The Right Partner Can Drive Real Results
When it comes to industrial automation, the quality of your outcomes depends heavily on the quality of your partners.
A well-engineered automation system can transform your operation by eliminating bottlenecks, reducing labor strain, improving consistency, and scaling output. But if the wrong group is at the helm of your project, those benefits can quickly dissolve into scope creep, recurring downtime, or systems that simply don’t work in the real world.
At Melton Machine & Control Company, we’ve helped manufacturers across diverse industries implement automation systems that actually work on the floor, not just on paper. We know that choosing the right automation partner is a long-term investment in your line’s reliability, adaptability, and profitability.
Below, we’ll walk you through the core traits to look for in an industrial automation company and how to separate the true problem-solvers from the rest of the pack. If you’re evaluating potential partners for your next project, here’s what to watch for and why you should choose the knowledgeable, trusted team at Melton.
1. Deep Industry Experience and Technical Breadth
One of the first indicators of a capable automation firm is the breadth and depth of its industry experience. Yes, that means years in business, but more importantly, it means demonstrable success across a range of manufacturing applications.
In other words, if your operation needs automation for robotic welding, material handling, quality control systems, precision assembly, or multi-stage packaging services, your automation partner should speak your language and be able to address all of these needs with cohesive solutions.
The best teams understand the production process holistically, not just the cell they’re building. They know how their solution fits into your upstream and downstream workflows and can engineer automation that integrates cleanly without disrupting everything around it.
Look for firms that have built both with off-the-shelf commercial components and from-scratch solutions when the project called for it. That flexibility can make all the difference when your production demands don’t fit into a neat box.
At Melton, we know our machines will work for you because they were made just for you and your automation needs. From the start of project management to the final seamless integration, we provide a custom process and system tailored to you, backed by our 55+ years of industry know-how.
2. Collaborative, Ground-Up Discovery Process
Every successful automation project starts with an in-depth discovery, and a company that skips this step is a red flag.
From the very first engagement, your automation partner should be invested in understanding your line’s pain points, constraints, and goals. That includes detailed cycle time analysis, space studies, operator feedback, throughput targets, and even changeover considerations.
If an integrator jumps straight to quoting or selling hardware without doing this legwork, it’s worth asking what they are actually solving. Strong discovery ensures the final system is both technically sound and aligned with your actual business needs.
That’s especially important if your operation involves high product variability, tight floor plans, or stringent regulatory standards.
When you work with Melton, we always start with a personalized consultation before we give you any quotes or recommendations. With our on-site support services, we'll even travel to your facility anywhere in the country and assess automation opportunities hands-on.
3. Flexibility to Scale and Evolve With You
Manufacturing never stands still. Product formats change. Throughput requirements rise. SKU counts grow. Your industrial automation systems should be ready for all of it.
A high-quality automation company builds beyond today’s needs, engineering with tomorrow’s demands in mind. That could mean modular tooling that allows for quick reconfiguration, cobot cells that can be reprogrammed for multiple tasks, or integration-ready hardware that supports additional stations or speed upgrades down the road.
Ask whether the systems they design can evolve as your production environment evolves:
- Can they support the introduction of a new product line?
- Can they update control logic or add vision systems later without starting from scratch?
These are critical considerations for operations trying to future-proof their investment. At Melton, we're able to support all of these needs and so much more because we designed automated systems while planning for the future operations you want, not just the existing production line you have.
4. Safety, Standards, and Real-World Reliability
Automation must perform, but it also has to protect. Safety and compliance aren’t boxes to tick at the end of a build; they should be baked into the engineering process from the start.
A responsible automation partner will design systems to meet or exceed the standards relevant to your operation, including OSHA, ANSI/RIA, ISO 10218, and others, depending on the application.
But compliance alone doesn’t guarantee a reliable system. Ask how the company tests its builds. Do they simulate real cycle conditions before delivery? Do they provide FATs (Factory Acceptance Tests) and SATs (Site Acceptance Tests)? Do they account for operator interaction, unexpected product variations, or cleaning protocols in food and beverage environments?
A system that works in theory but fails under live conditions is more common than you might think—and almost always avoidable with the right partner. Melton tests every system before it even leaves our floor and makes sure every custom solution is compliant with our own strict standards, as well as industry regulations.
5. Support That Doesn’t End at Commissioning
The moment your automation system goes live is not the end of the project; it’s the beginning of its real-world life. And any firm you trust with automation should be just as focused on what happens after startup as they are on the install itself.
Look for a company with a clear post-commissioning support model:
- What’s their process for addressing issues, performing updates, or handling warranty claims?
- Will they train your staff or offer remote diagnostics?
- Can they assist with reprogramming or changeovers months or years down the line?
Even the best-engineered systems will eventually need maintenance or adaptation. Having a responsive partner in your corner is the difference between minor hiccups and costly delays.
The project doesn't end at implementation when you work with Melton. From our detailed system integration process, which includes hands-on, on-site training for your team, and our on-site support available whenever you need it during your systems' life, we're a long-term partner for your automation success.
6. A Track Record of Solving Complex Challenges
The most valuable partners are those who can handle nuance, not just volume. They don’t shy away from custom requests or unusual product handling challenges. They lean in.
When evaluating firms, ask for real-world examples of projects that didn’t follow the template. Look for stories involving oddly shaped parts, multi-step processes, tight changeover windows, or difficult floor layouts.
A company’s ability to innovate under constraints is often the clearest indicator of how well it’ll perform on your project, especially if you’re operating in a high-mix, low-volume environment. At Melton, we strive for one-of-a-kind, custom solutions, so we know we can get the job done for you, even if the machine you need has never existed before. In more than five decades, we've never had a machine rejected or returned.
Choose Your Partner for Industrial Automation Solutions with Confidence
Bottom line? Choosing an industrial automation company isn’t about finding the cheapest quote or the flashiest equipment. It’s about finding a partner who sees the full picture: your products, your people, your process, and delivers a solution that truly fits.
The right firm, like our team at Melton, will take time to understand your goals, work alongside your team, and engineer systems that last. They’ll build for your current production pace but design with your future productivity goals in mind. And when challenges inevitably arise, they’ll be the ones answering the call, not passing the buck.
At Melton, we’ve spent more than 55 years building automation systems that meet this standard. From collaborative robotics to custom assembly cells, we engineer solutions that work because they were made for you.
Start a Conversation with A trusted Industrial Automation Company
If you’re ready to explore a better kind of automation partnership, contact Melton today. We’ll take the time to learn your line, ask the right questions, and see if we’re the right fit for your needs.
