The production planning puzzle explained

Our chamber projects start with engineering and end with installation and testing. If one of the two changes in planning, André Oostdam, responsible for production, feels the pain. How does he guarantee deadline promises to clients?

André: “The production stage is right between engineering and installation. First, the engineering stage can exceed the deadline if the design is very complex or the client needs more time to approve the design. The installation stage, on the other hand, is mostly booked at the start of the engineering stage. Our clients ask for an operation date when a new chamber must be operational. That means I have to make sure there is a concept planning for all the parts, sometimes from more than 20 different suppliers. Then, I always make a detailed backwards planning from the delivery date, which you can see in the photo.”

Do major changes in the planning give you a headache? André: “Not really; I have been doing this for many years, and I know where potential pitfalls may occur. Take the buildings in which we must install the chambers. Clients tend to have flexible installation planning for buildings that are to be constructed since many factors influence the end date of a new building. This means my planning needs a certain amount of flexibility.”

How do you achieve that? André: “In my years at Comtest, I have created more flexible plannings with colour codings, so everybody involved can see what happens to their partial planning if deadlines are postponed. Especially when planning the installation crew, flexible planning can be difficult. We need to book flights, hotels, and local equipment, and the guys need to arrange their absence with their families. And that is something I respect a lot. It’s up to me and our team to keep the planning clear and the people happy.”

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Our services include maintenance and validated testing. We recommend that both are executed by authorized personnel only. Our expert teams can perform preventive maintenance on RF-shielded doors, mode-stirrer systems, and positioning equipment such as turntables. We also offer validation services to see if your EMC test chamber or RF-shielded room still functions within its intended limits and avoiding unexpected down-time or product recalls at the same time.

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A shielded room can perform conducted emission and immunity EMC measurements, eliminating harmful external influences, leading to more accurate and consistent test results. Being a Faraday cage, a shielded room will not only improve test results but will also form an excellent aid in protecting information and essential hardware. Comtest can assist governments, the military, financial institutions, and large corporations in protecting what matters most in critical situations. We offer the highest quality, sensitivity, and security before, during and after working with you.

A shielded room can perform conducted emission and immunity EMC measurements, eliminating harmful external influences, leading to more accurate and consistent test results. Being a Faraday cage, a shielded room will not only improve test results but will also form an excellent aid in protecting information and essential hardware. Comtest can assist governments, the military, financial institutions, and large corporations in protecting what matters most in critical situations. We offer the highest quality, sensitivity, and security before, during and after working with you.

Comtest has been building high-quality antenna test ranges for more than 20 years. We are dedicated to putting our experience to work for you, turning any problem you might have into a customized test solution. As for researching and developing your products, we know speed and return on investment are very important. That’s why we ensure your project is delivered on schedule, on budget and exactly as ordered.

Comtest has been building high-quality antenna test ranges for more than 20 years. We are dedicated to putting our experience to work for you, turning any problem you might have into a customized test solution. As for researching and developing your products, we know speed and return on investment are very important. That’s why we ensure your project is delivered on schedule, on budget and exactly as ordered.

Comtest offers semi and full anechoic chambers that shield almost 100% of ambient emissions and reflect minimal internal radiation. We deliver or build your custom test chamber at your location, depending on what size chamber you need. If you tell us your challenges, we’ll offer a tailored turnkey solution from design to installation, including upgrades and yearly certifications.

We are committed to helping you achieve the best EMC testing possible. 

Comtest offers semi and full anechoic chambers that shield almost 100% of ambient emissions and reflect minimal internal radiation. We deliver or build your custom test chamber at your location, depending on what size chamber you need. If you tell us your challenges, we’ll offer a tailored turnkey solution from design to installation, including upgrades and yearly certifications.

We are committed to helping you achieve the best EMC testing possible.