The Great Automation Supplier Purge of ‘07-’08

I had a hard time getting my head around this data point when I first saw it: More than half of the participants in our just-published Research and Buying Habits of Machine Control Professionals Study tell us they've changed a major supplier in at least one major product category during the past year. A bunch of them made a change in more than one of these product categories. We're not talking about commodity items such as buttons or panel bulbs or timer relays. The categories we asked about were operator interface/HMI, controllers, I/O systems, motors & drives, etc. Equally shocking--and I'm not easily shocked--some 30% of those who've made such a change say it was quality and/or performance problems with the product that made them say "Enough is enough." I'd like to discuss this more with you. Is there more to this than we can tell from the raw data? Take a minute and tell me why this makes sense to you. Or tell me why this doesn't resonate with you at all. And you suppliers out there....what do you have to say for yourselves? It can't just be "the other guy"...... You can also read can read my March column The Great Supplier Purge.