IEN: What are the major concerns facing the design/OEM sector in the next few years?

Ourt: As manpower, resources, and budgets dwindle, the design/OEM sector must consider three major items -- time, cost, and space. In order to remain competitive and cost effective, the design engineer must produce quality products faster, smaller, and less expensively. He can achieve this by purchasing components that have the same qualities.

• Ease of design will save time. Choosing components with built-in features such as coding to prevent connector mismating, jumpers to provide quick commoning of potentials, and captive hardware to ensure part retention are crucial. Simple features like part-numbers stamped on components make reordering quick and easy.


• Space is another concern for the design/OEM industry. Smaller, more efficient products will allow more products to be placed in space sensitive applications. From a control design standpoint, this can save money by requiring a smaller, less expensive enclosure. Or in the case of machine building a more compact, marketable design.


• Cost savings is an age-old concern. Today's design engineer can no longer evaluate a component's value by purchase price alone, but rather must consider the product's installed cost. Choosing a high quality, increased functionality component that may be easily integrated into a design may well save money down the road.