CAT MALVERN

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More Information

pcb Assembly

Success for CAT has not meant winning larger and larger orders. Our strategy is to look for OEM companies who have no electronics and software design and production expertise and where electronics is a small, but nevertheless important, part of their end product. Also where short lead time, quality, reliability, and service, not price are the prime considerations.

Although CAT have a niche market, it covers many segments of manufacturing industry.

On target to achieve forcast turnover this year, up 25 % on the last financial year, CAT’s policy of sticking purely to the low to medium volume market is paying off. CAT is sticking to its strengths, which revolve around its high quality, high efficiency, and highly effective design and manufacturing systems for low volume production.

Small batch production of 1-50 units and low annual volumes of 100-2000 units are typical for 99% of our customers.

There are two principal reasons for CAT’s confidence in the quality and efficiency of its design and manufacturing - a sophisticated quality management system which meets the requirements of ISO9001:2000, including TickIT, the software element, but which is structured around our business processes, and an advanced ERP production planning system. In addition, comprehensive IT network and PC software tools facilitate the full integration of the design and manufacturing processes.

CAT’s external quality auditors, have made the following observation “CAT’s electronic system for recording and tracking of NCRs is sophisticated and powerful and would not disgrace many much larger companies”.

Our ERP system is advanced for a business of CAT’s size and links sales orders, purchasing, finance, and all aspects of production planning. One big advantage of this, when combined with the company's stock management procedures, is that all components are individually traceable. By quoting the unique serial number applied to every assembly, the system enables CAT to trace any component back to its source within minutes. This gives CAT an ongoing check as to the quality of incoming components, the ability to identify faulty batches and suspect components, and gives our customers peace of mind.

The ERP system also allows the company to fit in with customers variable order call off requirements. A fully automated surface mount line, which is due to be installed before the end of this year, is also geared to quality, but flexibility and scalability were considered in its design.

Functional test rigs are designed and manufactured, where required, to add to the usual range of test and diagnostic equipment that is used.

The design function is important to CAT as 95% of its work starts from design projects. Design work is offered at a very low price if CAT is also to do the production work. The design team uses state of the art technology, AutoCAD is used for mechanical designs and Protel for electronic schematics and pcb layout. Protel is able to product Gerber files of new pcbs which are transmitted electronically to our pcb supplier and will also be used to automatically program component placement on the new surface mount production line.

This automatic electronic transfer of pcb production data has a valuable impact on product quality, lead time, etc.

So with the majority of the assembly done manually, is CAT looking to further automate production? There is no need to automate. We will stick to the high quality, small to medium volume batch builds. It is a huge niche market and very few companies specialise in this area.

With a marketing strategy that commits CAT to using the latest design and production technology and software tools available, well trained design, production, and business development teams, and regular dialogue with our Business Link office we are confident that we have the right ingredients to win in our market place. Of course the most important dialogue is with our Customers.

What of the future? Business management, design technology, and production technology will produce ‘fit for purpose’ products, minimum time to market, and maximum productivity, Customer Service is CAT's key objective.

Why not contact us for an informal discussion and preliminary quote?

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