology
Constraints to Investigate
- You already have a signed vendor SOW for a defined technology
Project Readiness Check
These questions ask whether you already have the information. Answer yes, no, or not sure. A no means information to gather. It does not mean the automation opportunity failed.
1. Do you know what happens in the process today and what you want to improve?
Why it matters: A plain description of the current task is the starting point for any comparison.
2. Do you know the rate, volume, or cycle time you need to plan for?
Why it matters: Rate changes which approaches are worth comparing.
3. Do you know the product or part variation the system would have to handle?
Why it matters: Variation affects tooling, changeover, and whether a simpler change is enough.
4. Do you know the space, utilities, and access available on site?
Why it matters: Layout and services decide what can physically fit.
5. Do you know what a useful result would look like for this task?
Why it matters: A concrete outcome keeps the next step focused.
Inputs required for preliminary assessment
Checklist of core and supporting inputs for Custom / Not Sure Yet. Copy, print, or save locally; open Studio to attach this Technology to an Automation Project.
Required core inputs
Optional supporting inputs
Evidence to gather
- Video or step list of current process
- Any available volume / labour / quality metrics
- Site photos of the work area
- Known constraints and approvals needed
This pathway is an early planning guide. It is not a final feasibility review, engineering design, safety certification, supplier quote, or statement of work.
Main Technical Variables
- Current manual / equipment process description
- Primary success metric
- Constraints (space, hygiene, capital, timeline)
- Baseline measurements available
- Discovery / classification workshops
- Site assessment and measurements
- Pilot or proof-of-concept scope
Typical Solution Stack
- Process classification workshop
- Flexible Project Intake
- Innovation Peer review outputs
Required Delivery Roles
- Automation consultant
- Systems integrator
- Subject-matter experts as needed
Common Cost Drivers
- Discovery / classification workshops
- Site assessment and measurements
- Pilot or proof-of-concept scope
Cost and schedule usually move with: Discovery / classification workshops; Site assessment and measurements; Pilot or proof-of-concept scope. Treat any public ranges as illustrative planning context only. They are not a quote.
Common Project Risks
- Technology pathway still ambiguous — scoping may span multiple solution stacks.
- Starting without process evidence slows downstream scoping and quotes.
Site-Readiness Considerations
- Stakeholder access for site walkthrough
- Baseline metrics captured
- Defer safety-critical design until pathway and hazards are clearer.
Validation Activities
- Problem statement agreed with stakeholders
- Success criteria documented
- Primary pathway candidate confirmed or revised
Scope to Confirm With Suppliers
- Confirm which equipment, tooling, and software are included in the proposal.
- Confirm whether installation, commissioning, and operator training are included.
- Confirm which utilities, guarding, fixtures, and site work stay with your team.
- Confirm spare parts, documentation, and the support period.
- Confirm how acceptance will be tested before handover.
Example Acceptance Criteria
- Agree the test parts, rate, and quality checks before installation.
- Agree who signs off and what happens if a test is not met.
Questions to Ask Suppliers
- What throughput can the proposed system achieve with our parts, changeovers, and operating pattern?
- What footprint, utilities, and access space will the system need?
- Which equipment, installation, training, and site work are included in the proposal?
- What part presentation or product variation does the process assume?
- How will operators recover from a stop, fault, or mispositioned part?
- How will we agree and test acceptance criteria before handover?
Related Listed Providers
Browse listed providers related to this pathway in alphabetical order. Listings are basic public company information. They are not rankings, endorsements, fit scores, or recommendations.
Browse listed providers for this technologyInnovation Peer reviews your Automation Project privately with an Innovation Peer advisor. No supplier introduction happens without your approval.
Tell us about your plant-floor process. If another approach fits your description better, we will say so.