What do you do if your control engineering hardware tools aren't meeting your needs?

2 Explore your options

The next step is to explore the available options for your hardware tools. You can do some research online, consult with your peers, or contact the vendors or manufacturers of your tools. You may find out that there are newer or upgraded versions of your tools, or alternative products that offer similar or better functionalities. You may also discover some tips or tricks to improve or modify your existing tools, such as firmware updates, calibration procedures, or hardware hacks.

3 Compare and select

The third step is to compare and select the best option for your hardware tools. You can use some criteria, such as cost, quality, compatibility, ease of use, and support, to rank and evaluate your options. You can also test or simulate your options, if possible, to see how they perform in your system. You should consider the trade-offs and risks involved in each option, and choose the one that meets your needs and budget.

4 Implement and validate

The final step is to implement and validate your chosen option for your hardware tools. You should follow the instructions and guidelines provided by the vendor or manufacturer of your tools, and ensure that they are properly installed, configured, and integrated with your system. You should also verify that your tools work as expected, and that they meet the requirements and specifications of your system. You should document and report any issues or feedback that you encounter during this process.

You have learned some possible ways to deal with the situation when your control engineering hardware tools are not meeting your needs. By following these steps, you can find alternative solutions that improve your system design and operation. However, this is not a one-time process, but a continuous cycle of assessment, exploration, comparison, selection, implementation, and validation. You should always monitor and evaluate your hardware tools, and look for opportunities to enhance them.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?