Empowering Manufacturing Test Engineering with Makkal's Expertise
Ei Electronics
The Challenge: Lack of Framework & Skill Gaps
Before engaging with Makkal, Ei Electronics faced significant hurdles in their test engineering department. While they had talented engineers, there was a critical absence of a unified test application platform and a robust test framework.
There was a clear need to upskill their test engineers in LabVIEW and TestStand applications and establish a consistent, buildable framework for future projects.
"The main problem we had was we had a lot of good test engineers that we didn't really have any framework. We didn't really have dedicated test application platform... Every test development was unique. So we needed to stop that and make it more efficient."
Paul Kilbridge
Manufacturing Manager
Ei Electronics
Makkal's Solution: Upskilling & Framework Development
Makkal stepped in to address these challenges head-on, providing targeted training and developing a foundational test framework.
Through innovative training methods like hackathons, Makkal successfully elevated the proficiency of Ei Electronics' engineering team in critical NI platforms.
"Makkal has been very effective in the upskilling, very good training technique, developed the hackathons with the guys who enjoy doing that and basically brought the skill level of the guys up to the LabVIEW and then some to the TestStand. Makkal was able with the guys to develop the TFW or test framework as we call it now, to help them on future applications. So yes, very effective."
Paul Kilbridge
Manufacturing Manager
Ei Electronics
Business Impact: Faster Time to Market
The partnership with Makkal had a tangible positive impact on Ei Electronics' business operations.
Paul explained:
Makkal was able to bring that process a lot more faster to the new product development and new product introduction... By being able to bring the test development faster through the framework and through the applications, we can see a better time to marketplace.
Makkal's solutions enabled faster test development, allowing Ei Electronics to accelerate their new product introduction (NPI) cycles and respond more quickly to market demands.
What Made Makkal Stand Out?
When asked about Makkal's uniqueness, Paul emphasized several key differentiators:
On-Site Presence: "We were looking for someone that would come on site and help to deliver the solutions that we needed. So obviously Makkal's willingness to facilitate this was a big importance to us."
Ease of Business: "Very easy to do business with, contract negotiation was very, very easy... a professional business, easy to do business with Makkal and they conformed to what we wanted to do in the manufacturing."
Exceptional Human Interaction: Paul was particularly surprised by Ajay's ability to connect with the team. "That human interaction that you were able to bring the best out of the guys, I think that's that has surprised me."
Unexpected Benefit: External Experience & Demeanor
An unexpected benefit for Ei Electronics was the external experience and positive demeanor Makkal brought to their team.
Paul shared:
"The level of experience that you brought into the business. A lot of our guys here were home. They didn't have, they weren't from outside. They had very little LabVIEW experience or they taught themselves. So just you bringing in your experience from your previous companies. So I think that was an unexpected [benefit]."
Paul Kilbridge's Recommendation:
"I would recommend you guys because you deliver on what you said you're going to deliver... establishing a framework that has been done. So you walked and achieved what we set out... your ability to be flexible in that area and of course to bring the skill set that you have would be why I would recommend you to the other companies."
In one word, Paul described his experience with Makkal as: "Easy to do business with." He specifically valued Makkal's flexibility to adapt as project scopes evolved, without needing constant contract renegotiations.
Key Success Story: Test Framework Deployment
For Paul, the most significant success story from their collaboration was the deployment of the test framework.
"The deployment of the test framework... my understanding of the test framework, it would be that the guys can deliver test applications in a more efficient manner because the framework is there and they can use the framework. That to me that is the success story of where we are in our test department now."
This framework has fundamentally changed how Ei Electronics' test department operates, enabling more efficient and consistent test application delivery.