Defense Industry Case Study

A Military/Homeland Security Company that is a world leader in military systems integration sought a solution to its custom engineering, manufacturing, and sourcing challenges that it faced in relation to a rack-mount system used on a Naval fleet. The Company’s existing rack-mount system had been problematic. Accordingly, they sought two solutions: a “quick fix” to their existing problematic system and a long-term solution.

The Company’s Engineers initially contacted JES’ Manufacturers Sales Representative (MSR) that covered their geography to discuss the aluminum ball bearing slides required in their rack-mount application. Sensing an opportunity to add value to the Company’s processes beyond ball bearing slides, the MSR and the Team Leader of JES’ Military/Homeland Security Sales and Engineering Team together visited the Company’s Engineers and Buyers that were working on the program. Although the Company has been a very longstanding customer of JES, the Engineers working on this program were new to the Company and therefore unfamiliar with JES and its custom engineering, manufacturing, and sourcing capabilities.

A portion of the meeting between JES and the Company was dedicated to analyzing the details associated with the custom aluminum ball bearing slides required in the rack-mount system. These details included the need for a custom hole pattern, lock open functionality (non-disconnect), and a captive screw for closed position captivity.

Another portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the other non-slide mechanical components (in excess of 24) required in the rack-mount system. These other components included brackets, tray, cable management system, numerous sheet metal components, a large assortment of hardware and fasteners, and more. JES’ Team Leader and MSR articulated how JES’ custom engineering, manufacturing, and sourcing capabilities can add value to (and simplify) the Company’s processes associated with designing, manufacturing, and sourcing their rack-mount systems in their entirety. The Company was receptive.

The Engineering and Supply Chain Solution

The Company elected to design the rack-mount system on their own, and to keep in touch with JES along the way (as necessary). Only a few short months after the initial meeting, the Company sent their completed drawing package and bill of material for the rack-mount system to JES for engineering evaluation and a quotation. Immediately upon receipt, JES assigned resources from its Military/Homeland Security Sales and Engineering Team, Custom Manufacturing Business Unit, and Procurement Team to rapidly develop a detailed and thorough proposal for the Company.
The rapid development of the proposal included a disciplined, concurrent, and cross-functional process. The development of the proposal and the proposal itself included:

Mechanical engineering – JES’ engineers conducted 100% engineering verification of the interoperability of all rack-mount system components (ball bearing slides, brackets, tray, cable management system, sheet metal, etc.). In addition, JES’ engineers verified that the revision levels of all components and sub-components within the rack-mount system were current. Detailed feedback, where needed, was provided to the Company’s Engineers.
Bill of material / supply chain consolidation (see schematic below) – the rack-mount system designed by the Company included in excess of 24 components. All of these components were consolidated into a single, ready-to-order part number for the Company from a single source (JES). The need to manage a multi-vendor supply chain for the various components of the rack-mount system was eliminated. Naval fleet Rack-Mount System Bill of Material – Before JES Involvement

Bill of Material Item
Vendor
Aluminum Ball Bearing Slides
Jonathan Engineered Solutions
Brackets
Vendor 1
Tray
Vendor 2
Cable Management System
Vendor 3
Sheet Metal Components
Vendor 4
Specialty Hardware/Fasteners
Vendor 5
Other Mechanical Components
Other Vendors
Multiple vendors required for the sourcing of the various components of the rack-mount system

Naval fleet Rack-Mount System Bill of Material – With JES Involvement

Bill of Material Item
Jonathan Engineered Solutions
Aluminum Ball Bearing Slides
Brackets
Tray
Cable Management System
Sheet Metal Components
Specialty Hardware/Fasteners
Other Mechanical Components
Consolidation of vendors for the sourcing of the various components of the rack-mount system to one partner: JES.

Custom manufacturing – the rack-mount system includes custom aluminum ball bearing slides and a custom aluminum cable management system. JES converted the engineering documentation developed by the Company for these two components into detailed manufacturing drawings used for manufacturing. These two components are custom manufactured by JES using CNC machinery and assembly resources.

Engineering-focused sourcing – the rack-mount system included many more components than aluminum ball bearing slides and a cable management system. On behalf of the Company, JES identified, qualified, and manages mil-spec approved sources for all other components in the rack-mount system.

Documentation management – oftentimes in military/homeland security applications, documentation and the trace-ability of documentation is important. JES coordinates and manages all internal (within JES) and external (from mil-spec approved sources) documentation associated with the rack-mount system. In addition to the engineering documentation, this documentation includes First Article Reports, Certifications of Conformance, etc.

Product integration, assembly, packaging and delivery – custom manufactured and sourced components are integrated and/or assembled by JES, packaged, and delivered to the Company on a make-to-order basis. The single, ready-to-order part number assigned to the entire rack-mount system allows the Company to easily order it and for JES to match inventory flow in synchronicity with the Company’s varying-level production demands. The detailed proposal was accepted by the Company. The rack-mount system is currently in production at JES.

Why Did The Company Work With JES?

Recognized leaders in the field of custom engineering, manufacturing, and sourcing – JES is the recognized leader in the field of custom engineering, manufacturing, and sourcing of integrated slide kits and mechanical assemblies for military/homeland security applications. By offloading these details to JES for the rack-mount system in the Naval fleet, the Company was able to focus on what made it a leader – advanced technology systems integration. Click here for additional examples of integrated slide kits and mechanical assemblies engineered for military/homeland security applications.

Focused resources – JES has a Sales and Engineering Team dedicated to serving the Military/Homeland Security market. A dedicated Team provided the Company the one-to-one attention that custom engineering, manufacturing, and sourcing projects deserve.

Speed – JES turned around a detailed (and accepted) proposal for the entire rack-mount system with discipline and speed. The speed at which JES operated provided the Company the confidence that JES was an ideal solution for their required “quick fix”.

One-stop shop – JES has become the one-stop shop for the Company for applications engineering assistance, custom manufacturing, and expert engineering-focused sourcing, relieving them of such non-core tasks as custom manufacturing, detailed-level sourcing, supply chain management, and rack-mount system assembly and integration.

Future collaboration – the long-term, next-generation solution for the rack-mount system is currently projected for completion in 2006. JES’ Military/Homeland Security Sales and Engineering Team is working with the Company’s Engineers on the next-generation rack-mount system. Such collaboration is conducive of mutually beneficial, long term business relationships.