Some Assembly Required – but not with VPX
by Steve Richardson
Post-Holiday Greetings to you as we enter 2012 with hopes of increasing prosperity for our respective industries and personal endeavors, accompanied by wondrous innovations in engineering to spark the inner child in all of us. Having just passed through the season of “Some Assembly Required”, I’ve looked back and stumbled upon some unusual parallels from which to draw more unforeseen conclusions. (Talk about unexpected connections.)
What set the whole thing rolling was the surprise receipt of a Holiday Root Canal, and there was enough of it to spread around for a few days. My older brother called up in the midst of this to exchange greetings. He then told me he had won the family swap with the #1 ticket and asked innocently “What was your favorite gift?” I, of course, replied sarcastically, “A surprise root canal – and it wasn’t even something I had on my list.”
All this said, I have learned that what goes on in business, and some of the successes we achieve, exhibit uncanny parallels in totally different worlds.
At my final visit to the endodontist (this is the visit where you get the souvenir coffee mug), I asked about his holiday and did he have any “some assembly required” moments. You’d have thought I was the one messing around with his nerve roots – he launched into an unexpected diatribe describing his eight-hour toy construction saga. Those of us with children can attest to the occasional late-night or all day assembly of a child’s precious gift – mine was years ago with the zillion piece construction of a Barbie Dream House – and I was a mechanical engineer!
But this dentist, although a victim of toy assembly fatigue, is definitely a master at his own profession. Any organization, be it a bank, a college, or a manufacturing corporation, mirroring his methodologies, is an organization worth your business. He is practicing Continuous Improvement and Lean Process Techniques in a parallel world to that of CBT Technology and other industry leaders.
A sample of my observations:
- Cordial and knowledgeable staff members manage the office phones
- Appropriate responses and real-time actions for urgent situations, consistently delivered
- Sincere and welcoming on-site reception staff with outstanding people skills
- A team leader with two assistants actively performing almost a ballet of perfection during the entire endodontic procedure.
- A team leader who really listens to the client and attends to their individual concerns
- Outstanding pain management techniques (always ranks near the top of my list)
- LEAN Process tools for smoothly transitioning between the segments of the procedure: using hand-mounted tool holders, pre-set equipment, and a coded verbal instruction set.
- The best operational and optical inspection equipment, and the most advanced digital radiology system, networked throughout the practice in multiple offices.
- The final “thank you” visit souvenir – one coffee mug
- A personal follow-up call from the dentist on the day after the procedure. (When was the last time you got one of these?)
CBT Technology continues to integrate Continuous Improvement and LEAN processes in its day-to-day operations and is well positioned to maintain a leadership role in the innovation and delivery of VITA products. The expansion of the VPX standard has allowed combined resources to offer the world of military, mil-aero, and high end commercial and telecom customers, a coherent, innovative, and sustainable set of solutions. The world of “some assembly required” does not have to be part of your manufacturing plan if you let CBT manage your VPX requirements. Through the synergy of XTech, Triple E, and Purcell resources, CBT has assembled a best-in-class Ruggedized VPX solution set. Here’s a brief description – there’s more on the website.
- In-house extruded and finish machined 6005A aluminum alloy front panels
- Choice of Type 1 or Type 2 MIL-DTL-5541 chromate conversion coat or electro less nickel plate
- Immediate availability of all three VPX pitch variants 4HP, 4.25 HP and 5HP.
- In stock choice of either stainless steel finger stock or fabric over foam EMI gaskets
CBT Technology’s new Rugged VPX inject-eject handles featuring:
- Integrated Stainless steel jaws and grips eliminating metal shaving at the chassis
- Smooth, spring-loaded locking lever for catch and release
- Die Cast Handle Base
- Production and full assembly in CBT’s Randolph, Massachusetts ITAR Compliant facility
Finished assemblies available with custom graphic overlays, in-house silk screening, or powder coat finishes
VPX Card Cages and Card Frames:
- CBT is now able to exclusively supply a custom VPX card cage or frame based on the reference design components developed over the past year by our internal development team
- Features include a unique integral stop in the card guide, preventing backwards insertion of the blade.
- Series 901 card frames support all keying, ESD, Alignment pin and EMI features
- Board guides are un-interrupted
- Greater shock and vibration resistance
- No rail rotation during board insertion
- Increased rigidity and longer life.
There’s only one thing you can’t get from CBT Technology when you let us handle your VPX requirements – You guessed it!
Tags: chassis, ejector, face plate, mechanicals, military, Steve, VPX