To help the company meet growing customer demand for its irrigation products, Fresno Valves & Castings has licensed RuleStream''s RPM solutions. RuleStream''s integrated engineering environment automates Fresno Valves'' request for quotation (RFQ) and engineering documentation processes. This includes bill-of-material creation, cost estimates, and 2D and 3D manufacturing drawings for custom orders. The RuleStream solution is ideally suited to meet the unique requirements of Fresno Valves'' varied customer base.
For example, the illustrations included here show changes to a gate mechanism. First, we see a gate mechanism from both the front and rear view. The customer''s requirements for opening width and height have been set to 96 in. in RuleStream Engineer, the frame height to 205 in.
In the second picture, we see the mechanism after a few changes have been made to the requirements. The opening height and width have been changed to 48 in., and the frame height changed to 74 in. Once the new requirements were entered, the engineer simply redrew the design.
With the third picture, we see that some configurations requested by customers may require significant design changes. In this case, an additional motor is required to support the weight requirements for the gate. Because the rules for gates have already been entered, RuleStream is able to automatically add the extra engine when engineering requirements demand it--even if it is not specifically requested by the customer.
Using RuleStream, Fresno Valves can:
- Produce accurate quotes in hours or minutes instead of days
- Shrink engineering drawing time from a week to as little as a half day
- Reduce shop drawing preparation from a week to less than a half day
- Cut as much as one to two weeks off total production time.
"There are differences in every case, so the initial quote requires detailed engineering drawings, and those form the basis for the final manufacturing drawings," said Jim Brown, project manager at Fresno Valves. "With RuleStream, we now have a great sales solution that delivers more timely and accurate quote responses, as well as better products with improved customization capabilities."
"Fresno Valves'' application of RuleStream demonstrates the tremendous value discrete manufacturers realize with RPM," said Robert Nierman, RuleStream''s chief executive officer. "This value is rapidly demonstrated through the increased speed of Fresno''s RFQ process, and its corresponding ability to support more sales opportunities. Fresno Valves'' reduced engineering times -- and the resulting increased focus on product enhancement and new product development -- is a great testimonial to the benefits RuleStream can achieve for our customers."