Cadonix launches smartBuild to digitize and accelerate wire-harness production

Cadonix has introduced smartBuild, a manufacturing software and hardware suite designed to remove paper, reduce rework, and tighten production controls in wire-harness assembly. The platform converts harness engineering data into interactive build sequences and test programs so operators receive stepwise visual guidance and automated validation at the point of work. Deployments can be all-digital, projecting virtual formboards on screens, or hybrid, adding guided instructions and inline testing to current physical fixtures — enabling upgrades without ripping out established processes. Every build action and test result is captured in an auditable cloud record, creating end-to-end traceability across wires, connectors, and splices. Cadonix positions smartBuild as a direct response to long lead times for formboard revisions, uneven operator performance, and opaque production metrics that have constrained harness manufacturers. The vendor provides headline performance claims: margin improvements per harness, faster cycle times and significant labor savings, and backs those claims with customer examples that report reduced build durations and training time. One early adopter in utility equipment manufacturing reported quantifiable yearly savings tied to eliminating physical formboards and compressing assembly and onboarding intervals. Beyond immediate shop-floor gains, the system promises centralized visibility for program managers, enabling quicker design-to-build iterations and easier cross-site standardization. The tool integrates with Cadonix’s existing harness design environment so that build instructions and test plans can be derived automatically from design files, reducing manual translation errors. While the platform’s promises are operationally compelling, independent validation will be important: vendor-reported percentages can vary by product complexity, workforce skill mix, and integration depth. If adoption widens, smartBuild could shift how harness producers allocate skilled labor, favoring broader task assignment and shorter ramp-up for junior technicians. The commercial proposition — improved throughput, lower direct labor costs, and audit-ready records — targets sectors where harness reliability and traceability are mandatory, such as utilities, automotive and aerospace. Cadonix is showcasing the product at the WHMA leadership event, positioning the launch for rapid exposure to harness manufacturers seeking pragmatic digitization pathways. The near-term challenge will be translating pilot successes into scaled deployments while proving consistent gains across diverse production contexts.