Data Guide Cable
Cabler Project for Data Guide Cable Corporation
Jürgen Seybold
President DGC
“With the professional and objective support of SHI, we were able to determine the best technology with the lowest investment for a new cabling machine. Having an objective view from a competent third party always goes directly to the bottom line.”
Data Guide Cable Corporation
Data Guide Cable (DGC) was founded in 1983 and joined the LUETZE International Group in 2015. Data Guide Cable has established itself as a quality manufacturer of specialty electronic and electrical cable products for a variety of applications. Major markets serviced include instru-mentation, data communications, robotics, broadcast/studio, computer, utility, shipboard, and factory automation among others. The main focus is manufacturing products in compliance with USA specific standards such as NEC, UL, NFPA, ABS, MSHA, etc. cable manufacturing for the Americas applications.
The Task
The task was to find the best possible solution to grow efficiency, output and quality of the manu-factured cables. In order to take all aspects into account, SHI's consulting services were sought in addition to the company's own analysis.
The goal was not only to find out what needed to be done, but also to request SHI's support in implementing the appropriate measures.
The overall task for SHI was to:
Analyze the current situation and recommend possible solutions (by checking all different technologies of stranding)
Verify findings by a plausibility check (is DGC's analysis congruent or is it different?)
Find a solution
Putting the theoretical solution into practice
Pursuing the practical implementation until successful completion
The Solution
A SWOT analysis quickly confirmed that the limiting factor was the cabler capacity. However, the type of ideal cabler technique could only be determined by a comprehensive survey of the current product range also considering future changes and demands. All this analysis was conducted to find a more efficient and improved production process.
This resulted in a set of specifications for a new, universal cabling technology that had not yet been used at DGC. The next steps, such as supplier selection, bid evaluation, etc., were then carried out with the usual routines. What was important, however, was consistent monitoring of the ongoing project, in which SHI played a major role.
The Success Factors
As always, retrospective measurement and assessment of key success factors yielded a positive perspective. We at DGC see the choice to involve SHI for this project as an important success factor. SHI provided us with an excellent basis with their extensive knowledge in the field of ABC analysis, specifically when evaluating the current production portfolio and providing a solution for
the expansion of it.
Based on many decades of experience, SHI recommended cabling technology which was not well known to us but is state of the art and well known by SHI. Finally, SHI’s consistent follow up on the implementation was crucial for the successful implementation of one of the most advanced cable manufacturing solutions in the US.
The team of SHI Kabel
The consultants of SHI Kabel are a small, efficient team. And they will stay that way. It enables them to exchange ideas intensively and to work with their customers. So cable manufacturers do not get off-the-peg advice, but individual advice for their specific requirements.
The owners Thomas Hoffmann and Werner Pfeiffer can look back on almost 30 years of experience with cables. Gerald Moser complements the team with his business knowledge.
Thomas Hoffmann
Werner Pfeiffer
