Process Control Package

Executive Summary

Chemcut Corporation is a manufacturer of equipment that is used to etch, treat, and condition the surface of metal.  The primary applications for Chemcut’s products are printed circuit boards and photo-chemically milled parts.  It is their Process Control Package that controls the modules used in the etching process.  The current system has been in use for many years.  Therefore, recent advances in display technology have not been implemented.  The current model is highly functional, but it leaves much room for aesthetic improvement.  The primary focus of this project was the redesign the package’s operator interface.  First, the qualities of an ideal redesign were established. These included easy to read displays, durability, and intuitive layout for buttons, warning lights, and displays, modernizing the package’s appearance, and keeping manufacturing and maintenance costs low.  In addition to these, Chemcut required that all of the components be UL, CSA, and CE approved.  These metal etching systems are shipped around the world and must meet rigorous global standards.  The student group did extensive market research to determine which enhancements should be made to the Process Control Package.  The chosen components were then tested and their uses simulated in a lab environment.  Finally, after all of the parts are compiled, the group hopes to test their redesign on a test line at Chemcut’s facility.

© April 2006. All rights registered.