[Elecraft] K4 Status Update

[Hank]

Thanks Eric!

> On Dec 21, 2020, at 8:43 PM, Eric Swartz <eric at elecraft.com> wrote:
> 
> K4 Status Update - from deep inside Elecraft
> 
> First I apologize for the delay getting this update out. I've been head
> down, along with the rest of our team and our suppliers, for a good part of
> this month working to solve problems and get K4s flowing out to you faster.
> 
> We ran into delays in December due to several items:
> 
> Our biggest problem has been due to an interruption of deliveries on
> critical K4 Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBAs) from our primary
> high-quality assembly subcontractor, who is located near us in Monterey,
> CA. This was due to both an unexpected surge in demand from their other
> customers, who were ramping up faster than expected, and on top of our K4
> production needs, a significant increase in demand from us for our regular
> non-K4 product PCBAs (KPA1500, KX3, KX2, etc.) - both from huge Black
> Friday/Cyber Monday orders and our normal holiday season surge in sales.
> 
> Due to a miscommunication between us, they delayed several key K4 PCBAs in
> favor of PCBAs for our other products. When we finally caught the error
> (after multiple shipments were late or did not arrive) it took several
> weeks to get everything straightened out. Circuit board assembly lines,
> parts acquisition, etc. do not stop and start on a dime. This is
> frustrating to say the least. While we may have received the majority of
> the K4 PCB assemblies, if any of the other boards needed to complete the K4
> 100% are delayed, it holds up K4 manufacturing. That's frustrating for us
> and of course you. We've corrected the issue and we will see more PCBAs
> arriving late this week or next week. This should get K4 production back on
> track with regular deliveries to us on a weekly basis. I'm hopeful that
> January and beyond will be much smoother.
> 
> We have also just received several needed parts for a small number of
> production K4s that had all their circuit boards and were already in
> manufacturing. These K4s will be ready to test soon. If all goes well, they
> will be out by next week. If there are additional test-related delays, they
> will ship the following week.
> 
> Early in December, it took us longer to finish implementing and testing a
> planned update to the K4's internal Linux OS, which slowed things a bit.
> Thanks to the hard work from our s/w engineers and our Field Testers,
> that's completed, and we have updated the automated s/w build process and
> server along with K4's built-in s/w update process. It's very cool and easy
> to use.
> 
> The other news is that due to the larger than expected surge in regular
> orders, above and beyond orders and backlog for K4's, we have a very large
> regular product backlog which we are shipping to you as quickly as
> possible.
> 
> One last note - Elecraft will be closed for the holidays this Thursday and
> Friday (12/24-25) and New Years Day on Friday (1/1), with a few employees
> off extra days for well-deserved rest during that period. We hope everyone
> has a great holiday!
> Eric   WA6HHQ
> *elecraft.com <http://elecraft.com>*
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