A customer journey from engineering & prototyping to production & delivery

A global player from Nuenen

Electude is based in Nuenen. They develop technical e-learning modules used by over 1 million students in more than 70 countries. Electude now offers interactive modules for four sectors: automotive, mechatronics, engineering and electrical engineering. Furthermore, it is the only organisation worldwide that supports teachers and students throughout the entire learning cycle: from the introduction of a new topic right through to gaining practical experience. And they do so with remarkable effectiveness.

Game-based learning

“For many engineering students, hands-on learning often works better than just learning from books,” explains Daan. “They want to see, feel and experience how a component works. In the past, that was easy, but nowadays many systems are no longer visible. Our aim is to make all that which is invisible visible. We do this through guided self-discovery. With our Connect learning resources, students set out to explore for themselves, so that they can learn from their mistakes. Meanwhile, we ensure that they do achieve the required level in all areas. Just like in a computer game, really. We let people learn by doing and experimenting. Meanwhile, teachers can use our system to track students’ progress precisely and make adjustments where necessary. Even remotely. For example, by adding extra practice material.” 

Developing a blueprint

Confed Solutions helped Electude to develop a training panel for the experimental phase of the learning cycle. Daan: “With these so-called ‘Trainers’, we’re bridging the gap between theory and practice. Above all, we want to ensure that students can diagnose a car so that they can then repair it. We used to have to purchase the hardware for this; that’s no longer necessary.”

Developing a prototype

Looking back on the start of the collaboration, Daan explains: “Together with Confed Solutions, we worked on a blueprint for our Trainer. Confed quickly grasped what we wanted. They provided a demo panel for us to test. After a few more minor adjustments, this resulted in the final prototype. Confed’s production department then put this into production for us. The prototypes for Circuit Diagnosis and Electrical Fundamentals are now ready. They are currently building the first fifty units.” And as far as Daan is concerned, it doesn’t stop there. “Confed is already planning to build all sorts of other panels, sensors and actuators.”

Social one-stop-shop 

“We found Confed to be a transparent, reliable and committed manufacturing partner,” Daan continues. “It’s also a pleasantly flat organisation. At first, I didn’t even realise whether I was sitting across the table from the CFO or the Systems Architect. We hit it off straight away. We’re also drawn to the one-stop-shop approach. Confed doesn’t just help you develop a device; they also take care of assembly, packaging, stock management and dispatch to the customer. Furthermore, Confed provides employment opportunities for people who face barriers to the labour market. That social factor was the deciding factor for us.”

Factory tour for our US customers

The fact that Electude now has complete confidence in Confed is evident from the fact that they are happy to take major clients to the Amersfoort site where their Trainers are manufactured. Daan: “Take a major training provider based in the US, for example. Confed showed them round for us and explained everything they do. Our clients find it incredibly interesting to see how their future panels are made and just how efficiently the process is organised.” 

Next-level hardware developer

Daan explains that during his first tour at Confed in Amersfoort, he was impressed by how the production process was set up. “They have everything under control. I’ve seen many hardware developers around the world, but what they do at Confed is next level. They work in a very structured way and set high standards for themselves. At the same time, they take a lot of work off our hands in many areas. That is why, for us, they stand head and shoulders above other production companies.”

Student-proof development

Confed needed some time to get used to Electude’s requirements. “Understandably,” says Daan. “At Confed they are used to delivering a well-functioning product for normal use. But our products have to be student-proof and safe to use under all circumstances.” He explains what the difference is: “I remember Confed presenting the demo panel and asking whether everything worked as desired. ‘Certainly,’ was my answer at the time, ‘but if I connect these two components, the fuse blows.’ ‘Of course, that will cause a short circuit,’ was Confed’s response, ‘but you would not do that, would you?’ That was when I explained: our students try everything. The panel has to be prepared for that.”

The ultimate test

With that in mind, Confed Solutions made the final adjustments to the Trainer panel. “In the end, we put it to the test and asked a group of students to try to break the panel within fifteen minutes. They really did their very best, but they did not succeed,” Daan says with a satisfied smile.