[TenTec] Re: Mis-information in Tentec digest, Vol 1 #340

[Allan Henry Kaplan]

I would like to put to rest some misinformation that a poorly informed ham =
expressed:  =20

=E2=80=9CLast time I visited the Ten-Tec factory (2002) I was
disappointed in the overall looks of the place i.e. lack of staff,
maintenance of the outside and inside of the facility, etc.=E2=80=9D   =20

Holding only a small, but loyal, fraction of the amateur radio market, the =
Ten-Tec management pays not enough attention to appearance of the facility.=
  The time, money, and effort goes into engineering and business management=
 for a very difficult amateur radio market.   The facility is kinda shabby,=
 but entirely competent where it really counts.  The staff is lean, but far=
 from mean.  People are hired only when business justifies it, and let go o=
nly when necessary to keep costs in line with sales, or when someone=E2=80=
=99s  performance does not meet the company=E2=80=99s needs.   Ten-Tec is a=
 survivor in a business strewn with the corpses of less well managed, but p=
rettier companies. =20

=E2=80=9CThe Ten-Tec amateur product line is not their big money maker.  Th=
ey build enclosures for several different manufactures, have U.S. Governmen=
t
contracts, etc..=E2=80=9D=20

Not too well informed!  The amateur radio business is the primary reason fo=
r Ten-Tec=E2=80=99s existence, but Ten-Tec does comprise two additional bus=
inesses:  the fairly well-known standard and custom enclosure business whic=
h services, not several but dozens, of small-to-midsize businesses; and a t=
ool and die machine shop where craftsmen design, manufacture, modify, and r=
epair injection molds and dies for manufacturers (including some large auto=
mobile companies) of plastic and metal casting parts.   Both business drew =
on the background and talents of the founding hams from Electrovoice, as th=
ey started to develop innovative amateur radio equipment.   Over the years,=
 this diversity of design and manufacture has sustained the company through=
 some difficult times.   Ten-Tec receivers continue to have a good reputati=
on for performance vs. value with several departments of the US government =
and have done very well, but that is an on and off market. =20

=E2=80=9CAlso, their amateur radio products are manufactured when they rece=
ive orders
for 100 or 200 units then they activate the production line.=E2=80=9D

That is absolute rubbish!  Production planning happens several times per ye=
ar, well in advance of actual orders.  It is a careful and well-reasoned ex=
ercise which attempts to meet anticipated demand before the fact, to keep a=
 reasonable but not excessive inventory in stock, and to keep as many produ=
ction people employed as feasible.  To claim that production is activated o=
nly after orders come in is to display a profound ignorance of manufacturin=
g and management!!

=E2=80=9C When I visited, I was impressed with the technical staff and manu=
facturing techs.=E2=80=9D=20

Congratulations, Bill.  You got one right!

I base the above assertions on forty plus years of engineering experience c=
apped by three and a half great years working for Ten-Tec engineering befor=
e my present state of happy retirement.  It is a privilege to continue my a=
ssociation with Ten-Tec on an as-needed basis. =20

73, Allan Kaplan, W1AEL.