Fiber-optic connections among buildings set the stage for high-speed information transfer to and from production machines.
|
“That expedited the installation of our networks within the manufacturing sites,” Gillenwater says. “We were able to get our fiber backbones in and connect them with the copper connections to our Total Logistic Control (TLC)-based computers and other devices. That way we hit the ground running.”
Daniel saw no problem with the temporary fiber installation. His firm is a reseller of Optical Cable Corp. (OCC, www.occfiber.com), which manufactures a broad line of cables and accessories. By using OCC ruggedized fiber-optic cable, PNS could provide for both indoor and outdoor runs. Because of its superior ruggedness, the OCC cable could easily to handle installation stresses, as well as environmental and mechanical stresses over time.
The temporary fiber cable installation was easy to relocate to New Millennium’s Salem headquarters building after construction was completed. Now fiber cable runs from the main office to each plant and the satellite office. Each fiber-optic branch acts like a main distribution hub in each of the manufacturing facilities. In the main production facility, copper wires branch off the hub into separate areas where they are connected to workstations and PCs supporting TLC programs.
“Running the fiber out there has given us the ability to report our production in real time,” Gillenwater explains. “We also create bundle tags — bar code labels that are generated from the data that is pushed down to those machines from the main office. The network enables us to stay current with our inventory on-hand and just gives us a better handle, from the office, on what's going on in the plant.”
Gillenwater adds that production is now scheduled out in the plant, and everything flows in line from there. Actual production data are reported back to the office.
“We are also pushing data down to the machines,” he says. “We are in the process of sending information to the machines so that they can actually function off that data rather than having to key in the data.”
Gillenwater says that the new fiber-based approach to data communications is having a dramatic effect on business capabilities. He says that not only is production capacity improved, but so is turnaround. And that means a higher level of customer satisfaction — the essence of New Millennium’s competitive advantage.
“I needed a company to provide a complete turnkey solution for this project,” Gillenwater says. “I knew that I could trust PNS as a partner to accomplish our objective. The quality and professionalism that they demonstrated on this project are what I've come to expect from PNS. I now feel that I have some of the best technology in the valley. Our motto at New Millennium Building Systems is ‘Flexible to the Finish.’ It's nice to be on the receiving end of that motto.”
