If you’re at the point where you are ready to order a custom cable assembly, wiring harness, control panel, or other connectivity solution then you need to have some information ready to provide to the manufacturer you have chosen to partner with.
The list:
- A drawing—preferably an engineer’s drawing or schematic, but crayon works too.
- Lead Time
- Quantity
- Connectors
- Cable
- Length
- Are substitutions allowed?
- What certifications do you need?
- Do you need a prototype?
- Do you have any special requirements?
Drawings
You will need to have a drawing of the cable assembly (or harness, etc) for your manufacturer to review. The manufacturer will need this to determine what production resources will be required, but also so they can start sourcing the components. In some cases it’s possible to reverse-engineer an existing cable assembly or wiring harness without a drawing (We do it all the time!), so bring this up early so your manufacturer can start the process right away.
Lead Time
You will need to provide a desired delivery date. There will probably be some back and forth between you and your manufacturer when determining lead times so bring this up early so any potential timing conflicts can be addressed.
Substitutions
Depending on your industry and requirements, it could be possible to provide substitutions with the same form, fit, and function. If this is possible, let your manufacturer know so they can provide you with options (that could possibly save you time and money!).
Special Requirements
If you have any special requirements such as NDA’s, security, etc, you should make sure to let your manufacturer know in advance.
So there you have it, you are ready to make the call! If you are in need of custom cable assemblies or other connectivity solutions give us a shout!
Written by Chris Grant on Jul. 08, 2020