Five tips for a High-Quality Control Panel Enquiry

That is why we invest the time at the beginning to ensure that your requirements are understood from day one. This helps us to develop a tailored proposal that addresses the requirements of the job, and also the best practices that we can bring to develop a value-added solution.

With this in mind, here are five top tips to encourage collaboration from the very beginning, and make the whole process smoother for everyone involved.

1. Share your project context

The more that we understand about the application and the environment where your system and control panel will need to operate, the better. Whether it is providing the control infrastructure for a large-scale building management system, standalone control for a conveyor or the integrated control of a swimming pool filtration system, the more that our team understands, the better the solution we can deliver.

2. What does success look like for you?

Describe what you need from the system that the control panel controls... what does good look like? Are there any critical success factors that are not documented in the specifications? How is your performance on the project evaluated, and how can Bensons help you achieve your goals? If cost is a priority, then tell us, we may be able to value engineer a solution. Likewise, if lead time is a key driver, then tell us, and we can plan and prioritise accordingly.

3. Share any available specifications, drawings or pictures

If you have layout drawings, wiring diagrams, specifications, or even a sketch, including all the information at the beginning is a real time saver. In many cases, we can apply our know-how and industry knowledge to fill in any gaps, but the more precise the information that we receive, the less interpretation that we need to do. Are specific component suppliers mandated on-site? If so, then please let us know so that we can price this in. The more uncertainty there is on the requirements, the more risk that Bensons has to mitigate, which can affect the price.

4. Share project timelines and site constraints

Early clarity on the project timelines is vital. If your project has fixed milestones, such as a crane lift to put rooftop control panels in place, then let us know. Likewise, if you don’t need the panels for 18 months, then we can factor this in. We are happy to be transparent about any inflationary estimates we use. Finally, please let us know where the site is and if there are any special delivery requirements, such as FORS deliveries, no HIAB deliveries or restricted times on site. All of this helps with planning how we will deliver your project smoothly.

5. Don’t hesitate to ask questions

We always encourage a collaborative approach. If you are unsure about technical choices, specification compliance or anything else, then just ask. At heart, we are a team of problem solvers and are happy to share our insight to get to the best solution. And if those questions lead to greater insight into requirements and a better overall proposal, then we are both winners.

Our goal is to provide you with peace of mind at every stage of the project journey. This starts with the first conversation and ends with a flawless control panel delivered on time. A high-quality enquiry is the first step on this path, and our team is here to help every step of the way.