Case Studies > Auto Parts Maker Wins Productivity Race with NComputing

Auto Parts Maker Wins Productivity Race with NComputing

Customer Company Size

Mid-size Company

Region

America

Country

United States

Product

NComputing L-series
NComputing virtualization software

Tech Stack

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Wireless Network Integration

Implementation Scale

Enterprise-wide Deployment

Impact Metrics

Cost Savings
Productivity Improvements
Environmental Impact Reduction

Technology Category

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Device Management Platforms
Networks & Connectivity - Wireless Local Area Network

Applicable Industries

Automotive

Applicable Functions

Facility Management
Business Operation

Use Cases

Factory Operations Visibility & Intelligence
Remote Asset Management

Services

System Integration
Hardware Design & Engineering Services

About The Customer

BLD Products is a manufacturer specializing in quality emission and engine control products for automobiles and trucks. The company supplies parts to both original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket. Based in Holland, Michigan, BLD's manufacturing operations encompass light assembly, machining, welding, injection molding, and stamping. Operating in the intensely competitive global parts business, BLD relies heavily on factory automation to drive productivity and quality. The company faces the challenge of maintaining high uptime to meet production goals while managing tight industry margins. As a mid-sized company, BLD is focused on cost-effectively upgrading its computing infrastructure to support its manufacturing processes.

The Challenge

BLD Products, a manufacturer of emission and engine control products, faced the challenge of upgrading their outdated computing infrastructure. Their existing PCs were nearly six years old, running obsolete operating systems, and were not cost-effective to replace entirely. The company needed a solution that would ensure high uptime in their harsh manufacturing environment while keeping computing costs under control. They considered a thin-client solution but found the upfront costs for servers, software, and network equipment to be prohibitive. BLD sought an affordable alternative that could meet their specific needs and improve their factory automation systems.

The Solution

BLD Products partnered with GHA Technologies, an NComputing solution partner, to deploy the NComputing L-series virtual desktop solution. This solution allowed BLD to use a ratio of four L-series devices per shared PC, effectively leveraging the unused capacity of modern PCs. The NComputing devices, which have no CPU, memory, or moving parts, are rugged and easy to maintain, making them suitable for BLD's harsh manufacturing environment. GHA Technologies conducted tests to ensure compatibility with BLD's wireless environment and USB-based barcode scanners. The tests confirmed that the NComputing solution worked well with the existing network and peripherals. The deployment of the L-series devices enabled BLD to replace only a quarter of their PCs, significantly reducing costs and increasing productivity.

Operational Impact

BLD realized substantial savings in upfront costs by deploying the NComputing solution.
The company experienced a significant increase in uptime and reliability with the new infrastructure.
The time and effort required for deployment and maintenance were greatly reduced, with only a fraction of PCs needing installation.
BLD benefited from dramatically lower energy costs due to the low power consumption of the NComputing devices.

Quantitative Benefit

NComputing L-series devices use only 5 watts of electricity compared to 150-200 watts for a PC.
One of the NComputing stations was operational for 95 straight days without a reboot.