Ferranti Technologies uses Altium to streamline design.
“We are already saving money as a result of using Altium. We used to include a component validation stage in our process to double check the information on the drawings against the database. This step is now redundant and we have been able to free-up manpower for other tasks.”
- Ben Griffin, Hardware Engineering Manager, Ferranti Technologies
The need
Since emerging from Ferranti International as a privately owned, specialist, contract design and manufacturer in 1994, Ferranti Technologies has established a reputation for engineering expertise, quality and commitment.
From its site in Oldham, UK, the company provides a complete bespoke product design, build and support service to customers all over the world. The engineering team is renowned for creating electronic and electromechanical products that can provide highly reliable operation in the presence of harsh climatic and electromagnetic environments.
There is wide analogue, digital and power design capability within the Ferranti Technologies electronics design team. The company has designs accredited to a number of Aerospace and Defense Critical Standards including DO254, DO-178B, Def Stan 00-54, 00-55 and 00-56. “We specialize in power and control systems for harsh or difficult environments, typically for demanding defense and aerospace applications,” explains Ben Griffin, Hardware Engineering Manager.
The challenge
Projects are rigorously managed using a Gated Project Management Process, which ensures efficient and effective control. Every order has a dedicated project manager who leads the team and provides the customer with a single point of contact.
“The process starts with functional design and simulation, then moves to board layout,” explains Ben Griffin. “In the past the design engineer would create the design then pass information on to other parts of the company for component procurement, full project costing and manufacture.”
“Sometimes working with smaller production runs, we don’t have the luxury of a pre-production run to correct mistakes – we have to get it right first time,” says Ben Griffin.
As part of its continuous improvement activity, Ferranti Technologies was looking for an integrated design tool that could replace a range of simulation, schematic and data storage software applications.
The new tool would be used within Ferranti Technologies’ strict project management process, and would interface directly to the company’s component purchasing and stock control systems, via the Management Information Systems (MIS).
Ben Griffin explains: “We reviewed a number of design packages including some that were highly functional and very complex. For us, the key was to find a tool that would improve productivity right across the company. It is not just about good design in isolation – it’s about producing a complete unit efficiently, reliably and profitably.”
The solution
Ferranti Technologies chose Altium Designer from Premier EDA because it provides them with a multi-functional, user-friendly design tool. PCB layout, schematic, simulation and bill-of-materials (BoM) data are all seamlessly integrated into one user-friendly tool, under the direct control of the Design Engineer.
The company has now standardized on Altium Designer across the 25-strong design team. For the first time, designers have direct, real-time cost information for each component as it is added to the design.
“We are now able to select the components from a common database simply, which means we are not creating new parts for each design,” explains Ben Griffin. “The BoM now contains information regarding lead time and cost enabling us to keep track of costs as we go along instead of having to wait for the information to come back from the purchasing team after the board has been designed.”
Because it is so easy to do, all the components for the board are now specified at design stage, right down to the varnish, polysulphide and lacing cords. Previously specification of these ‘sundries’ would be left to the drawing office. Now, the BoM is complete as soon as the board layout is done, so the process is quicker, and more efficient.
Ferranti has transferred all its component data, including its own BRISCH number system to a single Access database, which interfaces directly with Altium, and with Ferranti’s MIS. In this way, price information and stock levels can be updated centrally and are available immediately across the company.
The results
“We are already saving money as a result of using Altium,” says Ben Griffin. “We used to include a component validation stage in our process to double check the information on the drawings against the database. This step is now redundant and we have been able to free-up manpower for other tasks.”
What is more, there is better control over component selection. The designer can see immediately if they have inadvertently chosen a component that has recently been discontinued, or is out of stock. This will help Ferranti to reduce the risk of re-design and to plan for production more accurately.
Customer information
Ferranti Technologies offers comprehensive, high-integrity bespoke design and manufacturing services to customers in the defence, aerospace and rail sectors.
For more information, visit http://www.ferranti-technologies.co.uk/
