Introduction
Whether you have purchased a system from Puget Systems, are considering it, or just curious what goes into our production process, we thought we would give you a high-level overview of what we do and what you can expect during the Production process.
Our Production department is made up of several different teams. Each one of those teams plays a major role in getting your computer out our door and into yours!
Step 1 – Order Submitted
When your order has been processed, a notification is sent to our Purchasing Manager. We provide custom, built-to-order workstations tailored specifically for you – so sometimes one or more of the components necessary for your build will be out of stock. If that’s the case with your system, parts are typically purchased on the same business day your order was placed.
Step 2 – Staging
An incoming order notification is also sent to Inventory. Once all the core components for your build are in stock, our Inventory Manager bins your parts and put them into our Staging area. When you check your status updates, you’ll either see Staging: In queue or Staging: Waiting for parts depending on whether we have to wait on delivery of any core components. That includes items such as motherboards, CPUs, RAM, power supplies, and CPU coolers.
Step 3 – Assembly
When your order reaches Staging: In queue, it is ready for Assembly. We use a ‘first in, first out’ methodology to the way we work on our assembly queue. For example, if there are 12 orders that were placed before yours, we will assemble those 12 systems first – hence the queue. Depending on how busy we are, it could take 4-5 business days before we begin assembly. The good news is that the process happens pretty quickly after that!
Once your order has been assigned to an Assembly Technician, the magic begins! The pile of parts is well on its way to turning into your new computer. When assembly has started, you can expect the status of your order to change to Assembly: In process. The Assembly Technician will keep you in the loop through status updates when he or she has started assembly and again when it is completed.
After assembly is complete, we perform a basic memory test on your system to verify that there are no errors present on your RAM modules. The more RAM is installed in your system, the longer that test will take. We generally run the memory test overnight so your system can be ready to head to Installation the following day.
Step 4 – Installation
Now that your system is assembled, it’s ready to have the operating system installed. This happens at our… wait for it… Installation Department! When your computer reaches Installation, you’ll see the status of your order change to Installation: In queue. The queue works the same way at all the sub-departments, so the oldest systems get worked on first. Once your order is being worked on, its status will change to Installation: In process. The operating system is getting installed, ports are getting checked for functionality, and benchmarks are run. Once benchmarks are complete, they will be uploaded to your Puget Systems account for your viewing pleasure!
Step 5 – Quality Control
At this point, your system is built up and ready to go through our Quality Control process. The status of your system will change to Quality Control: In queue. Once your system hits the front of the queue, the status will be changed to Quality Control: In process, where our Quality Control Technicians perform a multi-point inspection to verify many things, including making sure that your system was built per your specifications, that all the hardware is functioning normally, and that the operating system is performing as expected. We use thermal imaging to investigate whether there are hot spots that shouldn’t be there, or to find spots that should be hot but aren’t. On either end of the hot and cold spectrum, we can uncover issues that might not be obvious otherwise. The thermal imaging photos are uploaded to your Puget Systems account at this time for you to take a look at. If you are having Linux installed on your system, it will then move back to our Installation Department to get installed. We also run something we refer to as an ‘extended burn-in’ on systems that are used for certain applications such as Premiere Pro and Photoshop – which is done in our Install Department as well.
Step 6 – Final Prep
Now that Quality Control has been completed, your order is moved to Final Prep. This is where we create a ‘system image’ for Windows that allows you to restore the operating system back to the original state in which it was shipped to you. If you find yourself needing to perform a restore with the tools we provided, this guide will give you some information on the process:
Step 7 – Shipping
After restore media has been created, your system will be sent along to our Shipping Department. You will see the status of your order change to Shipping: In queue. Once the shipping process begins, the status will change to Shipping: In process. There are quite a few steps in this process such as taking screenshots of your BIOS settings for future reference, organizing all of your accessories into a tidy box, taking glamour photos of your computer (they will get emailed to you!), packing up your system, and finally getting it sent off! The tracking number will be sent to you via email and the status of your order will end on Order Complete: Order Shipped. If you are local to our area, and opted to pick up the system instead of having it shipped, it will go to Will Call instead and we will notify you directly.
Conclusion
Your system is now on its way to you! While you wait, I recommend taking a look at an article published by our Support Department. It’s called “Top 5 Pro Tips for a new Puget System”. Are you not quite sure how to hook up your monitor? We can help with that! Would you like some guidance on setting up your new Windows account? We’ve got that covered, too.
https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/support-hardware/Top-5-Pro-Tips-for-a-new-Puget-System-1368/
We’ve got helpful hints for your wireless devices, Bluetooth devices, and peripherals too. These would include things like a cordless mouse and keyboard, making sure your WiFi antenna is connected properly, etc.
And this guide goes over useful software utilities that our Support Department uses to make their jobs easier. You can use them, too!
https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/support-software/Useful-Software-Utilities-1228/
I hope this guide was a useful tool to give you some insight into what our Production process looks like. I’ve found that “not knowing” can be scary, so I hope this helps ease any worry or concerns you may have about your new computer!