8. Mistakes to avoid

8.1 Don't overlook the importance of customer needs

It's important to take time to understand the customer's needs, which may not have been made sufficiently clear when the contract was drawn up.

It will also be essential to map out the customer base, to ensure that everyone has had their say and been involved at the design stage, and that there are no surprises when the project moves on to new phases, such as the site where the operator will be using the equipment ordered, and the maintenance team will be troubleshooting or servicing it.