Manufacturer of Electronic Inductors

Background
The firm is a leading supplier of inductors to manufacturers of telecommunication, aerospace, aircraft and military equipment. It has a reputation for reliable, high quality products, strong design and engineering capabilities, and dependable customer service. It has focused on the high end of the industrial and military markets.

Assistance Provided
During the diagnostic review performed by NYS TAAC, it became evident that the firm's foreign competitors were improving the quality of their products and would soon compete in the firm's markets at lower prices. The firm maintained its competitive edge in the past by producing quality products and by systematically reducing costs. However, it never succeeded in reducing costs of its coil-winding operation, which accounted for 50 percent of all direct labor costs.

To remain competitive with low foreign labor costs, the firm was compelled to automate its labor intensive coil-winding operation. Though unsuccessful in the past, it was believed that recent technological developments would now permit an economical solution to this stubborn problem.

Project Results
NYS TAAC and the firm searched for a consultant to verify the feasibility of automating the coil-winding operation and found one who believed he could design a computer controlled machine that would do so. A simple prototype was first developed to test the concept, and later followed by the design and installation of a five-station computer controlled coil winder. This concept proved to be economical and permitted the firm to remain competitive in its market niche.