[time-nuts] 5370B OCXO

Richard (Rick) Karlquist richard at karlquist.com
Sat Mar 13 02:57:45 UTC 2010



Bob Camp wrote:
> Hi
> 
> Tough to believe that HP worried a lot about SKU inflation back when they
> did the 5370 :)....
> 
> I'm assuming that the 5370 was a Santa Clara design. That would put the
> counter designers down the hall from the oscillator factory. Unlikely that
> there was a communications gap about what could or could not be done.
> 
> You may well be correct though. Setting up and managing another part is the
> most likely reason why not to add a couple more tests.
> 
> Bob

I was at Santa Clara Division in the 1980's.  They worried about both
the paper work for extra part numbers and the inventory problem. 
Especially  the latter.  There was always some manager whose stock
options depended on keeping inventory down (this was during the
Japanese "just in time" fad).

Also, if you wanted a part number, you had to obtain one from the 
official keeper of numbers, and she would usually give you a lecture
about the perils of "wasting numbers".

The counter designers were in a different bldg than the oscillator 
factory, which were at opposite ends of the 55 acre site.   More
importantly, they reported to different managers.  So
you shouldn't assume that communication was great.

Rick Karlquist N6RK




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