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IPC COMMUNITY 57 SPRING 2024 Since its inception in 1961, El-Com Systems has specialized in the design and manufacture of wire harnesses and cable assemblies. The Vrobel family acquired El-Com Systems (then known as El-Com/cabletek) in 1988, when Elie Vrobel (Arik's father), an unemployed engineer, was seeking to fulfill his "American Dream" by becoming an entrepreneur. However, it was a difficult transition as Elie was unfamiliar with the business and El-Com was in a challenging industry. Arik worked alongside his father to understand the company and the industry. His involvement was characterized by a commit- ment to the values and vision established by his father. When Arik took over the leadership of El-Com, he established a forward-thinking approach that significantly transformed the company. He says his vision for El-Com Systems "involved con- tinuing its tradition of excellence and driving it toward new technological frontiers and market expansions." He assumed leadership of the company in the early 2000s, with strategic decisions that expanded El-Com's capabilities and market reach, particularly in sectors demanding high reliability, like aerospace, defense, and medical. "I was known for seeking simplified, yet effec- tive solutions to technical challenges," he says of that time, and his leadership was character- ized by a drive to increase the company's capac- ity and scale. " E l- C o m a m p l i f i e d i t s production capacity while e m p h a s i z i n g i n n ova- t i o n in its manufactur- ing processes," Arik says. "This focus on manufac- turing led to the devel- opment of sophisticated products that would meet the stringent quality and performance standards required by our diverse clientele, including some of the most prestigious names in the aerospace and defense sectors." The Genesis and Impact of an AI Tool Arik formed Cableteque to address the key challenges in wire harness design by integrating AI into wire harness manufacturing. "Cablete- que, with its flagship PIA system, represents the forefront of technological innovation in the industry," he says. "Our focus on AI-driven solu- tions aligns with the industry's growing trend toward digital transformation, setting a new standard for what is possible in wire harness design and manufacturing." The conceptualization of Predictive Inter- connect Analytics (PIA) marked a significant milestone. "I had recognized the need for a tool that could address the prevalent inefficiencies in wire harness design and manufacturing," Arik says. PIA has been in development since early 2022, after Arik exited El-Com following its sale to Winchester/Aptiv. He formed a global team of unique domain and software experts who were just as passionate about addressing the challenges in proper wire harness designs. His team has been working diligently for the past two years to develop the PIA tool, with plans for wide-market release in April 2024. PIA's advanced AI algorithms automate the design validation process, significantly reduc- ing the risk of errors that can be costly and

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