The Quality Imperative in the Mobile Age

Smartphones, PDAs and tablets have made mobile connectivity a necessary component of everyday life in the 21st century. Mobile devices have changed the way people interact, do business and even do chores.

Last year, LG Electronics introduced a robotic vacuum cleaner that connects via Wi-Fi to stream live images with sound, which users can view and control over their smartphone. More recently, LG announced an update to its Lightwave Oven, which is fused with a microwave, grill, fermenter and toaster – and enables users to cook on the go using a smartphone with wireless connection. With the press of a button, the user can set cooking times and control temperature even when away from home.

Using just one of any number of mobile devices and the right app, we can control an ever-increasing number of machines, whether they are household appliances, home security systems or manufacturing facilities. Yet even as mobile tech adoption for remote-access applications rises, the internal controls of the machinery we’re accessing, e.g., a vacuum cleaner or an oven, still remain largely the same – and need to be well engineered for quality and reliability.

As an industry leader in the design and manufacture of electronic controls, Etratech ensures the highest standards of product quality and conformance to customer specifications. Our complete in-house product design includes full prototyping, testing and validation; agency approvals and product compliance; and extensive internal/external testing. We achieve total customer satisfaction through measurable continual improvement of our internal processes and systems. Quality is always a journey, and our goal with all of our customers is to exceed their expectations.

Younger buyers driving demand for more electronics and connectivity in today’s cars

Most Gen Y drivers want to stay
connected to their smartphones while driving.

Are today’s new cars “becoming smartphones”? A recent report in the Chicago Tribune says, “No connectivity, no deal for young buyers.”

The report cites a 2011 study that revealed that more than two-thirds of the youngest respondents (Gen Y – up to age 30) want to be able to connect smartphones in their cars, and they also want the convenience of being able to access applications from a dashboard interface.

"For Generations X and Y, technology is a must-have. They take it for granted; they have to stay connected," says Craig Giffi, Deloitte vice chairman and automotive practice leader.

Older generations aren’t as demanding when it comes to getting electronics and connectivity in their cars, according to the study. "The youngest buyers are looking for electronics that are innovative and have a high 'cool' factor while those over the age of 50 lean toward safety, comfort and control features," says Lara Koslow, a partner in BCG's Los Angeles office. “Young buyers want to be able to Twitter and send instant messages while older buyers view that as unsafe," Koslow adds.

With our commitment to safety and quality, Etratech’s electronics and controls are used by manufacturers in the automotive industry. We've developed and produced advanced electronic controls for leading OEMs around the world since 1989. We have the expertise and resources to compete globally, meeting strict standards of quality. Contact us for more information.

Responsible Recycling

At Etratech, we know the importance of environmentally conscious business, and how crucial recycling is to our planet.  We place great value on being RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) compliant.

WEEE is an EU directive that, in conjunction with RoHS, sets collection, recycling, and recovery targets for all types of electronic goods. The RoHs Directive set restrictions upon European manufacturers as to the material content of new electronic equipment placed on the market.   They both became European law in 2003.

We at Etratech believe it is important for manufacturers to research who their recycler is, as an excess of WEEE products has caused capacity issues for many recycling firms, leading to some sending their waste overseas, rather than properly handling it. 

Recently, it was reported that several WEEE recyclers, including those dealing in television sets, have seen an increase of up to 30%, leading to the need for temporary storage when they couldn’t handle the drastic increases.  This is just one example of WEEE increases, and that excess trickles down to all electronics, creating capacity problems across the board. 

We believe in the importance of proper recycling, and encourage manufacturers to do the necessary research, ensuring that they choose a recycler who follows the correct procedures and can handle the increases, dealing with excess in responsible ways.  We are all responsible for our planet.

Here’s a link to the aforementioned article on increases in excess televisions.

Cooler Controls

The dog days of summer mean the constant need for air conditioning; imagine those long hot days without a properly working AC.  If your AC unit is not functioning as it should be, it could mean costly repairs, higher electric bills, and overall discomfort on those brutally hot days.  

An AC that is working properly requires a number of standard features: well functioning safety controls, correct refrigerant levels, clean and maintained compressor and electrical components, checked and routinely changed filters, calibrated thermostats, and cleaned outdoor coils.  Correctly functioning AC controls are crucial to the life of your machine, and to the comfort of you and your family.  

At Etratech, we design and manufacture quality control components for HVAC systems, with maximum performance and efficiency in mind.  We develop and install these components to function at superior levels, ensuring that the machines in which they are placed function as best as possible.  

We’ll continue to produce the highest-quality components that will in turn create the highest-quality air conditioners, so that you and your loved ones can enjoy a cool, worry-free summer. 

Total Acquisition Management Keeps Your Supply Chain Intact

Of the many reasons why Etratech is an industry leader, one is our Total Acquisition Management program, our supply chain management service that allows our customers access to the best prices, lead times, and logistics – regardless of their size.   The T.A.M. program provides for convenience and reliability. 

Why is a program like T.A.M. so invaluable to our customers? Beyond the convenience, there’s the important factor of reliability.  Supply chains have proven, for many companies, to be quite shaky, and when they fail, so too can a business.  Recently, Qualcomm, a worldwide provider of wireless technology and services, reported shares falling close to 15% in less than a month, all due to supply chain problems.  Their supply chain issues cost this leading company a great deal of business and money. 

Unreliable supply chain factors can drastically affect your business, and the best way to prevent this is by trusting Etratech, and our T.A.M program.  We can take away the fears of lost business due to supply chain troubles by handling everything with our dedicated supply chain and facilities. 

After all, isn’t your business too important to trust to anything less than reliable?

Etratech and the Housing Market Recovery

The housing market is finally recovering, and with it is the growing demand for in-home consumer electronics.  In fact, The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) just released a report that stated that installed home technology, including entertainment and automation control solutions, are becoming a crucial part of home development and sales.

 

Steve Koenig, CEA's director of industry analysis, stated that "This year's study confirms CEA's long-held belief and prediction that home technology would make a positive contribution to the inevitable housing market recovery as home buyers' digital lifestyles and desires for energy efficiency factor into purchasing decisions."

Lighting controls, structured wiring, entertainment, and home automation are features that are quickly becoming more and more important to home builders and buyers, and are therefore contributing to the growth of the housing market.  Etratech’s electronics are used in a wide variety of these types of controls, making them necessary to the market’s continued upswing.  In this way, Etratech’s quality products have a role in this exciting—and long awaited—recovery, and we’re proud to be providing the manufacturers of these products with the best electronics and controls available. 

Etratech Unveils Our New Website!

PCB manufacturing, global supply chain management, electronic control engineering and design: Etratech certainly does not deal in stagnant industries. The nature of our business involves managing changes in technology and in markets, both domestic and international, and staying up-to-date with our customers and our suppliers. The Etratech of today retains the same manufacturing expertise, worldwide asset management services, and premium customer service as yesterday’s Etratech, but we are also an evolving company.

For that reason, we’re proud to introduce our brand new website , highlighting and detailing our quality services everywhere from engineering and design to our renowned Total Asset Management program, which lets you focus on manufacturing, while we utilize our full global resources to take care of your supply chain needs. You can read all about pastprojects we’ve completed, learn about the benefits of a manufacturing career at Etratech, and watch our design and manufacturing information video. We’re pleased to have you as a visitor to our blog, and look forward to hearing your thoughts on our new site!