Time spent purchasing critical parts for solenoid isolation valve assemblies for its Dry Leak Testers had Can-Tronics Gas Measurement and Control seeking solutions for improved delivery times. In the process, the company reduced inventory, assembly/test time, and part cost with a single pre-tested assembly from ASCO Numatics.
Sourcing the parts through multiple vendors caused delayed deliveries of these diaphragm meter dry leak testers, often for weeks. When ASCO learned of the situation they proposed a solution, which reduced lead times from five weeks to one and the overall cost of the assembly by approximately 20%. The kitted assembly capitalized on the merger of ASCO and Numatics with parts used from both product lines. Ordering the assembly as a single part from a single source eliminated Can-Tronics varied sourcing and unnecessary delays.
ASCO contributed Red Hat solenoid and angle-body multi-purpose valves to the solenoid isolation valve assembly, while Numatics supplied poppet valves and a 50 series high-flow filter regulator (FRL).
“We’ve lowered our part cost with the kitted assembly, but the big savings is in delivery and assembly time,” said Greg Juszczak, sales manager at Can-Tronics. “The FRL assembly alone required parts from three suppliers and coordinating the deliveries was eating up a lot of time; with the assembly and testing times on top of that. Now everything arrives assembled and pre-tested.”
The valve assemblies went through multiple levels of testing prior to field deployment to ensure they met Can-Tronics requirements of 0-15 psi for the residential and 1-30 psi for the commercial dry leak testers. In addition to tests run by ASCO Numatics prior to shipping, the assemblies went through rigorous testing at Can-Tronics after installation on the tester units.
The success with the dry leak tester valve assemblies has Can-Tronics looking to apply the kitted assembly approach to other products. “We have a prototype assembly for one of our regulator test stands,” Juszczak said. “And so far it’s performing quite well.”
Emerson
