Production Test Management System

Problem:
Replace an outdated DOS acquisition and control system nearing "end-of-life". The new application was to include the current functionality with some additional features.

We took a close look at the customer's business process and found that the data acquisition and control system (DAC) played a significant but limited role in the production test cycle. It's role is significant because there is no other way to collect the required data for the production samples. In the context of the customer's business process, the data collection role is limited because after the data is collected it must be categorized, analyzed, accepted and published. These steps, if done "by hand" require expensive engineering labor.

We also found the test specification, test analysis and reporting tasks to be disjointed, inefficient and error-prone. The customer really needed a production testing management system.

Solution:
We designed a suite of applications that work together to manage the entire business process. We originally limited the project scope to defer the implementation of the analysis and reporting features. The software was designed with expandability in mind so that adding features will minimize application re-work. We did this by decoupling the specification, testing, data collection, control, analysis and reporting components. The analysis and reporting was added later cut the labor to < %5.

Here are some interesting tidbits:

• The test project management and reporting tool is Internet enabled. view image
• The main measurement and control system runs on Windows NT/2K performing real-time PID control at a scan rate of 100ms.
• PC-based, Software runs on NT4.0/W2K/XP, real-time control, precision force and position measurement, enterprise-level SQL database, object persistent storage layer, model-based client code decoupled from database code. Complete Win32 help system.

We are continuing to cost effectively improve and upgrade the system functionality as the customer's budget allows.

If you would like more information, please contact us at info@primmtech.com.