Requirements checklist
What to ask for when choosing software for packaging machinery manufacturers.
A checklist built from how packaging machinery manufacturers work, to print or save as a PDF and bring to any supplier meeting.
What the software should cover
Tick each one that matters to your business.
- Model and option configurator
- Serial number register
- Build orders and bill of materials
- Change parts and format sets
- Factory test record
- Installation and training log
- Spares and service calls
Roles that need their own access
Who logs in, and what each person may see or change.
- For sales and application engineers
- For the production head
- For stores and purchase
- For service engineers
- For the spares desk
Reports to ask for
Ask to see each one with your own sample data.
- Machines in build by model and promised dispatch date
- Option take-up by model and customer
- Format sets made, by pack size and serial number
- Acceptance runs signed and outstanding
- Spares sold by machine model and part
- Service calls by serial number, with warranty status
- Installed base by distributor and region
Systems it may need to connect to
Note which ones you already run.
- SMS
- Accounting export
- Courier tracking links
Questions for any vendor
Put these to every supplier you are comparing.
- Can the same model have different parts lists over time?
- Does it list change parts for each pack size?
- Can we record the test with the customer’s film?
- How do warranty dates work?
- Can distributors raise spares orders?
- Is machine drawing storage included?
- How does the move from our spreadsheets work?
- What decides the price?
Where the work usually breaks today
Circle the ones you recognise. They set the order of the project.
- Options are lost between sales and build
- Change parts are tied to nothing
- The factory test leaves no trace
- Spares enquiries start from a photograph
- Warranty claims have no build history
Prefer to talk it through? See the packaging machinery manufacturers page.