Case Study: Phase Four achieves faster, higher-quality satellite engine production with First Resonance ion

Supercharging satellite engine production by 50% with ION

Phase Four, a company based in El Segundo, CA that designs compact plasma propulsion systems for satellites, needed a better way to keep innovating while ramping up delivery of flight units. The team was spending too much time coordinating assembly and test procedures across its PLM system, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Jira, and needed a more efficient way to manage complex manufacturing workflows. First Resonance’s ion platform was brought in to help.

With First Resonance’s ion, Phase Four digitized assembly, calibration, review, and test procedures with embedded quality controls, rich data capture, and traceability. The result was a 50% reduction in time spent creating, collaborating on, and releasing manufacturing procedures, plus the removal of three redundant systems. First Resonance also helped Phase Four capture photos, sign-offs, timestamps, cycle times, and other production data, enabling faster onboarding, better certification and troubleshooting, and more reliable hardware delivery even while working remotely during COVID-19.

Phase Four

Austin Prater

Phase Four