Services Remain the Fastest Growing Segment of the Automation Business
As the automation market as a whole emerges from the global recession, the market for automation services has weathered the storm and is poised for healthy expansion. Most major automation suppliers continue to increase the scope of automation services offered to cover all aspects of the plant operating lifecycle. Some offer complete maintenance and operating outsourcing services in several industries.
The scope of automation supplier-provided services began to expand to fill the specific gaps created by the increasing labor crisis in the process industries, now exacerbated by a wave of baby boomer retirements. Today, we stand on the verge of another era of transformation for the services business.
Tight operating environments and reduced demand are forcing companies to cut costs wherever possible. This includes both operating costs, in which there are huge untapped opportunities, and project costs, which have essentially returned to pre-recession levels.
The result is that users rely on suppliers to provide them with a continuously expanding scope and depth of automation-related services. This report will zero in on many of the core areas of services that are experiencing more rapid growth and how end users can work with suppliers to reduce costs and provide a path to operational excellence.
Strategic Issues
Suppliers fill the role of automation services provider quite well, offering many competitive advantages. Automation suppliers have arguably the deepest product and application knowledge for their own solutions. Some key strategic issues covered in this report include:
- Main Automation Contractor concept catches on
- Automation suppliers will train next- generation operators and technicians
- Is there a future for outsourcing?
- Enabling cost reduction throughout the plant lifecycle
- Maintenance turnaround services target key cost areas
