How we can work with you..

Note the following forward projection is based on an FPGA/Processor Hardware and associated local power supply with mixed signal interfaces , low complexity firmware and Mechanical structures and is just one example of how we can provide a unique, flexible partnership.

New Project Comes In..

New Project materialises resources fully committed to other projects, you need a design urgently which means you will need to recruit more personnel. Resourcing more personnel is costly and very time consuming and what happens when the other projects finally ramp off …

Average time to recruit is around 4 to 6 months or even longer in some cases, from writing the job specification to the person physically sitting at the desk, then perhaps another month to get up to speed on company procedures and to fully understand the actual job in hand. This equates to around 5 to 7 months and that’s just one person if you need a whole team it could take up to 8-9 months.

In the meantime you have had to move resource on to the new project to get it going meaning some other project with in the business is now perhaps behind or falling behind the forecasted schedule every Engineering Managers worst nightmare..

We understand, we have all been there so many times, so this is where ELEK-TECH ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS can help and this is just one instance and example of how we can work with you.

Normally key personnel within the company, the strategic thinkers will jump over to steer the engineering strategy of the project solution, this is where we can be engaged we have many years of experience in architecting systems and providing system topologies. However if you have key re-use and overarching strategy to define this part of the project not a problem.

EES Engineering Phase 1 - Design Inception

Internal Reviews: DR1
Customer Reviews: PDR
So now you are at the stage where you have roughed out an architecture and some key requirements but now you need a whole systems team to write you some detailed requirements, but where are they? Yes still writing and updating the requirements for the other Projects: Well again this is where we have lots of experience in the design Inception phase, give us a Cardinal Point Specification (CPS) of your key functional & Environmental requirements not implementation and we can begin to build the detail for you. You can specify the form factor, key mechanical constraints i.e. outline control drawing and any key components such as processor types or FPGAs that you have a desire to use because they are used across your business already and you have all of the implementation tools for them. You can even specify a preferred component list if you so wish, for the design, it’s up to you.

From this we will review the CPS for the key functions and environment, OCD, Mechanical constraints. In order for us to close out this phase quickly we are willing to be on-site for as long as it takes if necessary, this to us is the important phase (Design Inception). Being onsite allows clarification of the requirements to be resolved extremely quickly and also gives you a unique insight to our capabilities, giving you the confidence of moving forward with us. Once we have all agreed to our initial baseline and depending on the complexity of the solution we aim to have the initial architecture review within 3-4 weeks from project kick-off. We initiate our own internal DR1 review which would generate the following:
  • Architecture block diagram
  • Baselined CPS SSR
  • Compliance Statement
  • Identified Risk areas and Mitigations (we may suggest prototyping key areas of the design)
  • Initial concepts document
This information will form part of our customer PDR, within this 3 to 4 week window. At this stage we are still flexible enough that if you do not want to carry on, you can still make that decision to change the project to an internal project, you own the IP right through unless we implement our own company internal IP.

EES Engineering Phase 2 – Engineering Implementation

Internal Reviews: DR2.A, DR2.B, DR3
Customer Reviews: CDR
Continuing on we would then progress into our Engineering Implementation Phase, creating (where necessary) schematics, PCB layout, test coverage, Pre-Circuit Analysis including Signal Integrity (SI) and Power Integrity (PI) and supporting design documentation to back into the implementation. Note At any point during the project phases if uncertainty arises our main Point Of Contact (POC) will ensure items get resolved quickly (we advise our customers to also have a dedicated Technical POC available also) so that we can be in daily communication with each other to allow fast progression to be made. We also encourage flexibility during this phase has we fully understand that requirements may evolve and it’s not as straightforward as just chucking a set of requirements’ over the fence and getting on with it, we cater for this eventuality.

During this design phase we shall initiate 2 internal reviews a DR2.A and DR2.B these are our Schematic and PCB layout\routing reviews. Once the layout is finalised from the review we shall create a design data pack and this will form our internal DR3 and CDR pack with you our customer. This Engineering Implementation Phase shall be, depending on the complexity of the design around 2.5 – 3 months.

This gives a fully viable data pack with your IP in the hands of you, our customer within 4 months.

Looking back this is where, best case, the new resource may have just moved in to their new desk..

EES Engineering Phase 4 – Pre-Production Manufacturing & Build

We shall not commit to manufacture until you the customer are happy to do so. At this point you can either decide on an IPC-610 Class 3 manufacture of the design or a lower cost faster turnaround solution, depending on the decision at this point depends on how long the design is in manufacture. We work closely with our manufacturing partner and therefore can gain special access to development lines to enable a faster manufacture duration. The other option is that you may want to specify a manufacturer that you already use not a problem just let us know.

EES Engineering Phase 5 – Test & Commissioning

Internal Reviews: DR4
Customer Reviews: CDAR
We will test and commission the boards against the specification before we have our final internal review DR4, which forms part of our final customer review, Customer Design Acceptance Review (CDAR).

This indicates that you could have a fully functioning design (A Model) within a 5 to 6 month window, giving you a platform to evolve and adapt if necessary but with the core functionality and Physical representation of the final design.

EES Engineering Phase 6 - Field Trials & Support

Continuing on we can provide as much or as little support that is required, we are keen to ensure that our design solution, interfaces and functions to the desired platform and with in the expected Environment. This can be achieved through field trials, they are are an essential part of the electronic development process. They are the responsibility of our custtomers. Comprehensive field trials are essential, and they always throw up unexpected issues.

Problems must be resolved and modifications incorporated into further pre-production builds. This feedback loop continues until sufficient confidence is reached to commit to production.

Other Possible Ways of Working Together

We can help in many different ways to help solve your problems or to get your projects back on track, some typical examples of how we have worked with other defence companies :
  • Take advantage of fast product prototyping get a fully functional A model within 6 months form, fit and function. This allows our customers to capitalise on a market opportunity.
  • Off load of work packages if internal resource is low, this could range from schematic capture design, PCB design, Firmware, emmbedded software.
  • Issue us a cardinal point specification and we can specify the implementation and take your design including firmware right up to manufacture.
  • We offer a Post Design and Manufacturability Review service , to resovle issues like Design Reliability & Quality, Obsolescence and Cost Reduction or adding additional functionality. Read more...
  • We partner with a local manufacturer so if you wish, you can alleviate the pressure of deciding who to use, our partners are fully IPC 610A CLASS 3 accredited and are completing manufacturer currently on some high integrity electronics for THALES, Lockheed, Ultra Electronics all of our customers are extremely impressed with the quality and the integrity of the design, with full component traceability right back to the source and sometimes the silicon if required.
  • Depending on the type of project we can offer Fixed Price or Time and Materials contracts on a weekly rate
  • We believe we offer outstanding value when compared against other consultancies or contract staff. Please contact us for a no obligation discussion or quote and let us show you.
  • We operate at our own premises using our own design tools and servers.
  • We can operate fully independently or as a supplement to your team.
  • We are able to offer design to DAL levels and IEC61508 for both Hardware and Firmware.
  • The IP that we generate belongs to you unless we use our own internal IP.

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