Eliminating the Middleman in System Integration

Even though, to some extent, we are all middlemen in the process of commerce, it is often a worthy goal to try to effectively bypass middlemen to gain better control—and profit—in our processes.

Cost Controls Through Eliminating a Middleman

 In an effort to find more ways to control costs, oversee product quality, and maintain flexible production, one Creative Automation customer began weighing a particular outsourced component as a cost savings target. After careful consideration, they decided to move ahead and start manufacturing those critical parts on their own.

Quality and consistent supply were important considerations in the project, but cost savings was their primary goal. By bringing this manufacturing process in-house, it was determined that the overall cost savings would easily outweigh the challenge of making the parts themselves—the result: cost savings by eliminating a materials middleman.

The Project

 Creative Automation was contracted to build the entire automated handling system to accompany their standard moulder and profile wrapper. Because of its quality reputation for building custom processing equipment, Creative Automation was also chosen to provide the flying cutoff and crosscut saws for the line.

Choosing the Equipment Vendors

 Creative Automation has long held that customers should buy the finest equipment they can afford, regardless of the provider. This flies directly in the face of the “single-source provider,” who typically claims to be a single source but who is really just a middleman for other, often inferior machines from multiple sources. This customer chose a standard moulder and wrapper from different companies and the balance of the processing line from Creative Automation. By working directly with specialty manufacturers, this customer eliminated the equipment middleman and received a processing line that met or exceeded performance expectations.

The Integrator

Once equipment vendors were chosen, one issue—the responsibility for system integration—remained. The company knew from experience the importance of finding a competent integrator knowledgeable and capable of integrating the whole system. The blame game and finger-pointing commonly occur when multiple machine manufacturers are involved, and they want a smooth installation and efficient ramp-up of production by a company willing to take full responsibility for a startup.

Having experienced Creative Automation’s system integration on past projects, the company contracted Creative Automation to integrate the line. Creative Automation’s 50+ years of system integration and commitment to smooth startups were the deciding factors for choosing the right integrator for the job.

Results Speak for Themselves

The line met all performance expectations after construction, testing, and installation. The customer has added more to their bottom line because of wise decisions that outfitted their line with the best individual machines available and world-class system integration to make them all work together.

Check out more pictures of this moulder/profile wrapper line. Also, view our listing of automated processing equipment—all designed, manufactured, and installed by Creative Automation.