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By Elisabet Martí
Even the best bottle unscrambler or packaging automation equipment is only as good as the people running and maintaining it. One of the most overlooked factors during the buying process? The skill level of your internal maintenance and operations teams.
Why Team Skill Level Should Influence Your Machine Choice
Imagine this scenario:
You invest in a state-of-the-art high-speed bottle unscrambler with advanced robotic handling and complex controls… or a filler with a new design of Clean-in-Place (CIP) system,… only to realize your maintenance team isn’t trained for this technology. The result?
- Increased downtime.
- Slow fault resolution.
- Reliance on external technical support.
- Frustrated operators.
How to Match Machine Complexity with Team Capabilities
Before finalizing your purchase, consider:
- Technical skill level of your operators.
Find the balance between totally new technology and the knowledge of your team. While new technology keeps us updated, your team must be able to learn it and get confident in a reasonable period of time. Otherwise your OEE will be impacted. - Availability of in-house maintenance staff.
Do you have a dedicated maintenance team, or will you rely on external service calls? It is more common to outsource maintenance teams. For this reason, consider choosing machinery with nearly zero need of periodic maintenance (like the POSIMAT bottle unscramblers).
Training programs offered by the manufacturer. - Does the supplier provide comprehensive training for both operators and maintenance technicians? Can the supplier update the training after several months if requested? Look for companies having service worldwide, to guarantee training will be available anytime you request it (i.e. when there is staff rotation).
- Access to remote technical support.
Especially important for companies without large in-house engineering teams. - Documentation language and clarity.
Is the manual available in your preferred language? Is it easy for your team to understand?
Questions to Ask Your Supplier:
- What level of training do you provide pre- and post-installation?
- Do you offer refresher courses for new operators?
- What level of documentation do you provide?
- Do you have specific training for specific teams (maintenance, operators, software engineers, etc.)?
Final Tip:
Never underestimate the human factor in packaging automation. The best technology only delivers ROI when your team can operate and maintain it effectively.
Next topic: How to protect your investment against future obsolescence and technology shifts.