Automation Audit
Find out where automation will actually make a difference — before you spend anything. A structured review of your operations, written report, and a prioritised action plan you can take anywhere.
What We Look At
Every audit is different, but there are six areas where automation opportunities almost always show up.
Repetitive Manual Tasks
Any step done the same way, hundreds of times — loading/unloading, data entry, quality checks, labelling. These are your best automation candidates.
Cycle Time Bottlenecks
Where does work pile up? Where do operators wait? Bottlenecks reveal where automation delivers the fastest return.
Data & Measurement Gaps
What are you not measuring? Machine uptime, reject rates, energy draw, job throughput. You can't improve what you can't see.
Error-Prone Processes
Steps that rely on operator memory, verbal handoffs, or paper records. High rework rates often point directly to automation opportunities.
Machine Integration Gaps
Machines that run in isolation — not talking to ERP, scheduling, or quality systems. Connection is often simpler than it looks.
Quick Wins vs Strategic Shifts
Not every improvement needs a $200k system. We separate the quick wins (days, low cost) from the bigger strategic plays (months, high value).
Pricing
Fixed-price audits. No hourly billing ambiguity — you know exactly what you're getting before we start.
Starter Audit
- ✓Single process or department review
- ✓Written findings report (2-4 pages)
- ✓Top 3 automation opportunities
- ✓Rough ROI estimate per opportunity
- ✓Follow-up call to walk through findings
Full Audit
- ✓Whole-of-operation process review
- ✓Full current-state process map
- ✓Prioritised automation roadmap
- ✓Effort & cost estimates per initiative
- ✓Vendor-neutral technology recommendations
- ✓Presentation walkthrough with your team
How It Works
Discovery call
Brief conversation to understand your operation, goals, and what's causing the most pain right now.
On-site (or remote) review
Walk the process, observe live operations, ask questions. No assumptions, no template-filling.
Analysis & report
Findings get turned into a clear written report with ranked recommendations and implementation notes.
Walkthrough & handover
We go through the report together — you ask questions, I clarify. You leave with a plan you actually understand.
Who This Is For
Small to mid-size manufacturers who know they should be automating more but aren't sure where to start, or can't justify a big spend without knowing what the return looks like.
Workshop owners and operators who've been running the same process for years and want an outside set of eyes — without paying a consultant who's never held a spanner.
Engineering managers who need a clear internal business case to bring to ownership — independent of vendor sales pitches.
I'm a field service engineer, not a software vendor. I don't make commission on hardware sales or system integrator contracts. The audit is independent — you take the report wherever you want.
Common Questions
What does an automation audit cover?
We walk the floor together — or review your current process documentation — and map out where time, labour, and material are being spent manually. I look for repetitive tasks, quality-control bottlenecks, and data gaps where measurement is missing. You get a written report with findings and recommendations, not a sales pitch for specific hardware.
How long does an audit take?
Starter audits are typically completed in a single day (on-site) plus 2-3 days for the written report. Full audits are 2-4 days on-site depending on the scope, with a written deliverable within a week of the last site visit.
Do I need existing documentation or data?
No. I can work from scratch — walking the process live is often more revealing than documentation anyway. If you have process maps, SOPs, or production data, bring them. If not, I'll capture what I need during the visit.
What do I get at the end?
A written report: a summary of your current state, a list of automation opportunities ranked by feasibility and expected ROI, rough implementation effort (hours/cost) for each, and clear next steps. You own the report — take it to any vendor, engineer, or integrator.
Can you implement the recommendations too?
Yes. The audit is designed to be vendor-neutral and standalone — you're not locked in. But if you want me to implement one or more of the recommendations, that becomes a separate scoped project. Many clients use the audit first, then engage for implementation.
Book an Audit
Describe your operation briefly — industry, size, what's causing the most friction. I'll get back to you within 24 hours to confirm fit and schedule a discovery call.
Start a Conversation
Describe your project or the problem you're trying to solve. I'll respond within 24 hours.