Document the current operation
Record what the machine does, the variants it processes and the issue behind the proposed upgrade. Separate recurring faults from new functions: they may require different scopes.
- Operating sequence and manual and automatic modes
- PLC, HMI, connected equipment and known versions
- Observed alarms, faults and previous modifications
Review backups, interfaces and ownership
Confirm who holds the programs and whether access, licenses and drawings are available. List connections to other stations, databases and equipment. Compatibility must be reviewed against the actual configuration.
- Available backups and documentation
- Signals and interfaces to retain
- People responsible for authorizing changes and providing access
Agree on intervention and acceptance
Define when the plant can allow intervention, how the sequence will be checked and how open issues will be handled. Safety functions require competent personnel and applicable machine criteria; replacing a PLC alone does not establish machine safety.
- Downtime window and production restart conditions
- Samples, variants and acceptance criteria
- Backup and recovery plan agreed before changes
Include the project handover
Check whether the scope covers integration, adjustments, testing, documentation and backup delivery alongside programming. For Juárez or El Paso projects, provide the location and site access conditions; visits and dates are coordinated per project.
- Technical scope, deliverables and exclusions
- Test records and open observations
- Programs, drawings and delivered versions
