Controls News 13
MyCo
63
OEM:
Customer-specific Saia®PCD devices
In this 5-point check we have not excluded or forgotten
the issue of costs – quite the opposite. From our daily
customer contact by means of talks and discussions,
we see that as ever the lowest price is still the deciding
factor. We are entirely convinced that looking at things
from this angle – purely looking at price – is much too
restricted. Depending on the level of technical complex-
ity and the speed at which a product is enhanced further
developed in technological terms, the economic disad-
vantage of this method is steadily growing. Pressure on
the purchase price means pressure on the material and
manufacturing costs for the suppliers. Themanufacturer
must realise that the supplier will attempt to offset the
cost pressure. So he may use outdated technology, or
cease in-house development of key product elements,
or stop producing them in his own factory. Instead, due
purely to cost considerations, he will distribute part or
all of the value-added chain around the world. Even
more seriously, if purchase price alone is considered,
product maintenance costs and the risk of taking a tech-
nological step backward will be ignored. If the manu-
facturer then realizes that such business arrangements
can involve costs he has not calculated, that processes
are error-prone and further unforeseeable risks likely, he
broadens his perspective. The long-term consequences
such as high additional costs or, in extreme case, also
a loss of image, cannot be foreseen. The manufacturer
must at least be clear that through the classic purchase
price policy, the supposed cost and price benefits of the
present will be carried over into the future as a burden.
Saia-Burgess' long-term business model
Saia-Burgess has been dedicated to looking at costs
from a wide angle for many years now. We have in-
corporated 'Swiss reliability' into the way we think,
act and work and have further developed this via the
POM (Peace Of Mind) approach. Saia-Burgess has been
structured in such a way that all the core elements of
control technology, such as operating systems, com-
munication, software tools, boards and housing are
developed centrally at a site in Switzerland. The com-
plete production of automation devices and technical
support for customers takes place at the same site. We
also make use of the geographical concentration of ac-
tivities in the sense that those with overall responsibility
for the complete value-added chain sit in open offices
amongst their employees and can always be reached.
The opportunities provided by this close cooperation
guarantee our customers short information paths and
rapid decision-making processes. For series produc-
tion customers who evaluate the entire life cycle of a
product, we therefore offer an attractive constellation
with long-term economic and technological benefits
compared to the alternatives available on the market.
A visual summary of these benefits are is shown once
again in the diagrams below.
We have a good grasp of all the core elements of a customer-
specific control system since we develop everything ourselves:
software, firmware, hardware, tools and housing technology.
The core elements of the standard
off-the-shelf Saia®PCD controls and
the customer-specific control and
regulation devices are identical.
Reliable function and guaran-
teed technical advances are
included in the scope of de-
livery without any further
one-time costs.
Saia® core elements
PCBs
Operating system
PC software
Housing technology
Components
Applications
Saia®
standard
products
Saia®
customized
products
