Randtron Antenna Systems possesses extensive fabrication, finishing and assembly capabilities that allow us to choose between "make" or "buy" for almost all fabricated component parts. This competition between the in-house shop and outside sources results in greater efficiency and lower costs. These redundant sources allow us to quickly adjust to schedule disturbances and optimize flow of material and parts. All of these strengths support our ability to deliver on time. Our capabilities provide for quick prototyping of designs when needed. Fabrication--comprised of the machine shop, aluminum dip brazing and finishing--makes up 25% of the Manufacturing area. Machine Shop - Randtron Antenna Systems uses a wide variety of machine tools to support our Manufacturing philosophy. These tools range from manual lathes and mills to state-of-the-art CNC milling and turning centers. Randtron Antenna Systems also utilizes advances in software to improve its machining capabilities. SURFCAM and PRO-ENGINEER allow us to process sophisticated machine parts and contoured surfaces. Additionally, controller upgrades have been made to enhance programming interface with machine tools. This equipment, together with our skilled machinists, ensure processing to the tightest of tolerances with a great degree of repeatability. The result is a very high quality product. Aluminum Dip Brazing - A complete aluminum dip brazing facility--one of the few in Northern California--is available at Randtron Antenna Systems. The assemblies produced at our facility routinely meet or exceed the requirements of MIL-B-7883B. This unique capability allows complicated part geometries to be fabricated quickly and economically. Our designers and manufacturing engineers are acutely aware of this competitive advantage and take every opportunity to incorporate dip brazed assemblies into our designs. Finishing - Randtron Antenna Systems has extensive in-house painting, coating, and chemical conversion capabilities compliant to MIL-C-5541B. Having these processes in-house enables us to respond quickly to our customers' requirements and maintain strict controls over the finished product. Plastic Material Fabrication - Randtron Antenna Systems' plastics fabrication department specializes in the wet lay-up process, utilizing fiberglass, Kevlar, quartz, etc., in a variety of resin systems, with capabilities to fabricate requisite tooling and production parts. Our skilled craftsmen routinely perform complicated processes, such as when using RCS reduction treatments during the construction of LO test bodies for our in-house Compact Range. Randtron Antenna Systems is licensed to apply RULON coatings and has routinely provided parts for space satellite applications, as well as the traditional earth-bound bearings and wear surfaces use. Other specialty applications include rain erosion coating in both polyurethane and fluro-elastomeric compounds. Additionally, we have strategic alliances with custom fabricators specializing in other areas such as graphite composites or injection molding. Assembly - Randtron Antenna Systems performs all antenna assembly operations in-house and has dedicated 50% of the total manufacturing area for this activity. In order to promote repeatable production of assemblies, Randtron Antenna Systems utilizes assembly aids, tooling, operations sheets (process instruction), and inspection. A job leveling and pay grade program is also in place, which recognizes the variations in skill level requirements and ensures a proper skills-to-task match. Re-certification programs are in place to verify operator proficiency in areas such as soldering and ESD practices. All these result in providing the customer with a quality product. Manufacturing Engineering - This department is responsible for achieving operational efficiency and reaching cost goals in product manufacturing. Manufacturing Engineering plans, implements and monitors all processes, tooling, operational instructions and standards. They work closely with Microwave and Mechanical Engineering in order to implement "Design for Manufacturability" principles early in the product development cycle. This department also participates in cost estimating for proposals, make/buy economic evaluations, and other operational aspects that involve the engineering disciplines. Production Control - Production Control is responsible for ordering material and scheduling manufacturing with the ultimate objective of meeting the customer's delivery requirements. Production Control uses a computerized, job specific MRP system that is driven by the Master Production Schedule. The system uses lead-time offsets to determine time-phased order and schedule dates and to provide estimated production hours for capacity planning. From acquisition of raw material to delivery of the finished product, all activities are tracked. During weekly meetings, Production Control personnel provide current status for all production programs. The production load centers receive daily dispatch reports used to establish and change priorities within the manufacturing area. Quality Assurance - Our Quality Assurance system meets the requirements of MIL-Q-9858 and has been approved by companies such as Northrop Grumman, McDonnell Douglas and Westinghouse. Additionally, a certified Statistical Process Control (SPC) program is in place and is continually being refined, updated and expanded as part of our product improvement plan. Randtron Antenna Systems has a Total Quality Management commitment to provide customers with products and services that meet their needs, including employees trained in SPC and MIL-STD-2000 requirements. Quality Assurance is well equipped with fixtures and measuring instruments, used by experienced personnel to measure a wide range of complicated piece parts and assemblies used in aerospace and defense applications.