Essential Components

Essential Components Survey

Basic Background Information
  1. Please choose what best describes the business you are in and your role:
    End user (maintenance engineer, plant manager) Purchasing
    OEM (design engineer) Electrical Contractor
    Maintenance, Repair and Operations Other:  
  1. Are you responsible for buying, influencing or approving the purchase of industrial automation components?
      
  1. Who else is involved in the decision on which brand of components to purchase?
    Please specify:
  1. What is your average annual budget for components?
    Under $15,000 $50,000 to $99,999 $500,000 - $749,999
    $15,000 - $24,999 $100,000 - $249,999 $750,000 - $999,999
    $25,000 - $49,999 $250,000 – $499,999 $1,000,000 or more
  1. How many people does your company employ?
    Under 50 50 - 100 100 - 200 200 - 400 400+

Basic Background Information (continued)
  1. If you are an end user, please tell us your industry. If you are not an end-user please select N/A.
    Automotive Beverage Food
    Life Sciences Semiconductor Oil & Gas
    Marine Water, Wastewater Print & Publishing
    Fibers & Textiles N/A Other: 
  1. When you think of the best components brands in the business, which brands come to mind?
    Rockwell Automation
    Allen-Bradley
    ABB
    Siemens
    Schneider Telemecanique     		Omron
    Mitsubishi
    GE Fanuc
    Automation Direct
    EZ Automation     		Banner
    Phoenix Contact
    Grainger
    Eaton
    Cutler-Hammer
  1. What brands of components have you purchased in the past?
    Rockwell Automation
    Allen-Bradley
    ABB
    Siemens
    Schneider Telemecanique     		Omron
    Mitsubishi
    GE Fanuc
    Automation Direct
    EZ Automation     		Banner
    Phoenix Contact
    Grainger
    Eaton
    Cutler-Hammer
  1. Have you ever bought your components from an online supplier?      
  1. If yes, rate your level of satisfaction with the experience.   

    Please explain:
  1. Do you plan to buy components through an online supplier in the future?     

    Please explain:

Your Buying Criteria
  1. How important is technical support in the following areas?
    Pre-Sale
    Product selection: Very important Somewhat important Not important
    Matching products
    to legacy systems:    		 Very important Somewhat important Not important
    Understanding how upgrades
    can enhance performance:    		 Very important Somewhat important Not important
    Product configuration: Very important Somewhat important Not important
    Other: Very important Somewhat important Not important
    Post-Sale
    Installation: Very important Somewhat important Not important
    Operation and maintenance: Very important Somewhat important Not important
    Other: Very important Somewhat important Not important
  1. What kind of manufacturer would you be most comfortable purchasing from?
      If Other, please specify: 

Your Buying Criteria (continued)
  1. What do you value in a component supplier? Using a scale from 1 thru 5, please rate the following in terms of importance with 1 being not important at all and 5 being extremely important.
    Lowest price: 1 2 3 4 5
    Easy order (phone, catalog, online): 1 2 3 4 5
    Fast shipping: 1 2 3 4 5
    Leading technology: 1 2 3 4 5
    Backward compatibility: 1 2 3 4 5
    Brands you know and trust: 1 2 3 4 5
    Easy to integrate and install: 1 2 3 4 5
    Best quality, affordable: 1 2 3 4 5
    Best in class brands: 1 2 3 4 5
    Brands with product breadth/one-stop-shop: 1 2 3 4 5
    Know/understand my application: 1 2 3 4 5
    Lower total cost of ownership: 1 2 3 4 5
    Global reach: 1 2 3 4 5
    Ability to create custom products: 1 2 3 4 5
    Ease of operation and maintenance: 1 2 3 4 5
    Durability: 1 2 3 4 5
    Best value: 1 2 3 4 5
  1. Are there any other criteria that are important to you?
    Please specify:

Attitudes Towards Rockwell Automation
  1. How likely would you be to consider purchasing components from Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley)?
What would it take for you to be somewhat or very likely to purchase components from Rockwell Automation? Please explain:
Please explain:
  1. Please rate the following on their ability to make you feel positively (or more positively) disposed towards buying your components from Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley). Use a 1-5 rating scale with 1 being extremely un-persuasive and 5 being extremely persuasive.
    They now have a single-source components catalog providing list prices: 1 2 3 4 5
    Your orders will be fulfilled by your local distributor: 1 2 3 4 5
    They will offer first time buyers special discounts or other offers: 1 2 3 4 5
    They will provide unmatched technical services and support: 1 2 3 4 5
    They have products that you can trust to be compliant with international standards: 1 2 3 4 5
    Their components are competitively priced: 1 2 3 4 5
    Their products will be easier to integrate with the existing Allen-Bradley legacy systems: 1 2 3 4 5
    Their product quality and durability will give you greater peace of mind: 1 2 3 4 5
    Other: 1 2 3 4 5
  1. What terms would you use to describe Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley) as a seller of components?
    Select all that apply.
    Low Price
    Best Value
    Premium price, but worth it
    Too expensive
    Technology laggard
    Been around, likely to have what I need     		High quality products
    Durable and reliable products
    Products are over-rated
    Technology leader
    Global standards compliant
    Global availability with local service and support

Attitudes Towards Components
  1. Please indicate how accurately you feel the following describes the way you view components. Use a 1-5 rating scale with 1 being not accurate at all and 5 being very accurate in describing the way I view components.
    They are all commodities, I just buy the lowest price: 1 2 3 4 5
    In some cases, brand does matter: 1 2 3 4 5
    They are extremely important to my success: 1 2 3 4 5
    Plant performance depends heavily on them: 1 2 3 4 5
    I don't really give much thought to them: 1 2 3 4 5
    I have larger issues to be concerned about: 1 2 3 4 5
    I am capable of buying, installing and maintaining them easily: 1 2 3 4 5
    I would appreciate knowing support is there if I need it: 1 2 3 4 5
    I generally don’t want to talk to a sales person, I just want to order quickly and easily: 1 2 3 4 5
    My applications can be a little tricky, so I really need the best in some components: 1 2 3 4 5
  1. Please note other comments or observations below.


Thank you for your time!