It’s more important today than it ever has been to make the most out of each and every opportunity to save time and maximize the use of company assets. For many production facilities this means ensuring that tools available are in use and that stock is kept to a minimum. For electrical departments in particular, one of the largest expenses and most diverse stock is cabling.

Implementing and making the best use of pre-wired cable solutions can result in cost and time savings which in turn raise the profitability of your production line. Below are some important ideas to keep in mind to maximize the benefits of pre-wired cable.

1. Encourage the use of pre-wired cables. Simply encouraging and implementing pre-wired cables whenever possible saves time for your assemblers and also reduces wiring errors. When the worker simply grabs a cable from stock the effects of a bad day or pesky distractions won’t affect the wiring. Errors are also reduced by the fact that fewer hands are involved in the cable assembly process. The recommendation here is not to have a large number of slightly different pre-wired cables but to reduce undocumented wiring and use each pre-wired cable configuration in as many different applications as possible.
2. Keep updated documentation. Updated documentation on product assembly and wiring configurations must not only be generated but also communicated to all personnel involved in assembly, testing and after-market care. This step is essential in getting the most benefits from pre-wired cabling. A spreadsheet of current cable configurations should be in the hands of your designers to encourage PCB and system layout that can correspond to current designs. Testing and maintenance personnel must also be on the distribution list as their success is also dependent on correct documentation.
3. Provide usage instructions. An important item to remember is that often your assembly and maintenance team was not involved in the complete design process or privy to the ideas that were generated or the intent behind those ideas. Writing clear, concise installation instructions that include pin-out details and intended functions will provide critical details for your staff. If your tester has to look for answers before or during testing, important time is lost. If maintenance personnel are in the field to make an update to a unit that is in service and has questions, not only time but also the confidence of the client can be affected.
4. Use a reliable provider. The old phrase, “you are only as good as your weakest link” has survived through the ages because it is packed with truth. All the planning and documentation in the world won’t help if you do not have a reliable pre-wired cable provider. A cable vendor that is detailed and precise will save you time and frustration, as you know that they have provided exactly what you designed and done it quickly. Vendors can also make suggestions or offer reminders of similar cabling already in use or how a different connection type could save money.

VCC Optoelectronics provides a comprehensive line of pre-wired panel mount LED cable assemblies. Contact VCC today and our dedicated team of professionals will share the details of our pre-wired stock cables or work with your to design a custom solution for your pre-wired cabling requirements.