1. MACHINE
TESTING
If it’s not your vendor, it’s you.
All new machines get tested … eventually. The question is
whether you’d prefer your vendor to test it, or whether you
end up doing the testing on the production floor. With the
machine in full use, you will run that machine more hours in
one week than any vendor will be able to replicate at their
facility. Custom machines in particular, by their very nature, will
experience at least some issues upon start up. The question
is: Does your vendor do everything they can to minimize these
issues and their potential impact on your operations?
Great engineering is the first step toward a machine that does
exactly what you need it to. But testing is what gets a machine
ready for production. The better the testing process, the less
likely you will find problems once the machine is running on
your production floor. Unfortunately, this part of the process
often does not get enough attention.
All too often, companies receive machines that are built but not
tested thoroughly. And if you’re facing tight delivery schedules
for your products, relying on an untested machine could be a
risk – to your production as well as your own reputation.
The trick is that you can’t tell if a machine has been tested
just by looking at it. From the outside, a tested machine looks
exactly like an untested machine. Even a run off won’t catch
every potential issue. Here are three questions to ask your
vendor so you can be sure your machine is thoroughly tested
and production-ready.
1. Do you have a documented risk assessment process?
The strongest vendors take the time to identify potential
risks every step of the way, from the moment they receive
your order to the moment your machine leaves their dock.
www.haumiller.com
WHO IS TESTING YOUR MACHINES?
ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED
The goal of risk assessment is to identify the potential
failure points in every process. Once a weak point has been
identified, it can then be rectified and solved. Many times,
however, these weak points aren’t obvious. Therefore,
smart vendors rely not just on an individual to conduct risk
assessment but a team of experts, each with their own areas
of specialty and experience, focused solely on searching
out weak points that need to be addressed, so they can
proactively be solved.
2. Do you have a documented testing process?
When it comes to testing, a documented process will
ensure that every machine is tested in exactly the same way.
Because many individuals may be involved in the design
and production of your machine...
The better the testing process, the less
likely you will find problems once the
machine is running on your production floor.

2. MACHINE
TESTING
www.haumiller.com
445 Renner Drive
Elgin, IL 60123
PHONE (847) 695-9111
FAX (847) 695-2092
EMAIL sales@haumiller.com
ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED
CONTINUED...
this documentation will ensure that no matter who conducts
the testing, the results will be consistent and comprehensive.
Ideally, the provider’s testing process will also include a
documented problem solving process. When engineers
encounter a problem, their natural inclination is to immediately
try to find a solution. But if the engineer hasn’t first identified
the root cause of the problem, the solution may be simply
addressing a symptom of a larger problem. And solving a
symptom will never be the true, long-term solution you need.
Sound problem solving processes require root cause analysis
to take place first, to ensure that every solution is solving the
right problem.
3. Do you have a documented and systematic
project management process?
A natural outcome of designing and testing a custom
machine is that problems will be identified. This is good,
but this process needs to be managed by your vendor to
be certain they are minimizing any delays in your overall
schedule. Surprises on your end can have significant
negative impact on your project. You certainly don’t want to
find out three months into a project that your vendor is two
months behind.
One of the keys to great project management is great
communication. This means having a transparent process
and immediate access to someone who is accountable to
you for your project. Additionally, the vendor’s management
team should be involved in your project, ideally reviewing
your project status at least weekly. All dates and milestones
for your project should be clearly laid out and shared with
you, and you should always know who is involved in the
process at any point in time.
Ultimately, the lesson here is that great engineering is
only the first step to a great machine. As you ask your
vendor about their risk assessment, testing and project
management policies, for your own peace of mind have
them show you their documentation, so you can be
confident they are using solid, time-tested procedures
every step of the way to ensure that the machine you
receive is ready for your production floor.
At Haumiller, we put into practice
some of the most meticulous, rigorous
policies in the industry. And because
we believe in trust and openness, we
proactively share this documentation
with every customer. To learn more,
contact us today!