At 10:34 PM 7/3/2007, David Gilbert wrote:
>You need a flexible workforce that doesn't have to be retrained as
>volumes change, you need piece parts and materials that are standardized
>across multiple products, you need supportive suppliers, you need
>products and processes that have been designed for predictable yields
>and low cycle time of manufacturing, plus a ton of other considerations.
>
>My guess is that many antenna manufacturers are forced into
>build-to-order to preserve cash in what is generally a low margin
>marketplace (anyone doubt that hams are penny pinchers?), but I'll bet
>most of them try to keep overhead low and haven't had the time, staff,
>or money to devote to establishing a proper manufacturing flow. It
>often requires re-engineering the manufacturing system (sometimes it
>even requires redesigning the product) to switch from a
>build-to-inventory business model to build-to-order, and in most cases
>these small companies are probably still building their products pretty
>much the same way they always have.
This brings up a fascinating idea.. I wonder if there would be a
market for "custom build to order Yagi antennas".. essentially a
mailorder machine shop specializing in antennas. You'd send the
dimensions, select the standard bracketry, and they'd cut the
aluminum, kit all the parts, and ship it to you.
It would be like the quick turn PC board houses (PCBExpress, etc.) or
that wonderful place that does front panels (FrontPanelExpress) or
there's some small machine shop/waterjet cutting places that do this
kind of thing.
Jim, W6RMK
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