The Challenge: Paper-Based Testing at Scale
ATEM's measurement certification process ran on VNA tools, printed certificates, and manual data exports. Technicians captured screenshots to prove compliance, but clients had no access to the raw data. The repetitive nature of the process created operator fatigue and high turnover. Recruits needed extensive training to navigate measurement tools. And as order volumes grew, the gap between what the process could handle and what the market was asking for became impossible to ignore.
Why In-House and Off-the-Shelf Did Not Work
ATEM evaluated building an in-house LabVIEW and TestStand system, but found it too time-consuming and rigid. Solutions from larger vendors like Keysight were overly complex or lacked the flexibility a production environment requires. The right fit needed to be automated, flexible, and production-friendly from day one.
Guided Execution, Automated Reporting
A chance encounter with Connektica's team in Montreal opened a different direction. Implementation was fast. The primary challenge was changing habits: moving from traditional VNA tools to Connektica's unified interface. With support from the Connektica team, ATEM overcame that quickly.
The shift had three immediate effects. First, calibration and measurement became guided workflows any operator could follow, removing the dependency on senior technicians. Second, manual header edits between serialised parts were eliminated, saving 30 seconds per cable across hundreds of units per day. Third, clients began receiving raw S2P files instead of printed certificates, turning test reports into a strategic asset.
The Results
Over the course of a year, the time savings from eliminating manual steps represent 2,500+ hours or the equivalent of 1.4 full-time employees. That time is reinvested into higher-value work. Former production operators who had been limited to repetitive assembly tasks now handle RF control confidently. New operators train faster. And when a lead technician is absent, production continues without delay.
"With the platform, there's no need to adjust VNA start and stop frequencies manually. Our design office pre-sets everything. New operators can be trained faster, and in case of absence, products can still be released quickly."
Romain Michel, Head of Engineering, ATEM
What Comes Next
ATEM is now exploring how far the data they collect can go. Quality analytics, compliance automation, and deeper client collaboration are all on the horizon. The digital foundation is in place. The question is how far to take it.
