What to ask a reference plant that runs your kind of work
Ask which defects still reach the customer, not whether the system is pleasant to use. See whether the night shift still has it on. The material should be close to yours.
At a plant that runs your kind of work, ask who handles a false alarm, whether the night shift switches the system off, how often the lamp is changed, and which defects still reach the customer. Do not only look at the demo screen. A plant whose work is different has limited reference value.
Why it is judged this way
A reference visit most easily shows only a tidied day shift. Ask whether you can see yesterday’s alarm list, and whether there is a roll the customer sent back. If everything is so perfect that there is no record, this visit explains nothing.
What to compare
| What you see | What to call it | What not to do |
|---|---|---|
| You can see real alarms and one return | It has reference value | Only look at the brochure picture |
| The material is not yours | Do not copy the setup straight across | Treat it as the same conclusion |
| The night shift bypasses and there is no record | This is something to avoid | Only listen to the day shift |
At job change or when a roll is opened
- Say your material and your speed in advance.
- Ask to see the alarm record, not the demo.
- Ask which defect still gets through.
