Your Christmas Checklist: 4 Steps to Secure Your Automation Supply Before the Holidays

Introduction:

The Christmas season brings joy, festivities… and a very real deadline for factory managers and maintenance teams. Whether you’re planning a shutdown repair or racing to finish a year-end project, the last thing you need is a missing component holding up everything. Think of this as your professional Christmas checklist—designed not for gifts, but for guaranteed operational peace of mind.

Step 1: Audit Your "Naughty or Nice" List (Your Critical Parts List)

Before the holiday rush, review your maintenance schedule and project plans. Identify every critical part that would cause downtime if it failed. Check their current stock levels. This isn't just about PLC CPUs; don’t forget communication modules, power supplies, and specialty cards. Make this list your priority.

Step 2: Verify Stocking Status with "Santa’s Elves" (Your Suppliers)

Contact your suppliers now. Ask for verified, on-hand stock status—not just system availability. A reputable supplier should be transparent about what’s physically in their warehouse ready to ship. At SWAN, our online inventory shows part of real-time stock, and our team can provide immediate confirmation.

Step 3: Know the "Santa’s Sleigh" Cut-off Dates (Shipping Deadlines)

Global logistics slow down dramatically in mid-December. Key dates to remember:

December 15: Safe cutoff for standard international shipping to arrive before Christmas.

December 20: Cutoff for expedited/guaranteed holiday shipping programs (like SWAN’s Festive Season Guarantee).

Always Confirm: Shipping times can change daily during the holidays. Get a written delivery estimate.

Step 4: Wrap it Up with Authenticity (The Gift of Genuine Parts)

The pressure to get parts quickly can lead to risky compromises. Counterfeit components are the "lumps of coal" in automation—they cause system failures and safety hazards. Insist on suppliers who provide traceable documentation and authenticity guarantees. A genuine part is the only gift that keeps on giving (reliable operation).

Our Festive Commitment to You

To help you complete this checklist, SWAN is running its annual Festive Season Supply Guarantee. We’ve bolstered our inventory of critical components from major brands and secured dedicated holiday logistics. Let us help you secure the parts you need to enjoy a truly restful and joyful holiday, confident that your operations are prepared.

Wishing you and your team a Merry Christmas and a prosperous, well-supplied New Year!  ♥

Stuck on your list? Share your critical part number with us, and we’ll provide a stock check and holiday delivery quote within hours.