Summary
Before the pump, before the drawings, before production: there is a moment when every detail must be defined with absolute clarity. That moment is the kick-off meeting.
It is a structured, operational meeting held immediately after receipt of the order, during which CDR and the customer work together to define every aspect of the project: technical configurations, documentation, certifications, witnessed tests, and logistical arrangements.
The kick-off meeting is also the opportunity to prevent ambiguities that may remain from the commercial phase and to build a shared plan for managing the supply, right through to plant start-up. The customer may participate in person or remotely, supported by a multidisciplinary team made up of technical, commercial, and production specialists.
Kick-off meeting: the CDR approach to a supply without surprises
Behind every high-quality industrial, chemical, and pharmaceutical supply lies something you won’t see in technical drawings or datasheets: it is a phase of listening, discussion, and coordination that defines the tone and features of the entire project. This phase has a precise name: the kick-off meeting.
More than just a meeting, it is a proven working method. It is the moment when the customer and the CDR team sit down (physically or virtually) to ensure that everything is clear, traceable, and shared: aspects such as certifications, timelines, documentation, and witnessed tests are finalized once and for all before moving to the next stage of the project—the physical construction of the pump and its integration into the customer’s plant. It is also, typically, the moment when the right questions emerge, the ones that make the difference between a mere order fulfilled and a project that truly comes to life.
The kick-off meeting represents the initial gear of a system that works—a system built on technical precision and relationships grounded in trust and concrete attention to customer needs.
A decisive moment: what is the kick-off meeting
The kick-off meeting is a structured, scheduled session held after receipt of the order, where CDR Pompe and the customer align every detail of the supply. It is the final discussion that emphasizes and clarifies what was agreed during the commercial phase and presents what will be concretely delivered: all operational information is put on the table, expectations are clarified, and the progress of the work is jointly planned.
In the process industry, every smallest detail counts: that is why supplier and customer meet to prevent potential issues, resolve any ambiguities left from the commercial phase, and ensure transparency and control over the entire production process.
Key elements of the supply: what is discussed in kick-off meetings
During the kick-off meeting, all essential elements of the order are reviewed. Beyond being an overview of the entire project and its definitive features, it is also a technical validation shared by both parties.
The main points addressed during meetings between the CDR team and customers include:
- Technical documentation: the list and schedule for the delivery of manuals, certificates, datasheets, and assembly diagrams are defined.
- Certifications: it is verified that all required regulations (e.g. ATEX, PED, ISO) have been understood and correctly planned.
- Organization of witnessed tests: testing activities, plant access, and verification procedures with or without third-party bodies are scheduled.
This transparent discussion ensures that every element of the supply is known, documented, and verifiable from the very beginning of the work.
From the first request to start-up, on-site or online
The kick-off meeting is part of a broader process that begins well before delivery. At CDR Pompe, the customer is supported from the request for quotation through to start-up at the plant, with a customized path designed to minimize errors, optimize timing, and ensure continuity across departments, while preventing valuable information from being lost between phases.
Especially in industrial contexts characterized by distributed facilities and often tight deadlines, flexibility in scheduling meetings is necessary on both sides. For us at CDR Pompe, accommodating customers on these crucial logistical aspects is very important. With this in mind, we offer maximum flexibility in organizing kick-off meetings: the meeting can easily take place at CDR’s premises, directly at the customer’s facility, or even virtually.
What matters is not the format but the outcome: thanks to effective digital management, online meetings maintain the same structure, attention to detail, and technical expertise as an in-person meeting.
A multidisciplinary team at the customer’s service
Every CDR kick-off meeting involves a coordinated working group that reflects the company’s internal organization. On the CDR side, the meeting includes a project manager and a team covering all the project’s main areas. This structure ensures that every aspect of the supply is analyzed by those with the technical expertise to address it competently.
- Sales Department: the first point of contact and ongoing reference for the customer. It fully understands the needs expressed during the quotation phase and ensures consistency between initial expectations and operational execution. It coordinates communication between internal departments and the customer, always maintaining an overall vision of the project.
- Technical Department: delves into the configuration of the pump and accessories, checks project feasibility, and contributes optimized engineering solutions for the specific case. This department ensures technical compliance of the supply with the required standards, adapting the project where necessary to the fluid or plant characteristics.
- Testing Department: responsible for defining acceptance tests, both standard and customized. It manages the organization of witnessed tests and coordination with third-party bodies, if required. It ensures that all tests are performed according to agreed criteria and that results are fully documented and compliant with current national and international standards.
- Production Department: provides input on production scheduling, resource organization, and manufacturing timelines. It is the link between the design and execution phases, ensuring that what was agreed at the kick-off meeting is effectively implemented on the production line.
This way, the customer has direct access to a network of specialized expertise working in an integrated manner—not departments operating in isolation, but a compact system that provides technical know-how, methodology, and accountability.
Starting off on the right foot makes the difference
In the delicate phases of industrial design, method, clarity, and preparation are essential: the kick-off meeting is the first real, concrete step toward a reliable supply that includes all the features and specifications requested by the customer. For CDR Pompe, it is a true operational tool of value, designed above all to protect the customer and give shape to a mutual commitment.
Because behind every pump supplied lies a system built on expertise and listening. And it all begins here.