Design concepts for tape cartridge unit mass storage applications

In a highly competitive world market there is a continuing need to develop new products offering additional features, smaller size, increased reliability, improved cost-effectiveness and higher data storage. A typical product lifetime is 2-4 years, thus a reduced time to market to exploit the window of opportunity has a considerable impact on profitability. During the latter part of 1993 a new fast track development programme was initiated using the principles of concurrent engineering to bring a new half inch cartridge product to market in half of the total time taken for earlier products, despite a product complexity around five times greater. The goal was to have the new product available from the manufacturing facility in 18 months after commencing the full development programme without compromising the overall product quality, reliability, or performance. Significant project objectives which helped to differentiate the product from the competition and which contributed to an overall improved competitiveness include: low material cost; high reliability; low inventory; ease of assembly (design for manufacture); versatility (adapt to customer requirements); and materials at point of use (JIT philosophy)