Manufacturing Test Systems

Structurally test a critical communications equipment to ensure robust electrical continuity throughout its interfacing connectors, with respect to reference to ground.

The reliability and safe operation of the product requires a robust validation that a continuous path to ground exists at all interconnection ports of the product chassis. 

The design approach Mizoli adopted is one that is based on semi-automated human-machine testing. Where the aspects of test sequencing, test measurements and test execution duration are automated, while the aspect of physical placement of the probes at each connector port is performed by a human operator.

The targeted outcome being to:

1. Deliver a guaranteed test process cycle time
2. Deliver a human-in-the-loop verification of overall performance of each product
3. Minimize variance of test measurements due to human interaction
4. Ensure human operators have minimal opportunity to omit the test of any ports
5. Deliver a cost effective solution

We delivered a solution under the customer's budget of $200,000 USD for a fully automated system to $15,000 USD, delivering a 98% first pass yield and a low cost of total ownership (after taking into account the labor cost of an operator and equipment maintenance costs).

Hardware

• Keysight Milliohmeter

Instrument Communications protocols implemented:

• GBIP
• VISA

Software

• C++
• LabVIEW

• Six-sigma/Lean Manufacturing
• Test Engineering
• Human-factors Engineering
• Project Management
• Financial planning
• Supply Chain contracts
• Systems Engineering
• Health & Safety Regulations

Ontario, Canada

This is one solution where Mizoli applied its hard earned experience of: humans are effective, machines are efficient in certain applications. We established there was no justification for a 100% automated test system, given the end customers desire for human-in-the-loop verification of the quality of each product tested and the high overall cost of total ownership.