"Purchasing departments are adept at choosing standard equipment from well-known suppliers. But embracing new technology involves the entire organisation - Quality, Engineering and Production - and requires extensive research and testing. New technology carries a degree of risk and may impact operations and plant culture, leading to management challenges. The life cycle of high-tech equipment can be as short as three-to-five years, so what happens when it is time to upgrade? Is a head-to-head trial between competitors warranted and, if so, how do you conduct it fairly? What statistical tools and evaluation protocols are effective?
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