Electronic OEM designers are beginning to see the advantages of online product selector tools. While a lot of attention is being directed today at electronic commerce in distribution, the pre-sales cycle, including product selection, is ideally suited to the Internet. Capabilities now go beyond just ordering parts online. Designers have access to powerful databases of electronic components that will help them select the right one-and one that is readily available in the distribution channel. In all of this, engineers especially value effective interconnect, passive and electromechanical (IP&E) utilities, since most of the available online tools focus on semiconductors.
Typically, the situation goes something like this: The designer usually knows the performance specifications of the electronic component needed but doesn't know the actual part number. With the Internet tools available now-for example, at www.avnetmarshall.com -the designer has access to information about more than 75,000 components. Designers can build a part number by entering design criteria and moving through a selector guide. The online step search starts at the commodity level and drives the user through product selection by type of device, ultimately searching by attribute, to arrive at a single part-or, in the case of multiple parts, with a comparison of the device specs provided. The tools have flexible search parameters; side-by-side comparisons of similar components; online technical support; links to supplier data sheets, and online ordering. If invalid parameters are selected, alternate possible selections are recommended. If a selected part is due to become obsolete, the user receives a message: "Obsolete part. Not for new designs." If the engineer is unable to find a device, an assistance button can be used to contact a product expert who will respond within 24 hours.
Once the part number is determined the engineer can place an order for components for, say, a prototype. Designers are assigned a Web order ID number that they can use to learn about order status in real-time. Supplier home pages, gateway pages and Smartlinks are also part of the Web site, allowing engineers access to a world of information. Reference design kits can also be ordered. Links to industry publications and online magazines provide further information about using the products.
One important feature of these online selector tools is that the same data that populates the selector tool is fed to the Avnet legacy mainframe system for consistency. This improves the accuracy of the information available to engineers during the design cycle.
In the past, when designers selected a component they would find many variations of the same device, making the process difficult and time-consuming. Typically, to check the price differences between components, the engineer spent time shuffling printed data sheets and catalogs, then compiled a list and submitted it to the purchasing department for pricing and availability. Purchasing managers would then call, e-mail or fax the list to their distributor inside salesperson. Price and availability data would then be returned by phone, e-mail or fax, adding to a mountain of information that soon became dated.
Now this information is available online in real-time, 24 hours a day, shortening the overall design cycle. The designer can use the shopping cart function to review pricing, saving time for the purchasing department and sales.
Having accurate and timely information about component pricing, availability and obsolescence during the design cycle shortens product time-to-market considerably. Supply-chain considerations must be taken into account during the early stages of the product's life to avoid costly mistakes. In the past, designers had to guess or wait days for information from suppliers. As these tools evolve, more functionality and integration will be available to streamline the design process.