HIVE CHARGING RACK AT E-SYSTEMS GROUP
My main project at e-Systems Group was management of the HIVE Product Line. The product saw three generations of design while I was in charge of it with goals of reducing cost and facilitating production. In the first iteration, I slashed costs by removing unnecessary parts and add on features, which could still be purchased separately. This was an easy cost reduction, but there was still more that could be done to perfect the product.
In the second iteration, I looked to further remove unnecessary parts by simplifying the design. I scoured through the parts and removed any cuts, folds or welds that served no purpose to decrease the fabrication time. Changes like these only hasten the process by seconds each, but over the course of 100+ units a year, the savings are significant. To increase efficiency, I standardized the HIVE to accommodate customization. As seen in the brochure, the HIVE design allows customers to select the number of drawers in the rack, type of lock (keyed, RFID or Biometric), number of Power Distribution Units, and mobility options (caster wheels or glide feet, and an anchoring kit). By creating a base unit that is adaptable to all customization, we could create a stock of standard cabinets ahead of time, and make the customizations to order. This allowed the plant to take advantage of volume manufacturing.
The third iteration of the HIVE targeted aesthetic changes. It was important to conserve as much cost savings as possible, so changes had to be creative. The size of the window was increased but this greatly reduced the structural integrity of the door. To strengthen the door without increasing the sheet thickness or add parts, a hem was added before forming the edges. This doubled the thickness of the material on the edges of the door to add rigidity. In this phase, a marketing brochure was created, complete with photo realistic renderings that I created with KeyShot. In total, the cost of the rack was reduced by $300, from $1800 to $1500.
