01
Define parts and permitted variation
List target part references with drawings, materials, masses and dimensions. Describe variations the cell must accept, how often they occur and cases to reject. Include representative samples. One demonstration part does not describe production variation. For each family, state gripping, orientation and required inspection.
02
State throughput with its conditions
State required throughput and the cycle it covers. Specify grouped picks, machine waits, inspections, pallet changes and stops included in measurement. Separate targets, simulation results and trial measurements. Acceptance must state parts used, observation duration and deviations that prevent acceptance.
03
Define boundaries between work packages
Scope must identify the robot, controller, licences, gripper, supports, protection and peripherals. Define who supplies utilities, conveyors, fixtures, PLC communication and machine changes. Include travel, installation, trials, training and handover documents. An item absent from the quotation does not have zero cost.
04
Plan safety and acceptance during procurement
Suva addresses safety during equipment purchase, whether new or used. Its acceptance checklist helps identify defects before commissioning. The project therefore needs defined responsibilities, required documents and validation. A component declaration alone does not validate the complete installation.
05
Build total cost with explicit assumptions
Choose a common assessment period for all quotations. For an undiscounted total, add installed investment and the annual costs included over that period: maintenance, parts, consumables, licences and energy. Add other identified operating costs. A resale value can be listed separately if supported. Mark unknown amounts instead of replacing them with zero.
06
Calculate benefits without confusing capacity with results
Available hours, theoretical throughput and financial savings are different quantities. To value an effect, use your volumes, costs and an explicit utilisation assumption. Do not count the same hours twice as both time savings and production gains. If results depend heavily on volume, compare scenarios without presenting the most favourable one as assured.
07
Make the decision and handover verifiable
The comparison uses the same scope, parts and operating period for every quotation. Differences remain visible: excluded items, missing trials, optional functions or unvalidated assumptions. Acceptance records then link requirements to completed trials, results and outstanding items. Delivered programs, backups and documents must be identified by version.
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