Custom Equipment Assembly Integration for Installation Complexity

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current process of installing custom-designed equipment into enclosures is cumbersome and expensive, requiring customers to separately order enclosures and components, and having skilled technicians travel to install and test the equipment, which is inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A fulfillment process where a manufacturer receives customer orders for equipment, assembles and tests the components in a specified enclosure before shipping the completed assembly to the customer, eliminating the need for customers to order enclosures and components separately and reducing the need for on-site installation and testing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If customers separately order enclosures and equipment components, then customers have flexibility in selecting components from different suppliers, but the process becomes cumbersome and expensive requiring skilled technicians to travel to customer locations for installation and testing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent selection flexibilityVSAvoidinstallation process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate processes (enclosure ordering, component ordering, installation, and testing) into a single integrated service offered by the fulfillment provider. The provider receives the enclosure, installs customer-specified equipment components, performs safety and functionality testing, and delivers the completed assembly as one unified process, eliminating the need for customers to coordinate multiple separate orders and technician visits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fulfillment provider acts as an intermediary between the customer and multiple component suppliers. The provider receives the enclosure from the customer, orders components from various suppliers on the customer's behalf, performs installation and testing, and delivers the final assembly. This intermediary role simplifies the customer's burden while maintaining the ability to source components from different suppliers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If skilled technicians travel to customer locations to install and test equipment, then proper installation and safety compliance are ensured, but time and expense increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation quality and safety complianceVSAvoidinstallation and testing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fulfillment provider performs installation and testing actions in advance at their own facility before delivering the completed assembly to the customer. By completing the installation and safety compliance verification beforehand, the service eliminates the need for follow-up technician visits to the customer location, thereby reducing total time while maintaining quality standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fulfillment provider performs installation and testing services at their own facility using their own technicians and equipment, rather than requiring customer-site intervention. This self-service approach at the provider's location enables efficient completion of installation and testing without the time costs associated with travel and on-site setup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If skilled technicians travel to customer locations for installation and testing, then functionality and safety compliance are verified, but expense increases due to travel and on-site time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality verificationVSAvoidcost efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The fulfillment provider performs functionality verification and safety compliance testing at their own facility before delivery, eliminating the need for expensive on-site technician visits. This preliminary action maintains reliability standards while significantly reducing costs associated with travel and on-site time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fulfillment provider serves as an intermediary that consolidates multiple functions (component sourcing, installation, testing) into a single location-based service. This intermediary model improves cost efficiency by eliminating repeated travel and on-site setup costs while maintaining thorough functionality verification through centralized testing facilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7610206B2Provision of custom configured assemblies

Publication Date: 2009.10.27 LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH

AI summary

Provision to a customer of equipment already installed into a specified enclosure to create an assembly is accomplished in an advantageous manner by the disclosed process. A manufacturer obtains the enclosure and the components of the specified equipment, installs the equipment in the enclosure and performs appropriate tests on the completed assembly before sending the assembly to the customer.