With plant staffs stretched thin at a time of continuing manufacturing growth, system integrators have come into increasing prominence. Understanding what should you expect from your SI—and what he should expect from you—is critical to ensuring that your project is achieved on time, on budget and up and running on Day 1.

1. IMTS 2014

2. Tim Jager
Selecting and Working with
a Systems Integrator

3. Presenter Info
Tim Jager, PE
Project Director, Sr. Management
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
University of Illinois.
TIM JAGER Licensed Professional Engineer – Control Systems
Joined DMC in 1999

4. DMC Company Profile
Established in 1996, offices in Chicago, Boston &
Denver & customers throughout the world
Industries Served:
Automotive
Chemical and Food
Processing
Electronics
Hydraulics
Laboratory Testing
Machine Tool
Material Handling
Metal Converting
Packaging
Pharmaceutical
Printing & Textiles
Semiconductor
Medical
70+
employees & growing

5. Areas of Expertise

6. MANUFACTURING
AUTOMATION & INTELLIGENCE
PLC Programming
Motion Control
Engineering &
Servo Systems
HMI & SCADA
Expertise
Vision Inspection
Expertise
Intelligent Data
& Web Based
Systems
Robotics

7. TEST & MEASUREMENT AUTOMATION
LabVIEW
Development
NI FPGA
Machine Vision
NI Real-Time
Test Stand Design
Data Analysis &
Reporting

8. CUSTOM SOFTWARE
& HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT
Product
Development
Embedded
Design &
Programming
SDK, API
& Driver
Development
PC Application
Development
Web Application,
Mobile
App Development
Database Systems

9. MICROSOFT CONSULTING SERVICES
INDIVIDUAL
CERTIFICATIONS
10
10
5
5

10. System Integrator (SI):
Brings together component
subsystems into a whole…..and
ensures those subsystems function
together

11. Why

12. Agenda
1. When to use a Systems Integrator
2. Selecting a Systems Integrator….and
Some Alternatives
3. Dos & Don’t of a successful SI relationship

13. When to use a Systems
Integrator?

14. When to use a Systems Integrator
When you want to Focus on your core:
Competency
Strengths
Beliefs

15. When to use a Systems Integrator
When you need expertise…

16. When to use a Systems Integrator
When the end customer specifies a different
PLC platform

17. When to use a Systems Integrator
When you need an influx of new ideas

18. When to use a Systems Integrator
When you need a jump start

19. When to use a Systems Integrator
Short-term Help
Tim, you did a
Great Job!
Now Get Out!

20. When to use a Systems Integrator
When you’re in an
Emergency….
…And You need a
problem solver

21. Selecting a
Systems Integrator

22. Selecting a Systems Integrator
Firm Stability

23. Selecting a Systems Integrator
Firm Stability

24. Selecting a Systems Integrator
Firm size
• Too big?
• Too small?
Hardware vs. Software
• Too hard?
• Too soft?
How busy are they?
• Too Hot?
• Too Cold? …Think Goldilocks
& The 3 Bears

25. Selecting a System Integrator
Technology Expertise vs. Industry Experience

26. Selecting a System Integrator
Technology
Expertise
Industry
Experience
VS.

27. Selecting a System Integrator

28. Selecting a System Integrator
Can Do VS. Have Done
Can Do vs.
Have Done

29. Selecting a System Integrator
Certifications

30. Selecting a System Integrator
Reference Checks

31. Selecting a System Integrator
Listen to questions asked by
potential SI

32. Selecting a System Integrator
Plays well with others

33. Selecting a System Integrator
Identify their
commercial interests

34. Selecting a System Integrator
Transparency?
Open-door policy?

35. Alternatives

36. Alternatives
Freelancers & Technical
Staffing Agencies

37. Alternatives
Freelancers

38. Alternatives
Remember: There will always be a cheaper
option…… but you get what you pay for.

39. Alternatives
Hire your own!

40. Dos & Don’ts
for a successful
SI Relationship

41. DDoos’s && DDoonn’ts’ts
Do –A starter project

42. Dos & Don’ts
Do -Communicate!

43. Dos & Don’ts
Do - Add your own expertise.

44. Dos & Don’ts
Do - Be Realistic

45. Dos & Don’ts
Do – Predict Failure

46. Dos & Don’ts
Don’t - Assume your integrator will
be ready for you anytime you call.

47. Dos & Don’ts
Do – Be Specific… Or you may get
what you asked for

48. Dos & Don’ts
Don’t - Expect software to fix
hardware problems.

49. Dos & Don’ts
Do – Discuss and Understand the SI’s
software licensing policies.

50. Dos & Don’ts
Do - Learn from the Integrator

51. Dos & Don’ts
Don’t- Ignore an over-budget
situation

52. Dos & Don’ts
Hey Boss, the
system just made
its first part!
Ship it!
Don’t- Ship early.

53. Dos & Don’ts
Price Spec Flexibility Risk
Fixed-Bid Guaranteed Rigid
System
Integrator
Hourly Variable Fluid Customer
Do- Weigh cost options

54. Dos & Don’ts
Do- Negotiate

55. Questions?

56. Tim Jager
312.428.4135
Tim.Jager@dmcinfo.com
www.dmcinfo.com
Feel free to call me
312-428-4135