Compaq launches Armada to regain portables throne
Article Abstract:
Compaq is attempting to regain its status as the leader in the portable computer market with a new strategy of modular products. In addition, the company is changing its approach to product development, and paying closer attention to design for manufacturing (DFM) methodologies. The new Armada 4100 line illustrates this strategy. The 4100 features a highly modular design, which gives the end user the flexibility to easily reconfigure the product, and also allows the products to be manufactured more efficiently. Designing the 4100 required a design-for-manufacturing approach, and a focus on cross-functional design teams. Compaq's notebooks are developed by a team of representatives from design engineering, marketing, operations, service, materials and finance, with marketing being the first step in the process. Compaq's modular design starts with a non-configurable subassembly, which is then shipped to other manufacturing sites to be configured to meet the demands of the local markets.
Publication Name: Electronic Business Today
Subject: Electronics and electrical industries
ISSN: 1085-8288
Year: 1996
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Contract manufacturers binge on acquisitions
Article Abstract:
The contract manufacturing/electronics manufacturing services (CM/EMS) industry is booming and is projected to grow 30%, from $45.6 million in 1995 to $59.3 million in 1996. A 20% growth rate is expected through the year 2000. In addition to outsourcing manufacturing operations to CM/EMS companies, OEM are also selling off their underused excess operations to contract manufacturers (CM). CMs are picking up these operations because they have lower costs and overheads and do not have to spend time developing technologies. An example of a CM acquisition is the purchase of an Apple facility in Fountain, CO, by SCI Systems. CMs are also expanding their operations globally in order to be competitive worldwide. A typical CM business investment has grown from $1 million in 1983 to at least $15 million in 1996.
Publication Name: Electronic Business Today
Subject: Electronics and electrical industries
ISSN: 1085-8288
Year: 1996
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Out to win in notebooks by winning awards
Article Abstract:
Micron Electronics Inc hopes that its success in the desktop PC market will trickle over to the notebook computer market as it begins a strategy of entering that market. The computer maker knows that good performance wins the attention of the trade press, and that subsequentially helps it sell systems. Micron began its pursuit of the notebook computer market in ernest in Feb 1996 and believes its business process of using cross-functional teams will enable it to get products to market quicker, and make transition to new systems more smoothly. Product development times are usually 9 months and product life cycles in the notebook market are around 9 months as well. Micron has a strict timeline for each product development effort and will kill a project if it cannot meet its deadlines.
Publication Name: Electronic Business Today
Subject: Electronics and electrical industries
ISSN: 1085-8288
Year: 1996
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