How can one conduct effective communication with equipment manufacturers regarding equipment selection?
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I recently encountered a problem at work while selecting equipment. Since it involves standard molding equipment, what needs to be discussed is whether such equipment is suitable or not. In the process of communication, my approach has been to create a table of parameters, send it as an electronic document to the manufacturer, and then have the manufacturer fill in those parameters before providing me with a detailed file for me to complete. My main question is: how should I handle matters related to specific process parameters? If I explain too much, it might lead to the leakage of proprietary process information; if I explain too little, it results in unclear communication, which in turn affects the selection of the appropriate equipment. There are also technical advantages in certain details or methods offered by equipment from different manufacturers. How can we communicate effectively to obtain this information? From the manufacturers’ perspective, they likely face similar issues – they are worried about the leakage of technical details. That’s why we make sure to select at least three different manufacturers for a thorough comparative analysis before making a decision. I hope the master will come to offer guidance and exchange ideas.
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This one. . . Recently, when providing parameters to the procurement team, I have supplied the parameters for input into the equipment as well as those for output from it. I then asked the equipment manufacturers to explain how to achieve such results, and the responses from these manufacturers were compared with each other.
Thank you for your reply; it seems you do the same work as I do. Communicate more often!
It’s best to have the manufacturer come for a technical discussion with multiple people involved; avoid written communication for now and prefer oral discussions. In the end, detailed technical and process requirements must still be provided, otherwise the equipment may not achieve the desired results
Your concerns are unfounded. As a manufacturer, its interest in the production process lies in figuring out how to integrate it with your own processes to achieve the best possible results. Similarly, manufacturers are also willing to tell you their process parameters for your future production performance evaluations. You can send out technical specification sheets to multiple manufacturers to request quotes at the same time, and then clarify further based on the technical information provided by those manufacturers. After two or three rounds of this process, you will have all the necessary parameters for the equipment you need. Once these parameters are established, ask each manufacturer to submit their commercial quotes; I believe you will be able to find a product with a good cost-performance ratio.
This post was last edited by The wise are enlightened on 2016-4-4 20:17. The key to purchasing equipment is to know what kind of product one needs.
Such communication is a waste of time and not efficient. Moreover, the manufacturers are also quite averse to it.