The document provides a 7-step guide for purchasing and implementing industrial robots in a manufacturing facility: 1. Choose a process to automate that is highly repetitive and predictable. 2. Get at least 3 quotes from robot integrators and provide clear requirements to get accurate pricing. 3. Establish acceptance criteria for testing the system and negotiate a payment structure. 4. Select an integrator that can provide on-site support and spare parts to keep the robot running. 5. Commit to preventative maintenance to extend the life of the robot and prevent breakdowns. 6. Ensure safety standards for installation, operation, and maintenance are followed to minimize workplace hazards. 7.

1.
In your manufacturing facility, maintaining a streamlined production process is
important. Whether you’re engaged in assembly, manufacturing or distribution, you
have the opportunity to automate every process step with well­thought­out industrial
robotics solutions. Industrial robots are an investment that need to be nurtured, and
should not be purchased on a whim.
With a successful installation, your factory can expect optimized tasks, reduced variable
labor costs, and less workman’s comp issues. While industrial robots are incredible
versatile tools, making the wrong vendor selection can hinder your processes and limit
overall flexibility. It’s important to understand the various liabilities, safety measures,
features and benefits of industrial robotics before purchasing one.
Check out the guide below and secure your investment by putting in the work before
you start:

2.
One: What do you want to Automate?
The absolute first step to buying an industrial robot system is to choose what process
you would like to automate. You probably already have a bunch of ideas as to what
processes you would like to have automated. I am afraid to say that most of the tasks
you thought were good candidates for automation are probably not the best choices to
begin with. We need to be realistic about what the technology can do today. Some
applications are easier to automate than others and as a first integration you should
start small and simple.
Ideal tasks for your first robot system are tasks that are highly predictable and
repeatable.
Tasks that are highly repetitive, predictable and structured are the easiest to automate
with a collaborative robot.
Easy to Automate:

3. Repetitive tasks not requiring the robot to apply force
● Pick and place
● Dispensing
Part presentation
● Little part changeover or changeover among similar parts
● Always picked in the same place
● Ordered parts and workpieces
● If many parts, structured in a matrix or tray
Part drop­off
● Always dropped in the same place
Harder to Automate:
Complex logic or decision making
● Sensors

4. ● Vision
● Force torque sensor
Parts
● High changeover rates of parts with divergent properties (size, shape)
● Deformable parts
Part presentation
● Moving conveyors
● Unstructured presentation (bins)
● Integrating communication with other machines
Force controlled processes
● Grinding
● Polishing
● Drilling
● Fine assembly
Processes requiring specialized tools or human know­how

5. ● Welding
● Painting
Two: Get 3 Quotes to Compare
You need to get at least three quotes for your new robot system. There is a reason why large
industrial companies consider it best practice to track down three quotes for every capital
expenditure over a certain dollar amount threshold. You need to make sure you are getting a
reasonable deal on the system you are purchasing. Make sure the robot integrators know that
they are in a competitive situation. The added competition will make sure they quote you a fair
price.
One mistake companies make during this process is that they fall in love with a vendor after a
good meeting or site visit, and never end up giving other suppliers a fair chance to present a
competitive quote. You must work hard to stay impartial during this process, and make sure you
don’t form a concrete opinion until all the quotes and solutions are presented.
So what should be included in a custom quote from a robot integrator? It is your job in this stage
to eliminate the “risk factor” that integrators build into their quote if all the factors of a project are
not 100% clear. I’ve seen a lot of projects go wrong because this initial step was not followed.
The best thing to do is to write out a formal RFQ document. I’m not talking about page and
pages of T’s & C’s, just a simple one page document that lays out the following items:
● What products are being handled in the system?
● What is the weight?

6. ● What type of material?
● What is the desired cycle time?
● What other machines are going to be involved in the system?
● Where will the system be installed?
Getting all this down on paper makes it super clear for the integrators quoting the job. This
allows them to sharpen their pencil and give you their best price. If you get three prices that are
way out of whack, it probably means that your RFQ is not as clear as it should be.
Three: Set Clear Run­off Expectations
and Negotiate Payment Terms
Next, you’ll need to determine the viability of your selected equipment. It’s important to
be confident that your purchased equipment can meet project standards, meet changing
goals and fully automate projects. Not all industrial robot systems are created equal. If
this is your first robot system, it’s best to start with a simple application. During the
pre­purchase phase, establish your automation path clearly.
To do so, set clear and measurable acceptance metrics for the system run­off. Make
sure the integrator meets these targets before you accept the system and release the
final progress payment to them.
And speaking of payments, you need to negotiate a progress payment structure with
your robot integrator. The industry standard is 30% down payment with the purchase
order, 30% at design review, 30% on successful run­off at the integrator’s facility, and

7. the final 10% is usually paid 30 days after the system is installed at your facility.
Obviously these checkpoints can be tweaked, but you want to keep it fair for both sides
so that your integrator does not run into a cash­crunch that delays them from ordering
any materials needed to complete your project.
Four: Select the Right Robot Integrator
for your Project
Your industrial robot, in all likelihood, will become one of the main focuses of your
factory floor. For this reason, it’s ​highly important that you keep it running day in and
day out. While industrial robots are incredibly reliable, it is a mechanical device so it’s
inevitable that you’ll need support and annual preventive maintenance. An integrator’s
ability to provide timely service should be a major consideration when purchasing your
industrial robot system.
Your vendor can’t be ​only a vendor. Even if your company has comprehensive
resources and maintenance staff availability, issues will most likely pop up that can only
be resolved by your integrator or other industrial robot expert. Before settling on a robot
integrator, consider the following questions:
● Does your vendor offer on­site support?
● Are they well­connected and familiar with the robot’s manufacturer?
● How quickly can support personnel become available?

8. ● Does your vendor offer spare parts?
If your provider offers can honestly answer yes to the above questions, they’re likely a
credible provider. You should consider company size, too. Large robot integrator focus
on winning large projects, so you need to make sure the company size of your robot
integrator matches the size and complexity of your project. If you’ve hired a large
integrator to do a simple and small project, you’re likely paying too much. On the
flip­side, you can get in trouble if you hire a small integrator to do a large and complex
system. These companies can get in over their heads and do not have the resources to
properly support your system.
Five: Commit to Proper Preventive
Maintenance
Every robot needs preventive maintenance to ensure top­level performance and
consistency on the production line. When robots do not have regular preventative
maintenance checks performed, it can cause parts and components to break down or
malfunction, which can cause a slowdown or shutdown of your production. Industrial
robots that are properly maintained can last for many years, even decades, before
needing to be replaced. By keeping a regular preventative maintenance schedule, you
are extending the life of your robot exponentially.

9. While planned maintenance may shut down production for a short time, it is nothing
compared to the production time you may lose if your robot stops working.
What gets done during annual preventive maintenance appointments? Here are some
procedures suggested by major robot manufacturers:
● Backing up the controller memory
● Monitor robot in regular motion, inspecting robot, harness and cables
● Inspection of brake operation
● Check robot repeatability
● Listen for excessive audible vibration and noise
● Grease joints, according to specific robot manual (or analyze grease if already
performed)
● Visual inspection of teach pendant and controller cables
● Check cable connections, cooling fans, power supplies, safety equipment, and
other equipment for functionality
● Test and replace RAM and APC batteries.
If any further action is required and the robot needs repairs, the technician should report
the issues so arrangement can be made to make the needed repairs.
Six: Commit to Safety Standards

10. Y​ou should examine the many rules and intricate regulations surrounding workplace
safety standards. In fact, all parties associated with robotic automation projects need to
adhere closely with these standards. In every case, your workplace’s decision makers
will need to provide necessary training to secure the safe use of cell operations,
maintenance, check­ups, installations and prolonged use.
Installation should be handled in accordance with a manufacturer’s recommendations
as well as conformance to industry standards. Any of your workplace’s temporary
safeguarding devices, practices or installation supports should be implemented to
minimize any workplace hazards associated with new equipment installation. Above all,
cover your state’s safety standards regarding the following areas:
● Physical facilities
● Installation specifications
● Electrical facilities
● Identification requirements
● Peripheral equipment action and integration
● Emergency stop processes and requirements
● Special robot operating conditions
Your education of safety standards should similarly include in­depth risk assessment
coverage. Any safeguarding devices should be similarly regarded in worker awareness.
Operational safeguards, awareness devices, safety training and in­depth repair
guidelines, too, should be included.

11. Examine the United States Department of Labor’s Section on ​Industrial Robots and
Robot System Safety​ to streamline your workplace’s safety education.
Seven: How You Can Expand your
Robot System
The future of industrial robotics is bright, and integration possibilities are continuing to
expand. Robot systems can be incredibly simple—such as a simple pick­and­place
system. But they can also become fully integrated systems performing secondary
operations that deliver even more return on investment.
I always suggest that your first robotic automation system should be as simple as
possible. Keep it to an application that is consistent and ideally involves only one type of
product. Once you introduce different products into the system, the system demands
multiple programs and additional peripheral equipment that needs to identify which part
is being run at that particular time.
Now that you have a simple industrial robot system running in your facility. You can start
to look at ways to expand upon that system. For example, if you have a robot doing
machine tending on one of your CNC machines, it might be a good idea to add an
automated part inspection station. This can be a rather simple upgrade for an integrator,
but only if the initial design accommodates it. It is always a good idea to think about
future plans before you purchase your initial robot system.

12.
Sources
http://www.designworldonline.com/robotic­cable­management­made­easy/#_
https://factoryfix.com