Availability and the Three-Legged Stool analogy at Everight

There is a metaphor about why a stool must have 3 legs. While one or two legs by themselves may bring strength, only with the third leg comes stability. While no two applications are ever the same, a sensor solution always consists of three parts:

• Technical Specifications
• Cost
• Availability

A sensor solution may meet the technical requirements, but if the cost is $1000 per unit, and the budget is only for $100 per unit, it most likely isn’t an option. Likewise a high quality rotary potentiometer can be sourced for $10 from Digi Key or Mouser , but if you require a CANopen output for your vehicle, that is going to be an issue. Questions around technical specifications and budget are usually at the forefront and addressed early on in the buying process.

That said, the importance of availability is often overlooked. This was particularly highlighted during the supply chain shortages in recent years. For a variety of reasons many manufacturers streamlined production and as a result existing products became obsolete. Due to component or labor shortages, lead times of products went from days to months. I was told the story of one manufacturer who adapted by accepting purchase orders from only their five largest customers only.

Similarly, obsolescence can create unanticipated headaches. Earlier this year I received a phone call from an aerospace customer who needed a 4” potentiometer. They had used the same 4” sensor for over a decade, it was low cost and reliable, but the supplier had been sold and the new owners decided to exit that part of the business. Now they needed a replacement, ideally one that would be a drop-in replacement and we’re willing to spend 2 to 3 times as much, yet they still couldn’t find a solution.

At Everight we support all three legs. Our strength comes from working with a broad variety of sensor manufacturers. Unlike an OEM who is invested in only their own, specific R+D, at Everight we work with world-leading manufacturers of optical, magnetic, capacitive and inductive sensing technologies. Add to that over a decade of practical experience integrating these sensors and encoders in everything from sub-sea applications to the International Space Station, we know the common pitfalls customers experience and can anticipate issues before they creep up.

To address costs and budgetary concerns we work with customers and our vendors alike to optimize sensors, reducing not only the sensor cost, but installation time and setup. At Everight you pay for what you need and nothing more. We don’t work on commission, and we will never oversell a product.

Lastly, Everight offers stability to our customers. When necessary, we work with vendors to expedite products. We strive to quote accurate lead times. Our experience in custom solutions allows us to offer alternatives for sensors and encoders that have become obsolete.

Every project, big or small, one-time or reoccurring benefits from these three core traits. So take a break, pull up a chair (or stool) and give us a call. It would be great to show you firsthand why Everight should be your strategic partner.