Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1542458
44 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2026 In the past, we had a tool that could send digital information, but there wasn't the right kind of hardware to move forward until, perhaps, six years ago. Back then, a company called Delta Sigma seemed to lead the U.S. market; their tool is called HarnessWorks, and it projects work instructions, wiring information, and so forth onto a board. Zuken provides users with this model of digital information, and they can step through it, one wire and one connector at a time. They're also able to check that they've done it correctly. Of course, there are track- ing metrics that accompany it to help determine how long it takes to install the wires and other sorts of productivity data. That project was ongoing when, approximately two and a half years ago, we were approached by Laselec, now owned by Komax, out of France, which had a slightly different approach. Using a rather large TV-type screen, information on how to assemble the wires, clips, and ties, would project from the bottom instead of from the top. We saw this as an opportunity for some standardization. With both companies, we produced the Electronic Formboard (EFB) file format, which is currently XML-based. It will detail everything required for that harness, including a step-by-step approach to assembly. It's encouraging that people are recognizing the EDA industry as a whole is a little behind in the wire harness area. Harvell: Yes, I had a lengthy conversa- tion with representatives from the Global Electronics Association at EWPTE. They've established a steering committee to deter- mine how to standardize the EFB format file; that represents a huge step forward. Obviously, Zuken doesn't want it to be a proprietary format. It might seem like a good idea at first, but it never works. It's horrendous for a customer to have to switch between the different units. From our perspec- tive, if we move forward with this IPC standard interface, it's a win for not just us, but for the entire industry. Geoffrey Ng: We often use the term "digital thread" to describe the data flow, which encapsulates the entire concept of tying all the pieces together. The digital thread moves us from system engineering to electrical design to mechanical design. We get a thread between mechanical and electrical from the schematic to the formboard. It's essential to keep departments connected because our systems are becoming increasingly complex. Is wire harness design and analysis part of this tool suite? Doesn't the EFB file need to be generated somewhere? Harvell: Our front-end tool is Harness Builder for the E3.series, including E3.formboard. These tools have been around for approximately 20 years, so they're quite refined. They take a schematic—perhaps a to-and-from list, or maybe manual design—some- thing directly on a formboard. In doing so, multiple checks are built into the product. For example, you can add your own circuit checks to ensure that pins fit the cavities and wires fit snugly on the pins. The system prevents the designer from making those mistakes in the digital harness before building the physical harness. Here's an example of how the tool helps optimize the process. Let's say a small wire harness shop wants to know if it can manufac- ture a harness quickly. Items with long lead times would typically be an issue using traditional cost estimation. Zuken connects to online pricing sites to obtain parts pricing and availability information then creates a full cost estimate for the harness, including labor rates and timing, as well as other relevant factors. Very quickly, the shop can analyze Pa u l H a r ve l l G e o N g