Benchmark Games International Saves Time, Costs and Secures its Reputation with The Aid of Schleuniger Equipment
Benchmark Games International, located in Lake Worth, Florida, is a world leader in the design and manufacture of redemption games found in many family entertainment centers. Slam-A-Winner, Monster Drop, Wheel Deal and Ticket Station are some of its most popular machines. When the company first started production in 1993, all wire applications were either outsourced or processed manually. Prior to deciding on whether to automate, Benchmark analyzed its manufacturing process focusing on quality and capabilities. The primary cause of failures could be traced back to incorrect wiring or damaged pins and connectors. The second was the need to minimize the time spent on mundane wiring tasks. The company was drawn to the built-in quality inspection systems offered by Schleuniger machines, and the ability to add and customize automated production features.
After purchasing a Schleuniger CrimpCenter 36 S fully automatic crimping machine, Benchmark increased production, cut its labor hours by half, and dramatically reduced all wire-related quality issues. “The in-house research and development team uses a software program to design the wire harnesses. They are then able to export that information, which is directly used by the Schleuniger interface,” explains Jeff DeLong, the company’s Quality Assurance Director. “The Quality Assurance team along with production management, are able to review, add quality metrics and testing points, and approve the pre-made programs and instructions for wire harnesses, before they are ever run.”
Once in production, the CrimpCenter 36 S performs tasks such as cutting to length, stripping both ends, applying required pins, and pull-force testing as identified by the pre-setup program. According to DeLong, “A single operator can produce thousands of completed wires each day!” He went on to elaborate, “these complete wire packages are then delivered to the wireboard assembly area, allowing us to skip any manual testing and crimping entirely.” With the production rate being so high, Benchmark is able to produce wires using better lean concepts and can have the needed wire created the day before assembly, instead of having to produce and store them over weeks of time, which can result in damage from storage and handling.
DeLong estimates that all wire-related failures have been reduced by 50 percent both at the production facility and in the field. He says that “by removing the variability of manual hand-crimping and replacing it with well calibrated output from the CrimpCenter 36 S, and adding the automated and controlled quality testing, we are able to nearly eliminate this problem saving us time, money and reputation.”
The company’s continued focus on quality as well as productivity, ensures that its manufacturing process and its products, both meet the highest standards, allowing Benchmark Games International to remain the world leader that it is.
