Automate/Promat 2017
Earlier this week I had the privilege of attending my second Automate and Promat show in Chicago. I wrote an earlier post on the Automate 2015 show, but when I went back and re-read it I realized that I actually …
Category: Business
So… What Do You Do?
Hello from mushy Sacramento, CA. Flying in this afternoon the whole area looked like a big sponge, everything looked flooded out, and its still raining. And I thought there was a severe drought here… ********************************************** Most people have heard this …
The Dangers of Not Using Local Vendors
In these days of online access to any product you can think of, it seems like your best option for buying technical products is to just find the best price and play vendors off against each other. I get offers …
Ethics of Automation
Today’s post is inspired by some of the comments I have received on a previous post from a couple of years ago on the advantages and disadvantages of automation. In that post (and in my book), I listed some of …
Tips on Starting an Automation Business
Today’s post is in response to Barry Brock, who asked: “I have been doing machine modifications and automating/upgrading machines for many years . I really am at a point of starting my own business and would appreciate any advice getting …
Engineering Ethics and Software
Back when I started doing software work directly for customers I must admit that I didn’t pay for the programming software that I used. This was in the days of DOS based programming software, and I had a laptop with …
Automate 2015
Back before I got into the integration and machine building business, I worked for a couple of different controls distributors/manufacturer’s representatives. Prior to the invention of the internet by Al Gore, industrial trade shows were the best way for vendors …
Linked In and Networking
A couple of years ago I wrote a post just as I was resurrecting my old company about “The Automation Community”. In this post I mentioned that in all my years of business I had never been able to trace …
Consulting
Back in 1996 when I first went into business for myself, I named my company “Automation Consulting Services”. At the time, I wasn’t really sure exactly what a consultant was, but coming from a technical sales background I thought that …
The Philosophy of Buy-In
Whew, finally back from a grueling two-week trip to New Hampshire. In addition to the politics and frustrations that go with working with multiple companies and egos, I also ended up in the hospital for a day with both a …