Mentor Blogs

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

The differences in documentation standards for electrical design are as vast as the number of stars in the sky.  No two are alike, no matter what the claims - there is always “something” different.  If your company provides documentation to more than one customer then the problem is even greater.  The problem is lies with the tools being used to create the drawings.  Typically I see companies trying … Read More

Model, Mentor Graphics, Wire Harness, Automotive Design, CHS, Aerospace Design, Electrical Distribution System, Electrical Engineering, ECAD, Electrical Design

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

What is EWIS?  EWIS stands for Electrical Wiring Interconnection System which can be defined as at set of electrical connections and signals between devices and modules and all of their associated termination parts which are necessary for their installation.  In other words, this defines the set of electrical diagrams and cable harnesses that are installed in an airplane or a helicopter that make all … Read More

Electrical Wiring Interconnection System, Electrical Engineering, EWIS, Capital Topology, CHS, Aerospace Design, Wire Harness, Electrical Design, Electrical Distribution System, ECAD, EE

It  is rumoured that I took a break in October and the greater part of November from writing blog posts because of a time squeeze exerted by a spike in workload.  It might be true.  Now I do have fifteen minutes I could think about it, but two of them have already gone and in the remaining thirteen, no twelve and a half now, I would much rather … oh never mind. I announce a new playlist you can use … Read More

CHS, Preston Guild, Automotive Electrical and Electronic Systems Design, Twisted Circuits, Wiring Harness

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

Having standards to work to is normal. In the Aerospace and Automotive Electrical and Electronic design realm there is no shortage of specifications. Engineers work to a variety of standards. For example - specifications for conductor sizes and wire materials. Also drawing appearance standards which I referred to in a previous post about how potential users of Capital Harness Systems (Capital) vet … Read More

Interoperability, Wire Harness, Design System Interface, DSI, CHS, Electrical Distribution System, Electrical Engineering, EE Standards, Electrical Design

Back in the day when I was a design engineer one of the more difficult things we had to keep track of were wire colors.  Capital Harness Systems provides several mechanisms for automating this task. When designing electrical systems, mostly for automotive designs, the color of each individual wire is very important.  The color provides visual feedback for the technicians as to what system the circuit … Read More

Wire Harness, EWIS, CHS, ECAD, Automotive Design, Electrical Distribution System, Electrical Engineering, EE, Electrical Design

 From time to time it looks like too much. All those things you should just know about Capital can be a little bit daunting.  But you join the little pieces of knowledge with the bigger ones until you become an expert. One of the customers I deal with has staff who guide designs all the way from concept and architectural studies, through systems design in detailed optioned logical drawing to Capital … Read More

Capital Integrator, CHS, Capital Harness XC, Harness, Training, CHS Documentation, CHS Tips and Tricks

A lot in Electrical CAD and manufacturing quality hinges on data accuracy and completeness of the library data. From the carrion-crow-like perch of someone supporting design automation software, the immense and patient contribution of the ECAD librarians is often missed.   A couple of co-inciding recent events brought me to a renewed understanding of the significance of the work librarians do. Those … Read More

Library, Librarian, Quality, Capital Harness XC, Capital Library, Capital Harness, Electrical Design Systems, Extensibility, CHS, ECAD Library

Anticipation Now for the future. The last blog began by a glance over the shoulder to the past. This week, the perspective is forward looking.  And a new departure - a European location from which to make a posting.  I’m in the Mentor Graphics office in Newbury, England and earlier in the week spent some time in the office in Altrincham farther north.  Preparations are in full swing for the release … Read More

Capital Integrator, CHS, Capital Harness XC, Training, CWS, Great Britain

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

Recently the subject of training has come up in the context of some work discussions. Training in relation to an extensive software product like Capital has quite a few facets. For example there is the distinction between knowing the technical details (which buttons to press, which places to look at to make the programs do what you came to them to make them do) and then there is the other matter, not … Read More

Deployment, Support, CHS, Training

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