Hi All, We solved our model number problem about 6 years ago. We have a base model number followed by a dash and a two digit number. The base number is what I put through the regulatory process. The dash numbers indicate paint color, minor mechanical or electrical differences or re-badging for certain curtomers. It might also indicate things like tested at a certain resolution.
All of my compliance paperwork says that the product tested is something like Model 27500-xx. The paperwork always carries a statement that the -xx can be any number between 0 and 9 and indicates minor ...., etc. This was the solution between my UL, CSA and TUV engineers and myself. With 10 families and 150 variations on a theme we could not keep up with the paperwork. And, anything that would require re-test (in my judgement) will become a new model number and not a dash number. Now, I create new dash numbers at will. And since I sign ALL change orders, nothing that needs tested can get by as a dash number. Note that this might entail a very minor amount of extra testing and reporting in the beginning so that alternate parts have been tested and included. For example, we test with the prime power supply vendor and then with the second source power supply. Or we test with both visible and invisible laser diodes, or at multiple resolutions, whatever it takes. It's all done up front. Then, when you create another variation, no testing is needed because it is all done. We once had a model number with 37 different dashes attached and it needed tested only three times. Today we have about 17 model numbers with an average of 6 dashes each. When I have to retest them all (and I have) I only take 6 machines and cover the entire spectrum. Regards, Scott [email protected]
