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FAGORNEWS 2013 TOGETHER WE EVOLVE FAGORNEWS 2013
TOGETHER WE EVOLVE
Three areas in 700 square metres
Consequently, the 340 square metre laboratory
was enlarged to 700 square metres, and
three different areas were pooled together
in this space. the development laboratory,
the reliability laboratory and the certification
laboratory. In addition there is a training
area for the technicians and mechanics from
the Technical Assistance Service (SAT) and
an area for packing and transport analysis.
These zones respond to the four product lines
manufactured at Oñate: washer extractors,
ovens, cookers and dishwashers. The first
zone is the development zone, occupying 200
square metres and allocated to the department
of R&D, which is the team responsible
for designing and developing new products
to launch on the market. “From the moment
when the idea is born until the product is finally
marketed, at least two years go past”, reveals
Urcelay. During this period, designs are
drawn up, prototypes are made and our rivals’
products are subjected to all types of tests, to
compare and contrast solutions, performance
and operation.
In this respect, Urcelay admits that “one important
aspect that we wished to reinforce
with the project is finding out more about our
rivals’ products. Major efforts have been made
to define the Key Factors to Competitiveness,
which could be defined as those that are
considered critical for our product offer, and
those on which we base our sales arguments.
Therefore, they are the ones that are subjected
to the strictest tests”. Thus Fagor Industrial
is able to demonstrate with well-founded data
that it has the best product and, if this is not
the case, the results will indicate the areas
requiring improvement to the department of
R&D.
The procedure for launching a new product
is, on the whole, complex. From the
moment work starts on the idea until it is
finally manufactured, up to two years may
go by. The procedure must consider different
factors and achieve the best possible
equilibrium between each one. Aspects to
be considered include the manufacture,
the assembly capacity, the ease of certification,
logistics, functionality, reliability,
that it is easily repairable, that it is easy to
maintain, cost… The designer has to consider
all these factors in a new design and
achieve an equilibrium between each one.
Then there are two areas belonging to
the laboratory as such. One is the Reliability
Laboratory. This name refers to a
space “that has been strengthened considerably”,
according to Urcelay. This zone
measures 200 square metres and different
tasks are carried out there. One such
task is the performance of reliability tests
during the procedure to launch a new
product, a new feature or a new improvement.
Another is to perform reliability tests
on a serial product and the last task is “to
perform validation and approval tests on
a new component or a new supplier with
respect to durability and reliability”, reveals
Urcelay.
42 #11 / JUNE 2013
#11 / JUNE 2013
43