Procurement Timeline for an Industrial Robot Project
Typical timeline
| Phase | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement and feasibility | 2-6 weeks | Task study, concept, budget estimate |
| RFQ and vendor selection | 3-8 weeks | Include technical clarification rounds |
| Order to delivery | 6-20 weeks | Depends on brand, options and workload |
| Integration and FAT | 4-12 weeks | Longer for vision or complex tooling |
| Installation and SAT | 1-4 weeks | Plant access dependent |
| Run-in to steady state | 4-12 weeks | Productivity improves over time |
The two dates that matter
Ask for the delivery date of the robot and the date the cell is expected to produce good parts. Vendors are usually confident about the first and vague about the second. Contract the second, with a definition of “good parts” attached.
Buffer for reality
Add contingency to the phases you control less: delivery of long-lead items and plant access during commissioning. A four-week slip is normal; a four-month slip usually means the requirement changed without being written down.