-
-
News
News Highlights
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Butterfly Effect
The basis of chaos theory is a key concept known as the “butterfly effect.” It’s the idea that a small event in one place creates a cascading set of events elsewhere. So, how is the EMS landscape changing? We’re tracking the concerns and dynamics of this landscape, and there’s a lot to learn.
Coming to Terms With AI
In this issue, we examine the profound effect artificial intelligence and machine learning are having on manufacturing and business processes. We follow technology, innovation, and money as automation becomes the new key indicator of growth in our industry.
Box Build
One trend is to add box build and final assembly to your product offering. In this issue, we explore the opportunities and risks of adding system assembly to your service portfolio.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
An AI Revolution in Wire Harness Manufacturing
May 24, 2024 | Brittany Martin, IPC/WHMAEstimated reading time: 1 minute
![](https://iconnect007.com/application/files/3417/1648/2756/Arik_Vrobel_300.jpg)
In the wire harness industry, a narrative unfolds that is as intricate and interconnected as its products. Arik Vrobel’s journey from El-Com Systems to the founding of Cableteque is one of enduring innovation, strategic adaptation, and a deep understanding of the industry’s evolving needs. His development of an AI application for the wire harness industry may be a game-changer for manufacturers.
Since its inception in 1961, El-Com Systems has specialized in the design and manufacture of wire harnesses and cable assemblies. The Vrobel family acquired El-Com Systems (then known as El-Com/cabletek) in 1988, when Elie Vrobel (Arik’s father), an unemployed engineer, was seeking to fulfill his “American Dream” by becoming an entrepreneur. However, it was a difficult transition as Elie was unfamiliar with the business and El-Com was in a challenging industry. Arik worked alongside his father to understand the company and the industry. His involvement was characterized by a commitment to the values and vision established by his father.
When Arik took over the leadership of El-Com, he established a forward-thinking approach that significantly transformed the company. He says his vision for El-Com Systems “involved continuing its tradition of excellence and driving it toward new technological frontiers and market expansions.”
He assumed leadership of the company in the early 2000s, with strategic decisions that expanded El-Com's capabilities and market reach, particularly in sectors demanding high reliability, like aerospace, defense, and medical. “I was known for seeking simplified, yet effective solutions to technical challenges,” he says of that time, and his leadership was characterized by a drive to increase the company's capacity and scale.
To read the rest of this article in the Spring 2024 issue of IPC Community, click here.
Suggested Items
Off Like a Rocket: A Review of the EIPC Summer Conference, Part 1
06/14/2024 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007Motorway traffic jams, airport car parking, walking for miles, queuing for security, delayed flights—oh, the joys of travelling. I was quickly reminded of my status as a foreigner while waiting patiently in line for a half-hour at passport control to enter the European Union at Amsterdam Schiphol, having flown all the way from London Luton in the United Kingdom, that great distance of 200 miles.
Contract Price Increases Offset Seasonal Slump, Boosting DRAM Q1 Revenue by 5.1%
06/13/2024 | TrendForceTrendForce reveals that the DRAM industry experienced a 5.1% revenue increase in 1Q24 compared to the previous quarter. This growth—reaching US$18.35 billion—was driven by rising contract prices for mainstream products, with the price increase being more significant than in 4Q23. As a result, most companies in the industry continued to see revenue growth.
Tim’s Takeaways: One for the Archives
06/13/2024 | Tim Haag -- Column: Tim's TakeawaysWell over 10 years ago, I was looking for a new hobby to fill in the gaps of my free time. As a kid, I used to build all kinds of models, including cars, tanks, airplanes, and rockets. Many of those assembly skills helped shape my career in PCB design and manufacturing. Therefore, it seemed appropriate to return to my roots and revisit the world of model building.
RTX Awarded $677M US Navy Contract for SPY-6 Family of Radars
06/11/2024 | RTXRaytheon, an RTX business, was awarded a $677 million contract to continue to produce AN/SPY-6(V) radars for the U.S. Navy.
PCB East Keeps Getting Bigger
06/11/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazinePCB East is definitely on the move. The U.S. Northeast’s annual PCB design and manufacturing show went on hiatus years ago as sister show PCB West continued to expand in Silicon Valley. But PCB East relaunched a few years ago, and it’s been growing each year. Show managers said that attendance at the 2023 show was double that of the 2022 event.