Mentor Blogs

A little while ago I blogged the praises of the librarian and their role in underpinning the success of EDA design, and specifically their unsung role in electrical interconnect and harness design. This time around I extol the professionalism and virtues of Product Managers - employees of Mentor Graphics whose contribution is not acknowledged enough to the success of the Capital application, the popularity … Read More

Best Practice, Capital Harness Systems, Automotive Electrical and Electronic Systems Design, Electrical Engineering, Product Manager, CHS, Electrical Distribution Systems

Mentor Graphics’ website has just been reorganized and improved so you can better find information relating to the Integrated Electrical Systems products. Capital and VeSys reviews, descriptions and information can now be accessed through www.mentor.com/electrical. The re-structuring is comprehensive and the appearance and friendliness of the site is improved. What was there previously wasn’t all that … Read More

Capital Architect, Capital Costing, Automotive Electrical and Electronic Systems Design, VeSys, Wire Harness, Capital Harness Systems, CHS

Often when we are creating wiring diagrams we are limited by our page size for content - sometimes as small as 8.5″x11″ often 11″x17″.  I have designed using both - and used both in the field.  I can tell you I prefer to draw on 11″x17″ but when I am in the field troubleshooting I would rather handle and carry a smaller stack of paper. A helpful construct now in Mentor Graphic’s Capital Harness System … Read More

Electrical Wiring Interconnection System, Electrical Engineering, Wire Harness, Automotive Design, Capital Harness Systems, Aerospace Design, EE, Electrical Design, CHS, ECAD

This is the second in a 3-part mini-series of looking ahead to the new decade in the wiring harness industry and the systems interconnect design business. The first part was about technology initiative and this part focuses on business concepts which I believe will be important.  These are my own opinions. Not snap decisions but as arrived at with some contemplation and a little research. They may … Read More

Capital Harness Systems, CHS, Automotive Electrical and Electronic Systems Design, Wire Harness, Electrical Engineering, Harness

Here’s to a New Year and a happy one with a capital H. And a Capital C and S wrapped around the H. A new decade and a new rash of predictions from pundits I notice from my holiday period reading. So I thought why not join in! Here is what I think it will look like to stay ahead of the competition, protect your customer relationships and have excellent service offerings over the next 10 years.  It … Read More

Wire Harness, Capital Harness Systems, CHS, Automotive Electrical and Electronic Systems Design, Electrical Design Systems, Electrical Distribution Systems, Electrical Design, Electrical Design Standards for Wiring Harnesses

Very soon after I wrote about the Capital and Capital H Design System Interface (.dsi) format standard  I was passing by the desk of a co-worker in the Detroit office and saw a magazine. I borrowed the magazine and read an article and learned that the DSI three letter acronym has another meaning.  The publication was  aei Technology Report  and the author Terry Costlow: the article “Consortium promotes … Read More

Capital Harness Bridges, Capital Harness Systems, Capital Harness, KBL, CHS, DSI

Standards inject certainty into your working life. Last week I wrote about how the development of standards and the easiest pathway to adoption of them. Adherence to standards is an integral part of successful engineering. The most attractive standards: lack complexity - are easy to understand - clear and straightforward for a person like you turn out to be robust for the niche in which you operate - … Read More

DSI, Design System Interface, ECAD, Automotive Design, Formboard, Capital H, IESF, Aerospace Design, Wire Harness, EE Standards, Capital Harness Systems, Electrical Design, CHS, Electrical Distribution System, Capital Harness Bridges, Electrical Engineering, Capital Harness Classic

The line between something we WANT vs. something we NEED is often a blurry one.  With regards to electrical design software it is very important to understand the difference in order to prioritize requests for features. I have the pleasure of working with many customers across different industries.  In all of my travels I have met smart, dedicated people doing the best they can for their company. … Read More

Data Accuracy, Model, Capital Harness Systems, Validation

Here’s a personal milestone, which is of no great interest to anyone but myself  I guess. September includes the 10th anniversary of  my first ever setting foot in the United States of America.  A decade.  Time is elastic, multi-dimensional.  After September comes the month of October.  October is the month of trade shows this year.  At the end of the month Grapevine  in Texas on Wednesday, October … Read More

CHS, IESF, Capital Harness Systems, WHMA, SAE, Trade Shows

I had a chance to chat with my friend and former colleague Bob Valascho, a product specialist for Capital until his retirement a couple of months ago. He had a distinguished and productive career with full service suppliers, original equipment makers and software organizations after military service. Bob travelled extensively around the world in his career, but lived all the while in Michigan. Bob … Read More

Expertise, Electrical Distribution Systems, FMEA, Capital Harness Systems, Best Practice, CHS, Generative Flow, EDS, Implementation Projects, Electrical Design Systems, Deployment, Robert Valascho, Career

Hereby a fondness is expressed for the Capital Community http://communities.mentor.com/mgcx/community/harness - though I wish it was called something else instead of community. “Community” is an overworked label. But I have no better suggestion to call it. The Capital Harness Systems Bunch. The Capital Harness Systems Gang. The Group of Capital. Team Capital. The Capital Appreciation Society. The … Read More

CHS, IESD, Harness, Deployment, Mentor Communities, Capital Harness Systems, Best Practice

Continuing the series of posts related to the most efficient way to formulate an RFQ or tool evaluation process for electrical interconnect/systems integration cabling and harness tools, here we’re going to look at the third of four roughly equal “must have” categories of requirement.  CAD artifacts - schematics, blueprints, drawings, whatever you habitually call them are absolutely central to the … Read More

RFI, RFQ, CHS, Schematics, Capital Harness Systems, ECAD