This topic should start from three points, one is engineering, one is the management, and last one is the customer. Non-standard automation equipment manufacturer is usually a small factory. An electrical engineer need to do lots of works, such as the circuit schematic, wiring, programming, equipment commissioning, after-sales maintenance. It probably are basically done by one person only. If the condition is better, company will give you a wiring or an electrician staff. The intermediate process is very long. First, we must communicate with product developers, mechanical designers, and assemblers, and confirm lots of question. What functions should be realized, where should we use ordinary motors, where should we use inverters, servo systems, etc., and other problems? Also the cost is a big issue, the purchase of electrical components is not what you can decide, such as PLC, inverter, servo system,
small electrical components such as Air-opening, relaying, contractors...etc. But it will be confirmed by the boss. The materials reliability is ultra important to a non-standard automation system.
The boss and customer will not concern about the final result, regardless of the intermediate process and its internal difficulties. If it can't meet the customer's requirements, then it need to do lots changes. The operation process and habits of each equipment factory are different. If the operator is inconvenient to work or can't adapt to your equipment, you must modify your program to meet people's needs. Some requirements are simple and easy to change. Some is very difficult, and request entire programming structure has to be changed or even rewritten. Some of them cannot be changed because of the mechanical structure. So it is a long-term process, and try to suit both side.
The other is a business trip, no matter which situation the device encounters, you have to go out to deal with it, whether it is mechanical or electrical. There are always endless errands in the whole year. where the equipment is sold, you need to go where, especially the ability of the mechanics and electricians on the customer side is poor, it is hard say.
The last real problem, due to non-standard automation equipment, is often not perfect in the first sample stage, which also needs to be understood and supported by customers. The development and design of non-standard automation equipment has extremely high requirements for experience and non-standard capabilities.