Areté Associates Optical Engineering Division of Tucson, Arizona is housed in a 35,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility with 8,000 square feet dedicated to the production facility. Production for programs including the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS), AN/AQS-20A EOID and Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) are manufactured, integrated and tested here. This facility is able to provide a continuous flow between receiving, incoming inspection, kitting, assembly, sub-assembly acceptance testing, integration, top-level acceptance testing and sell-off, and packaging and shipment. The Tucson facility has been ISO 9001 certified since 2002 and is currently AS9100 certified. The facility houses the following production related capabilities:
• Optical testing to support visible through Long Wave Infrared (LWIR)
systems, including: Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), distortion,
radiometric data, vacuum and thermal characterization
• Test and integration of class 3 lasers
• Engineering support comprised of Systems, Optical, Mechanical,
Electrical, Controls, and Software engineers
• Test equipment sub-assembly testing, including three thermal chambers
• Customized testing station for critical alignment of complex passive
and active optical systems
Areté Associates has invested considerable resources into the development of the Areté Manufacturing Information Systems (AMIS). This web based tool provides the manufacturing team access to the necessary documents and databases for production of complex systems including:
• Image based point and click Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Access to incoming inspection requirements for parts and test procedures
• Subassembly drawings, parts list, and assembly instructions
• Non-Conformance/Improvement Opportunity Tracking
• Non-Conformance reporting (Non-Conformance Issues, Failure Reporting, Analysis
and Corrective Actions Support (FRACAS), Supplier Quality Report, Manufacturing
Quality Report, Change Review Board (CRB) Report