Before you ask for a robot quotation

Record loading, processing, checking and unloading. Include operator intervention and uncommon but predictable interruptions. A short video and a clear sequence often reveal missing interface requirements.

Provide representative parts or drawings and explain how they vary. Packaging, surface condition and orientation can change the feasibility of a gripping or vision approach.

Agree what will be tested and with which parts. Include recovery behavior and human access in the discussion. A qualified integrator must assess the complete application and its safety requirements.

Write down the missing information from this guide and assign an owner to each item. Keep the current revision of your brief with the associated drawings and records.

Record one complete cycle from the arrival of an unprocessed part to the handoff of the finished item. Include loading orientation, part variation, process waiting time, quality checks and the point at which an operator intervenes. A short video and a simple layout can reveal constraints that a target cycle-time number does not capture. Separate normal production from exceptions. What happens when a part is missing, a machine is unavailable or a quality check fails? Identify how those cases should be detected and who recovers the process. Provide representative part samples and define the range of work the cell must handle. Ask the integrator to state what is included in tooling, guarding, controls, machine interfaces and acceptance testing. Safety assessment and the final protective measures require a qualified review of the actual application. A clear task boundary lets suppliers discuss feasibility without guessing how the rest of the line operates.