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seimens.qxd 24/11/06 11:59 am Page 80 PCB and several enclosure variants to accommodate Gardner. And we weren't at that time aware of the breadth different customer wheel styles . of capabilities that the Siemens EA offered electronics The decision was therefore made to keep the companies like us in terms of mechanical and automation manufacturing in-house and in spring 1999 manufacturing solutions. We were able to realise a very cost effective director, Paul Gardner, was brought in to develop the Antrim solution, and we made a cost saving by not having to site into a high volume manufacturing centre of excellence employ extra project management resource . that would sit alongside Schrader's existing R&D facility. The whole project hinged around the design of the I knew we were facing a potential project management RTPMS itself. This is a half mechanical, half electrical device nightmare, he admits. To make the RTPMS in such high comprising a small toughened plastic box enclosure that volumes would be very challenging and would demand gets tucked neatly behind the inner hub of a wheel , automating our process as far as possible. This would require attached to the valve stem. a diverse range of proprietary state-of-the-art electronics The box enclosure houses a small PCB around 35x20mm and mechanical manufacturing automation machinery and in size. This typically comprises surface mount components technology: there was no off-the-shelf solution. We were ranging in size from 0402s up to a 20-thou MLP ASIC which also lacking the internal manpower and expertise required forms the `brain'of the sensor. There is also a single through- to commission and install such a process. hole. Due to its extremely harsh operating environment, this Gardner's first task was to identify suitable equipment circuitry has to be totally encapsulated and hermetically vendors that understood the requirements of Schrader and sealed within a protective potting compound to ensure the automotive industry. We started inviting potential long term operational reliability. suppliers on-site who could automate specific elements of A silicon sensor is used to measure tyre pressure and can our manufacturing cycle, continues Gardner. Namely, PCB detect even a 1psi drop in pressure so that the driver is test, mechanical system assembly and final finishing warned of an under-inflation problem long before he can assembly and environmental test. We quickly realised, even feel it. This is attached to the valve stem, which pokes however, that the biggest problem would be getting these through the wheel and the complete module transmits to a individual sub-vendors to work effectively together and receiver in the vehicle. with us to design and manufacture bespoke - but totally Given the product as a starting point, Siemens EA called reliable and robust - automated solutions. in its consultancy resources to perform an in-depth A crucial break came when Gardner was discussing the manufacturing and business analysis of Schrader's exact challenge Schrader faced with one of the potential sub- needs and requirements. vendors. They recommended he contact the Special After performing a thorough assessment of the required Projects Group at Siemens EA. technical capability of Schrader's line automation Although our existing Siemens SIPLACE PCB assembly machinery, Siemens EA produced a detailed project brief in line was a very well established and reliable part of our conjunction with Schrader. This resulted in a fully functional overall production process, it was also a very small part, says design specification of the equipment requirements being 80 

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AutoMOTIVE 5

Editors Note
News
Here For The Long Haul
Halewood. Rebirth of a Car Plant
Safety First
Focus on Flexibility
A Prophet Without Honour?
Chrysler Cuts It Four Ways
A MINI For All Reasons
Porsche Plans Continuous Logistics Improvement
Flawless, Consistent Execution
Ford's European Supplier Parks Deliver Lean Manufacturing Efficiencies
Cheap and Cheerful
Onwards and Upwards
Schrader and Siemens Electronics Assembly Systems Take the Pressure
No Faults Forward
A Long Way From Wheelbarrows and Bath Tubs
A New Era in US/Japanese Cooperation
A Dialogue of the Deaf

AutoMOTIVE 5

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