The market for computer products is a multi-billion dollar business where onecan find a perfect balance of technology and efficiency. The huge industrialmarket is lead by such names as IBM, Hewlett Packard, and Compaq. In the worldtoday, computers are used for a variety of tasks and play a crucial role in theareas of academics and business.
The steps that are taken to bring the computerfrom several small components to a desktop product are organization of themanufacturing facility, assembly of hardware, installation of software, and atest process. The production of a high quality product is important to computerbuyers. The following discussion demonstrates steps large corporations take tomake an efficient computer. Companies such as IBM and Apple computers are wellknown in the computer industry. These companies have several manufacturingfacilities around the world where thousands of computers are built.
Manufacturing factories, which typically range between “75,000 to 200,000square feet”() in size, produce approximately 14,000 systems weekly. Companiesgenerally use 2 methods of computer assembly. One method involves complete unitassembly by one person, the other being group assembly where several peopleconstruct a single computer (the latter method is known as assembly lineproduction). A factory employing the single unit assembly method produces about40 to 60 computers a day (this number varies base on the complexity of thesystem being assembled).
The assembly line method yields approximately 70computers a day in the average factory. The assembly line method is the mostefficient way to produce computes as individual workers become highlyspecialized in a specific task. In addition, the next person down the ‘line’can check the pervious person’s work to check for errors. “Additionalinspection [, as used on assembly lines] tends to increase the computer’squality”(). The first step in manufacturing a computer is for the designer toconsider a balance between economic need (customers price level) with computerpower and practicality. Manufacturers try to make the best computer (in a givenprice range) for the lowest cost.
Once a specific model is designed the companyorders the high quality parts from their own component manufacturing divisionsor outside suppliers. Inventory control is an important part of acquiringcomponents as, to remain efficient, the company tries to avoid overstocking.Manufacturers take note of the consumer demand, on a daily basis to efficientlyestablish quantities for the production line. Top manufactures such as IBM andApple buy computer components for their products based on “availability,quality and priority of the configuration” (). When assembling a computer,there are 8 to 10 major components installed including the processor speed chip,the motherboard, RAM (Random Access Memory), diskette drive, modem or networkcard, video card, hard drive, sound card, and CD-ROM. Before the components areplaced into the computer, each part undergoes an extensive testing processcalled “quality control” ().
Quality control ensures that faulty systems arenot shipped. As an initial step, prior to the assembly process, an inspection ofthe outer case to ensure that there are no scratches or defects. The brand nameand indicator labels are put onto the computer case at this time. Next themotherboard is installed and prepared for the processor chip. The chip (which isoften a Pentium chip) is attached to the motherboard along with the RAMcomponent. Once the chip and RAM are installed, the internal speakers and soundcard are placed into the case.
The hard drive, disk drive and CD-ROM drive arein snuggly attached to the computer chassis. All these components are thenattached to the motherboard with cables so that they may communicate with eachother. Power supply is then applied to the computer and other additionalcomponents such as the video card, and modem are added near a final stage ofassembly. After all these components are installed to create the finished‘PC’, the unit is thoroughly inspected to ensures that all the cablesconnections are in place and all other defects are fixed. Inspectors also ensurethat cables are in appropriate places so that they do not touch components. Thisis important as heat given off components, while operating can cause minorexplosions.
The CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor- circuitry for thememory and processor) is set up at this time. The top cover is placed onto thecomputer and it is shipped off for further testing. All companies differ intheir testing of finished products. A common in most companies includes the48-hour burn in period. This period is very similar to the burn in period that acar undergoes following production.
After the 48-hour burn in, final diagnostictests are completed to ensure all components are working well. If a computer isordered with sound cards, speakers are attached to the unit and they also aretested. Mouse and keyboard components are tested manually by connecting atesting mouse and keyboard to the ports. The computer is then shipped from themanufacturing site to the distribution center. At the center, additional testsare possible as computers are randomly checked and inspected. The computer isthen further shipped to department or retail stores for sale to the consumer.
Inconclusion, the production of a computer from a number of components to afinished product is a complex procedure. It is crucial to have a well-organizedcomputer manufacturing facility, and it is important that assembly andinsulation of all components is carried out accurately. Final testing is theconcluding step in computer manufacturing process. The testing phase is mostimportant, as consumers demand high quality and efficient products. In societytoday, computers are essential for the flow of information and importanttechnical tasks.
The usefulness of the computer and subsequent consumer demandfor improved models will keep pressure on manufactures to build more efficient,high quality machines in future years.
