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TechEn’s Approach to Electronic Innovation and New Product Development
Accountability and Program Management Lead to Long Term Relationships
TechEn's electronic engineering process typically involves a four-phase development cycle, beginning with a solid consultation in order to properly define the specifications and feasibility of your project.
Depending on the electronic engineering resources you have available in house, we can be involved every step of the way, or on an as needed basis. Most projects proceed according to a streamlined (concurrent) development model, with our cross-functional team integrating closely with the client's internal resources.
Electronic Engineering Services for Successful Product Design and Development
TechEn has been providing professional product design and electronic engineering services for over 20 years. TechEn’s approach to programs follows a blueprint for successful projects and begins with a firm understanding of the technology, the program goals, and the acceptance criteria, which result in program accountability by TechEn. Our success and capabilities have grown with our clients’ expanding needs, from concept to design to development to prototypes and quality-manufactured products. Your successful products are a very significant factor in TechEn’s longevity, where over 40% of our annual business is with repeat clients.
TechEn's electronic engineering services and capabilities include:
- Small PCB to large systems
- Designs from ground-up or refinement of existing products
- Design objectives include:
- Performance enhancement
- Reliability/manufacturability
- Reduced production cost
- Time to market
Although each project is different, key information and capabilities are required. TechEn has developed an approach that leads to success projects. Most importantly, this approach focuses on your goals for cost and schedule and requires leadership and accountabilityby TechEn. The blueprint for success includes:
Blueprint for Successful Electronic Products
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Information Exchange
All programs must begin with clear exchange of information and maintain excellent communication throughout. TechEn’s engineers provide our clients with the opportunity to develop a clear understanding of their project's scope, allowing for an effective and successful development process.
Product Definition: By properly defining the product to be developed, we are able to consider the primary program goals, including market costs, and timetable.
Feasibility: Through examining available technologies, and market alternatives, we set a schedule for the subsequent phases of development. By incorporating solid feasibility and developing technical specifications, we ensure that your project stays on track throughout the preliminary design and development. By developing Design Verification Test acceptance criteria, we ensure that program goals are achieved.
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Design Development, Electronic Engineering
TechEn offers you value through our results-oriented approach and broad experience in the electronic design and production of commercially successful products. We help clients who want to turn product ideas-from hand held monitors to complex sonar system-into market realities.
Electronic Design Development:
By evaluating a number of technology mixes, we are able to select the appropriate integration of technologies. Then we can design the product's hardware.
Software Development:
By assessing the projects functional specifications, we select the appropriate programming language, working to monitor progress with a system of integrated project management designed to bridge client/TechEn teams.
TechEn's engineers develop systems architecture design details. Unlike many other electronic product development firms, we are able to integrate analog and digital development capabilities. We work in multiple languages including Assembler C, C++, Visual C++, and Visual Basic-written for DSP and microprocessors.
- Hierarchical management systems approach
- Graphical user interface (GUI's)
- Control system software
- Embedded systems development for a broad range of 8 and 16 bit processors
- Digital signal processing
- Algorithm development for signal processing and control applications
- Multiprocessor software for beam-forming and tracking applications
- Text monitoring and support systems based on WIN 95 and WIN NT operating systems
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Prototype Engineering and Proof of Concept
While a good idea is valuable, a new product simply cannot jump from design to market. TechEn's prototype procedures allow us to fully evaluate products, in both technical and cost terms. Working in local certified labs, we test and modify the design in an interactive process as required for approvals. We finalize early production assembly and test details, ensuring that the product will be certified and approved for market penetration.
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Industrial Design and Mechanical Human Interface
For TechEn, both product appeal and internal electronics are essential. The product appeal is often a result of conscientious Industrial Design and functional human interface mechanical design. TechEn has its own mechanical designers and has established Industrial design alliances for Graphics and renderings. These outside consulting groups enhance our full-service capabilities. Product Excellence is the result of both Product Appeal and Electronic Functionality.
In Mechanical Design, TechEn uses the latest technologies for software and design. TechEn uses Solidworks for mechanical design and CAD graphics software. Other resources include in-house mechanical equipment for prototyping. Techen has developed a group of firms that provide excellent turn-around services for custom sheet metal, and tooling and molds for plastic parts.
Production
From vision to production line, all TechEn’s designs are geared toward commercialization and manufacturing, so that value is captured early in the process and carried through to production. TechEn has both the facilities and the employees to provide production of your products in low volume or to recommend a high volume contract manufacturer that is appropriate for your product.
Preliminary Production
By producing a low volume run of your product, we begin product flow, while finalizing production details that are essential for optimal mass production.
High Volume Production
Working to budget, we drive outside manufacturers through this critical and difficult phase, including parts buying and substitution, OC and product testing. Testing and Test Acceptance
We finalize early production assembly and test details. Working with local certified labs, we test and modify the design in an interactive process as required for approvals. We support beta testing, certification and approvals, both UL in the U.S. and CE in Europe. We work for FCC approval and in some cases with FDA approvals. Techen is a registered FDA manufacturing site.
TechEn employs NASA-qualified technicians to build and test prototypes and products. This work includes surface mount assembly, ball grid array and x-ray, hand-wired product, custom production modeling, and construction of full-sized, high-powered electronic equipment.
TechEn builds test systems for the production environment. These test fixtures can be simple manual test fixtures, or full-automated fixtures that include software test scripts, programming of code, product ID, and test results. We build test fixtures for diagnostics and for product research or high volume Asian production.
Documentation
TechEn provides documentation throughout the project, allowing for a streamlined final production process and optimized end-usability. TechEn provides documentation, hardware, software and production ready information, including bill of materials, schematic design, Gerber files, art work for ID and graphics. Ongoing Support
TechEn remains involved with clients long after a product launch. We provide you with continuing support to facilitate production procedures, updates, changes as well as the addition of new and enhanced features.
- Production support
- Product updates and improvements
- Manufacturing supervision
- Project Management
- On-site short-run manufacturing
- Off-site high-volume manufacturing
TechEn Full Service Facility and Test Lab
TechEn, Inc. has facilities of approximately 5,000 square feet and is located just west of Boston, Massachusetts, within ten minutes driving time from I-90, the Massachusetts Turnpike, and I-95. Our 5,000 foot plant includes complete software development facilities, production and assembly areas, as well as a fully-equipped electronics laboratory. We also maintain a sizable inventory of the latest electronic components on-site for prototyping and production purposes.
At TechEn we have full capability for DSP firmware development, coding and testing for projects in the form of the Analog Devices Visual DSP++™ (VDSP-SHARC-PC-FULL) and the USB based Apex In-Circuit Emulator (ADDS-APEX-ICE). This equipment provides complete state-of-the-art capability for DSP firmware development in assembly, C and C++ languages.
TechEn’s fully equipped offices encourage an exchange of information during the interactive product development process. This development cycle includes engineering software, mechanical tools and test lab for electronic testing of products.
The lab is complete with a broad range of CAD design systems and analysis tools required for the development of complex electronic designs. A complete instrument design and fabrication capability including Orcad® Cadence Allegro, and AutoCAD® programs, extensive component reference manuals, and a general stockroom.
TechEn uses SolidWorks Software for mechanical design.
Standard electrical instrumentation such as personal computers, digital volt-and multi-meters, power supplies and oscilloscopes are available for use on all projects.
Specialized mathematical and signal processing capabilities include Manugistics APL II 5.0® including FFT and eigenvalue/eigenvector analysis, Mathcad 5.0 Plus® with an extensive function library, MatLab® symbolic processing plotting and data analysis capabilities, DADiSP® signal processing spreadsheet, and general purpose spreadsheets such as Excel and Quatro Pro®.
TechEn has a complete Electronic Lab and Machine Shop:The machine shop area is well equipped for design, construction and repair activities. The shop is equipped with electrical and hand tools for: wire wrapping; soldering; drilling; precision layout; dimensional measurement; and connector crimping. Stock and hardware for fabrication of mechanical components, materials for layout, exposure and hot etching of printed circuit boards are also available.
Basic and "intelligent" electronic test equipment for digital, low frequency analog, and RF circuitry; miscellaneous scopes, network analyzers voltmeters, coaxial components, attenuators, bridges, mixers and directional couplers; and finally a basic stock of electronic parts. Mechanical fabrication tools and machine tools/sheet metal facilities are maintained and available. Relationships are maintained with local machine shops for more complex metalworking tasks. These facilities will be available as needed by the project.
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