Determining the overall value in quality computer enclosures and where to spend money is very important for manufacturers.
Every year, companies spend millions of dollars replacing failing electronic equipment. What if manufacturers could prevent unnecessary computer failures caused by environmental conditions? The answer lies within specifying a high-quality, durable pc enclosure. However, many IT department managers are left wondering: “How do I justify the investment to upper management?” Consideration of the capabilities of the product(s) can go a long way in the understanding of how one can maximize its use. Simply housing a lone computer - inside of an enclosure - is the equivalent of using a smart phone just to make phone calls. Make the most out of your investment by enclosing a pc, monitor, printer, power supply, and network equipment.
By asking the following questions, the equipment requester is able to determine the value added to production.
- How is your current system running?
Establish a baseline for analyzing current operations and how they function. If a critical printer is not operating at its full capacity because of a dirty environment or extremely hot summer temperatures, solve the problem with enclosing the printer in a cabinet and consider thermal management options. Make the most of the technology that is available. A NEMA 12 enclosure may be all that is necessary to ensure smooth operations 24/7.
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Where are you at risk?
Wash down environments are complicated places for electronics to exist. But, the challenge is easily overcome by utilizing a NEMA 4 or NEMA 4X enclosure. One might argue that equipment can be placed on a simple aluminum cart and wheeled out of the room during the wash down process. However, consider how much time it will take (while cleaning) to power down, disconnect, wheel out the equipment, clean the space, move the equipment back in, reconnect, and reboot the computer system. Does it really save time and money in the long run? If the initial investment cost scares a company away from deploying rugged computer enclosures, consider a 3-5 year roll-out plan to defray costs. Upgrade the most critical areas first and allocate additional funds for the following year’s upgrade. Always stay ahead of the equipment’s performance and functionality, so that you can avoid any costly downtime!
- What do you want to fix?
Pinpoint areas that are most important to your overall production, responsible for any unplanned/expensive shutdowns, and add to unnecessary production costs. Once the root of the problem is discovered, you can begin a well-informed action plan tailored to your needs. Determining what problem areas need to be fixed immediately will save thousands of dollars in a multi-million-dollar project.
- Where to improve efficiency?
The more efficient that a computer system operates, the lower the cost to run and the greater return from production. The goal should be to extract the maximum value of your electronics on the manufacturing floor. Measure the plant’s productivity when a durable computer enclosure is in place vs. not enclosing vital electronics. The more knowledge that can be mined from the production process, the better you will be able to improve performance, efficiency, and maximize the overall lifetime of electronics.
Keeping within a pre-determined budget may hinder a company from purchasing high quality, NEMA rated enclosures. Do not let price drive the decision. Never allow a situation in which your vital electronics are susceptible to failures. Installing heavy-duty enclosures, at the beginning of a project, will save money over the life of the electronics. No one wants to constantly replace expensive monitors, computers, and printers. Proper protection will keep these electronics up and running for many years. Therefore, it makes excellent business sense to invest in tough enclosures!
For more information:
- 3 Considerations for Computer Enclosures
- The Importance of Preventative Maintenance for Computer Enclosures
- The 3 Best Benefits of Computer Enclosures
- 5 Tips for Specifying the Correct Computer Enclosure Material
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