The key attributes automation suppliers should possess are to be flexible and responsive (76%) and to offer the best technical and sales support possible (71%). That was the finding of the Annual Manufacturing Report 2017, published by Hennik Research. Interestingly, little more than third (38%) of respondents thought it important that their supplier was a specialist or that it was even a recognised brand (9%). Similarly, issues such as stable pricing (31%), low overall cost of ownership (31%) and the global experience of the supplier (31%) were all less significant than the ability of the supplier to demonstrate great support and flexibility. This underscores the concern among manufacturers about