Design data refers to the technical information used to bring a wire harness to life.  This data encompasses every detail about the components, materials, specifications, and configurations involved in the harness assembly process: connector types, pin configurations, voltage ratings, current capacities, physical dimensions, routing instructions, and so on. Part numbers correspond to each component integrated into the harness. The design data includes guidelines for bundling, insulation, shielding, and protective measures that ensure optimal performance and safety.

Why is your wire harness data so important?

It tells distributors, dealerships, and end users everything they need to know about your wire harness. Let’s say you’ve designed a wire harness for a refrigerator. While still under warranty, the fridge experiences issues with a particular component. The fridge is then sent back to the distributor. 

Lack of access to your data is a problem

It’s not a minor problem, either. Breaking down the issues, here’s what happens:

1. Limited troubleshooting

Technicians will face difficulties in troubleshooting the issues effectively. Without access to detailed circuit diagrams and component information, they face the challenge of identifying and addressing faults promptly.

2. Extended downtime

Longer troubleshooting periods result in extended downtime for the faulty refrigerator. Customers would experience delays in getting their appliances repaired, leading to dissatisfaction and inconvenience.

3. Higher service costs

Inefficient troubleshooting and extended service times result in escalated service costs. Technicians invest more time in diagnosing problems, leading to increased labor expenses and overall service charges. Escalated service expenses can become a financial burden for both customers and the company. Customers may be reluctant to bear higher costs for prolonged repairs, and the company’s profitability may suffer from heightened labor expenses.

4. Reduced service quality

The absence of comprehensive documentation can compromise the quality of post-sales service. Technicians may resort to trial-and-error methods, potentially causing further damage or failing to resolve issues effectively. They could also replace components unnecessarily.

5. End customer frustration

Prolonged downtime and multiple service visits can frustrate customers, eroding trust in the brand and leading to negative feedback. Dissatisfied customers may seek alternatives, impacting your company’s reputation.

Without access to detailed documentation, distributors and sales representatives will struggle to provide effective and efficient post-sales support. Consequently, this deficiency raises doubts about the reliability of your entire service infrastructure, resulting in a perception of subpar support. This shortfall not only undermines customer satisfaction but also risks tarnishing your brand’s reputation in the eyes of consumers.

The solution: Data consolidation in wiring design

If your distributors’ technicians had access to detailed documentation, including circuit diagrams of the fridge, they’d have insights into the location of each component. This documentation is invaluable for troubleshooting because it helps technicians understand where the fault lies, making it easier to identify and replace the problem. Whether you’re manufacturing appliances or supplying the automotive and transportation industry, you must make your data accessible to anyone who needs to understand how your wire harness works. 

techPublisher: making wiring harness data analysis possible

If you’re already using Arcadia Schematic, Arcadia OEM Bundles or Arcadia Manufacturing Bundle, then you can easily add techPublisher. Even if you’re not using Arcadia, techPublisher can integrate with third-party ECAD tools to capture your data. 

Cloud-based techPublisher lets you share this data with an unlimited number of engineers and service centers. This makes it possible for them to make data-driven decisions. Examples:

• Troubleshooting 

Engineers can use wire-harness data analysis to pinpoint and address faults in wire harness systems quickly, aiding in the decision-making process for repair or replacement.

• Design optimization

By analyzing wire-harness data, engineers can identify areas for design improvement, leading to decisions on optimizing the wire harness layout, components, or configurations.

• Maintenance planning

Service centers can make informed decisions about when and how to perform maintenance or servicing based on data analysis, preventing unnecessary downtime and minimizing costs.

• Quality control

Wire-harness data analysis helps in quality control decisions by identifying potential issues early in the manufacturing process, ensuring higher product quality and fewer defects.

• Performance enhancements

Engineers can make decisions to enhance the performance of wire harnesses by identifying and addressing issues related to voltage drops, interference, or inefficiencies in the system.

• Cost reduction

Analyzing wire-harness data can lead to cost-saving decisions, such as optimizing materials, reducing unnecessary component replacements, or streamlining manufacturing processes.

• Compliance and safety

Service centers can use data analysis to ensure that wire harnesses comply with safety regulations and make informed decisions about necessary modifications or upgrades.

• Documentation accuracy

Engineers can verify the accuracy of technical documentation and make decisions to update manuals or schematics based on real-world data.

Interactive click and trace to follow wires

Users can interact with the documentation. For example, they can click on a specific wire to get a visual guidance of the wire’s path or connection. This is particularly helpful for fast, effective troubleshooting. 

3D Data Modeling with connector hot-spots

You can give engineers and technicians 3D views of connector wire tables and schematic sheets. Highlighting specific points on connectors makes for easier identification and interaction.

Streamlining documentation

techPublisher streamlines the often cumbersome task of creating or updating technical publications. Through automation, it significantly reduces the time and effort needed to generate and update documentation.

More productive engineers and service technicians

Technicians within your service support system don’t have to contact you with requests. Nor do your own engineers have to question you about the data concerning behind your electrical systems. techPublisher ensures instant access to precise updates and bulletins that updates and bulletins are immediately accessible and accurate. This effectively tackles the challenge of maintaining up-to-date documentation. Engineers and service technicians are equipped with the latest data for analysis, enabling them to, providing engineers and service technicians with the most recent data for analysis. With this data, they can do their jobs efficiently and effectively.

How supportive are you?

The significance of wire-harness data cannot be overstated. With techPublisher, you can empower engineers and service centers to make data-driven decisions

This results in more efficient troubleshooting, achievable design optimization, informed maintenance planning, and enhanced quality control. It facilitates performance enhancements, cost reduction, compliance with safety regulations, and ensures documentation accuracy. 

In essence, techPublisher bridges the gap between data and practical application, transforming the way wire harnesses are serviced and boosting the overall efficiency of engineering and service teams.

Ask us for a free demo 

Exactly how can Arcadia techPublisher improve the support you provide for your products? Find out for yourself. We’re happy to give you a free demonstration. And if you have any questions, we’re here to help.