Contrary to common opinion, task outsourcing in an industrial setting is a phenomenon that has been around for a while.

The movement started, if slowly, in the 1970s, when the concept of core strength prompted corporations to reconsider doing everything on their own. Outsourcing is now commonplace and encompasses many tasks and sectors of a company’s operations, including a few that were once considered crucial to the core strength.

As a result, it is not surprising that many organizations now outsource PLC programming, preferring to delegate the task to professional agencies while freeing up their resources for more productive uses.

Such businesses see outsourcing as a win-win situation, despite the fact that some are skeptical and have severe misgivings about delegating such critical tasks to outsiders.

So, what should a firm do when deciding whether to outsource a specific activity of their operators? Before reaching a firm judgment, thoroughly investigating the difficulties will be worthwhile.

KVM Automation Group; will present the Benefits of outsourcing a plc programmer in 2023.

What are the pros of outsourcing your PLC programming projects?

Every dispute has two sides. Outsourcing PLC programming has many advantages, some of which are discussed in the following paragraphs.

Access to a broader talent pool

With all technological advancements and internet resources, PLC programming is no longer rocket science.

However, it is still a skilled and time-consuming profession, and any error wastes additional time.

Skilled programmers are costly, and companies may need more roles to keep them full-time.

Outsourcing is a superior option because it provides access to a wider talent pool and ensures programming success by utilizing specialists with years of expertise performing similar activities.

Increased efficiency

Professional agencies that carry out outsourced projects know exactly what needs to be done and get the right to work.

Their professionals are familiar with all types of machines, PLCs, and the jobs they are expected to complete. They bring a high level of efficiency to the table.

Faster turnaround time

Because they are paid based on specific tasks or projects, they frequently work around the clock to provide the project on time or even sooner, ensuring a faster turnaround time.

Reduce training and support expenses

Finally, it comes down to cost-cutting – in-house programming employees must be trained and supported in whatever way their operation requires in support services, updates, and so on. All of this is taken care of automatically with outsourcing.

What are the cons of outsourcing your PLC programming projects?

After seeing the benefits of outsourcing PLC programming, one needs to evaluate the drawbacks before making a decision, and here are the main points:

Language difficulties

Humans communicate through voice.

Therefore language can be a barrier internationally and within a vast country like India. Even a mispronunciation can produce mistakes in PLC programming, and errors are not tolerated. (Programming is usually done by reading functional description documents and is not based on spoken instructions.)

Time zone disparities

While the globe has become a digital village, it is still separated across time zones, which may provide additional challenges in communicating in real-time in case of a problem and troubleshooting remotely in the event of an emergency.

Lack of control

There is always the question of how well a corporation can control its operations when crucial requirements are outsourced. What happens if the agency cannot perform, or worse, if data is leaked or lost?

Limited flexibility

While outsourcing has its benefits, there needs to be more flexible when it comes to operational requirements when operations are outsourced. There is an agreement and a contract, and the agency may deliver as agreed.

However, any immediate need will still have to wait for the proper time zone or the individual to be accessible when it is most needed.

What are the costs of outsourcing your PLC programming requirements?

As with any cost estimate, frequently hidden expenses are not apparent initially. Outsourcing has a cost, but performing the same thing in-house also has a cost. Is it more cost-effective to engage a coder on a full-time basis?

Is there enough work to go around for a full-time employee? But how safe is it to entrust a crucial function like programming to a single employee? What if the person needs to be noticed after honing their skills?

Instead of hiring a lone specialist, organizations should form a team or establish a department for crucial jobs. As a result, any cost calculation for outsourcing programmable logic controllers (programming must include all the costs of executing the identical project in-house.

Smaller businesses typically need more work to warrant hiring full-time experts for specific jobs. Larger organizations may have plenty of work, but they must still conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether the same function can be outsourced without sacrificing efficiency if there is a cost advantage.

So, in the end, outsourcing must be a well-thought-out option because there are difficulties beyond the apparent cost.

How to find the right PLC programming company?

The first step in looking for PLC programming outsourcing is understanding the requirements or what the organization hopes to achieve.

Please list the specific needs for the kind and make of PLCs, the machines or equipment connected to them, the processes or functions monitored, the total number of I/O points, the programming language, and so on.

The next step is to create a shortlist of three or four well-known organizations recommended by peers or consultants to provide their services.

Check their credentials, find out how long they have been in this field, their familiarity with all of the leading brands of PLCs and other hardware/software, programming languages, and the type of work they have handled.

Also, consider whether they have particular knowledge in addressing sophisticated automation needs, have experts from various disciplines, what kind of projects they have handled, and are willing to commit time and resources.

Finally, it is critical to include all needs in the contract and a clear declaration of deliverables with dates and other requirements such as emergency support, etc.

This is a lot of work, but it is necessary to establish a smooth working relationship with the top PLC programming business selected from the shortlist.

In conclusion

This article introduced the benefits of outsourcing a plc programmer in 2023.

After considering the advantages and cons of the challenges, outsourcing PLC programming projects can make sense for most businesses, particularly MSMEs, that must make the most use of existing resources.

A competent outsourcing firm specializing in PLC programming may assist such businesses with well-executed industrial automation projects that contribute to the company’s overall profitability.

Even influential organizations with ample resources are increasingly outsourcing due to its numerous benefits. Connect with KVM Automation today in California if you want to start its integration.

Irrespective of the industry you belong to, we will help you embed the power of automation into your manufacturing applications with our robotic system integration services.