27 june 2005

DiagnoSYS Group

Press Release . . . . . .

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27 June 2005 PinPoint II Helps NAVAIR Move Forward with Test and Repair Program $800,000 per Month Cost Avoidance Projected with DiagnoSYS PinPoint II

Kissimmee FL, November x, 2004 - The US Navy's NAVAIR is projecting a cost avoidance of $800,000 per month for several fiscal years with the purchase of 10 PinPoint II Functional Testers from DiagnoSYS Systems, Kissimmee, FL in the current fiscal year. Tentative plans are to purchase 15 more units per year over the next four years, according to NAVAIR project management. The testers are making it cost-effective to diagnose and repair circuit card assemblies (CCAs) from weapons replaceable assemblies (WRAs), where failures typically occur in components for which test programs or schematics are generally not available.

NAVAIR is using the PinPoint II's reverse engineering capabilities as one of major factors to move the program forward. We are able to build schematics and more easily write test programs, and that capability increases the accuracy of our troubleshooting while avoiding the costly time developing a standard TPS for a card, the project manager said. Developing a standard TPS manually is not intuitive, and it was done by technicians who had both the time and ability to figure it out. With PinPoint II, test and repair is process-driven, so there is now a way to test certain legacy CCA's where a CASS (Consolidated Automated Support System) TPS, a procedure mandated by Congress, was financially impractical. By using PinPoint II, we may be able to increase our cost avoidance by another 50 percent just through a better allocation of our resources. Technicians are using the PinPoint to improve the accuracy verification of functional tests.

The PinPoint II auto-learn mode allows the technician to clip onto a component to determine how the device is utilized in the circuit. This technique speeds test development time and allows for specific functional testing of the component as it was intended to be used by the circuit designer. Once a program for a CCA is already built, a technician can learn how to use and begin troubleshooting CCAs in the same day, the project manager said. PinPoint II's accuracy builds confidence in the technicians that the fault has been properly identified. Before PinPoint II, some 90 percent of the CCAs were unable to be tested. Now, technicians can troubleshoot CCAs down to the component level in less time than it took to ship them out for repairs. They can also order piece parts, which are either on hand or easily obtainable, and they retain custody of CCAs, which is important if there happens to be a No-Fault Evident condition.

Technicians are taking advantage of the reverse engineering capabilities to work with consumable CCAs. This capability is critical for forward-deployed units because data and documentation are not readily available to functionally analyze components. It aids technicians in troubleshooting and signal tracing and provides effective fault isolation. PinPoint II has built technicians' confidence in their accuracy for diagnosing faults, the project manager said. But right now, we are just scratching the surface. We are exchanging information with other branches of the Armed Services to see if PinPoint II can take up some of the load for our 2MR (micro miniature repair) needs, which are low- to medium-cost cards. If the cost avoidance and ROI (return on investment) numbers pan out, we would be into a whole new realm of PinPoint II over and above our current five-year plan. NAVAIR may be able to expand PinPoint II's use into weapons systems and suitcase testers, which usually have such low failure rates that schematics and test information were never bought.

The armed forces are investigating technologies that put repair data right on the frontline wherever possible to substantially increase repair capabilities and speed. In the case of the cards, PinPoint II may help NAVAIR rethink the whole concept of 'throw away's' because it may be more cost-effective to repair forward-deployed parts and get them back in service faster.

About DiagnoSYS Systems, Inc. DiagnoSYS Systems, Inc. is a provider of test solutions and services offering a full spectrum of products from board test to telecom protocol testers and automated optical inspection (AOI) equipment.

North American headquarters are located:-
DiagnoSYS Systems, Inc.
808 North Hoagland Boulevard,
Kissimmee FL 3474, USA
tel: 800-788 6219
tel: 407 846 6002
fax: 407 846 6416
website: www.diagnosy.com/usa
e-mail: us-sales@diagnosys-usa.com