Avoid These Mistakes When Automating Your Facility
Building control systems can save you time and money, but it’s not a good idea to just dive into it without a plan or backup in place. When it comes to automating your facility, there’s a lot that can go wrong and countless mistakes that you can make along the way. By avoiding these five big mistakes, you can make your building automation experience much smoother and more successful than others have in the past.
Taking Too Long To Decide
It’s not uncommon for people to take months or even years before making a decision. The problem is that when it comes to automation, you won’t have that kind of time. It can take weeks or even months just for the first proposal and then another few weeks before the second one comes in. So if you want a competitive offer, don’t wait too long.
Not Understanding What to Automate
A common mistake is not understanding building automation and control systems. The first step is figuring out what processes are currently taking the most time and which ones can be eliminated or improved. Another big mistake is not researching the latest technologies available for automation. There are many products and systems on the market that can help you automate your facility, but it’s important to know what will work best for your needs before you make a purchase.
Overestimating the Cost
Did you know that overestimating the cost is one of the most common mistakes when building automation controls? For example, many people try to automate their facility with only a few sensors and end up paying for more than they need. The best way to avoid this mistake is by carefully calculating how much equipment you need so that you don’t get carried away and buy too much, which can be very expensive in the long run.
Not Planning for Change
No matter how solid you think your plan is, there are always going to be some unforeseen changes that happen. The best way to plan for this is by staying flexible and being willing to change as needed
Lack of Supervision
Once the automation is set up, you need to make sure that it is monitored and maintained. Have someone check on it often, at least once a week. If you notice something isn’t working correctly or something needs maintenance, then take care of it right away. It would be a disaster if your building suddenly lost power because a light bulb blew out and there was no one around to fix it.
The author is a blogger and helps to create intelligent environments. He specialises in designing and creating innovative building automation and control systems. Visit https://mysmart.com.au/ for more details.