Original Date: 05/01/2000
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

In the past, Northrop Grumman Defensive Systems Division (DSD) designed and manufactured dedicated fixtures for use in testing each subassembly that made up a power supply unit. Each one of these dedicated fixtures consisted of several thousand dollars worth of material; took many hours to design and build; required unique test procedure documentation; and had limited testing capability. Most included some kind of power load and numerous power supplies to stimulate the unit under test (UUT). In 1995, Northrop Grumman DSD acquired an Intepro Universal Power Supply Tester which contains the loads and power supplies needed to stimulate the UUT.

The Intepro system uses an Interface Test Adapter (developed by Northrop Grumman DSD) which is simple and reliable, and allows the UUT to interface with the versatile Universal Power Supply Tester. The software employed in the testing system uses the command structure of the Powerstar integrated test environment adapted by Northrop Grumman DSD to the UUT acceptance testing requirements. The process introduced requires very little operator intervention and training, and fits within the company’s overall Statistical Process Control (SPC) strategy.

Since implementing the Universal Power Supply Tester into its methodology, Northrop Grumman DSD has reduced its cost of test development and its touch labor to perform tests. Individual test procedures for each subassembly is no longer required. In addition, the universal nature of the Intepro system allows Northrop Grumman DSD to use identical test program codes with its customers who already own an Intepro.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.