Driving Innovation and Excellence in Control Panel Manufacturing: The Story of Design Ready Controls, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
Design Ready Controls, based in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is a leading name in the manufacturing industry, specializing in the production and engineering of industrial control panels. With a robust annual revenue of $144 million and a reputation for pushing technological boundaries, the company has become a central figure in control panel design and production across North America. Their website, www.designreadycontrols.com, showcases their full-scale services and the smart automation solutions they deliver—ranging from concept to completed product.
As industries continue their shift toward automation and smart technologies, what makes Design Ready Controls stand out isn’t only their size or revenue. It’s how they use data, robotics, and lean manufacturing principles to innovate and adapt rapidly. Let’s take a deeper dive into how this company is reshaping the landscape of manufacturing.
Understanding Control Panels and Why They Matter
Before diving into Design Ready Controls’ strategy and innovation, it’s worth understanding what control panels are and their critical role in modern manufacturing.
A control panel is essentially a communication hub for machines. It’s a system of circuits, breakers, PLCs (programmable logic controllers), and wiring components bundled into one enclosure. These panels tell machines what actions to perform by balancing electric signals. They’re vital in dozens of industries—automotive, energy, agriculture, food processing, and more.
Think of it this way: If machines are the hands and legs of a factory, the control panel is the brain and nervous system.
That’s where Design Ready Controls comes in—offering elegant “brains” that allow plants and machinery to work intelligently and safely.
What Makes Design Ready Controls a Leader in Manufacturing?
With countless companies in industrial electronics, why do leading brands choose Design Ready Controls? First and foremost: they aren’t just manufacturers. They’re engineers, collaborators, and solution-providers.
Here are a few highlights that separate them from the pack:
- End-to-End Engineering: They support every step of the production cycle—from electrical design to assembly and testing.
- Smart Manufacturing: They’ve embraced Industry 4.0 technologies, including robotics, PLC programming, and in-line testing.
- Unmatched Scale: With three production facilities and a national distribution network, their delivery speed doesn’t compromise quality.
- Customer-Specific Customization: Their systems aren’t “one size fits all”—they tailor every panel and process to the client’s needs.
Their emphasis on automation enables them to reduce lead times dramatically—a vital quality in industries where delays cost thousands per minute.
Investing in Automation Without Replacing Humans
There’s a common misperception around automation: that it pushes out skilled labor. Design Ready Controls challenges that assumption. Rather than replacing talent, they’re retraining and redeploying them.
Their facility in Brooklyn Park is a perfect metaphor for their strategy. Robots and human workers operate side-by-side. Robots handle repetitive, labor-intensive tasks like cutting wires or drilling terminals. Meanwhile, engineers and technicians focus on complex assembly or circuitry logic.
This allows the company to:
- Shorten delivery timelines.
- Maintain superior quality control.
- Invest more time in innovation and R&D.
It also improves employee satisfaction—a rare quality in high-volume manufacturing environments. Many of their employees share stories about how they transitioned from traditional assembly roles to programming, data entry, or quality assurance.
Driving Digital Transformation: Smart Tech Inside
Digital transformation isn’t just a buzzword at Design Ready Controls—it’s the basis of how they run operations. From order entry to shipping, their workflow is automated and integrated across departments.
For example, a purchase order gets digitally mapped into the company’s ERP system. This sets off a chain reaction:
– Parts are automatically ordered from vendors.
– Robots pick components from inventory bins.
– Wiring paths are programmed via CNC machines.
– Optical scanners verify wiring against the electrical schematics.
Here’s a simplified workflow table that illustrates the smart process:
| Process | Traditional Method | Design Ready Controls Method |
|---|---|---|
| Order Entry | Manual data entry | Digital integration via ERP |
| Part Picking | Human warehouse picking | Robotic pickers and barcode scanners |
| Wire Cutting | Manual measurement and cutting | Automated CNC wire cutting machines |
| Quality Check | Human visual checks | Optical and automated test systems |
This superior integration saves cost and time—two priceless commodities in industries like energy and transportation.
Lean Manufacturing: A Core Philosophy
Design Ready Controls doesn’t just focus on technologies—they’re obsessed with eliminating waste. By implementing lean principles, they’ve managed to decrease setup times, reduce inventory, and streamline communication between departments.
They hold daily team huddles, real-time performance monitoring, and rapid correction mechanisms in case something goes wrong. The idea is simple: build smartly, fix failures fast, and continuously improve.
One manager once described their lean mindset like this: “If we spot a 30-second waste on the line, we fix it that day. Because 30 seconds turns into days over time.”
Strategic Partnerships and Growth
Staying ahead in this competitive sector also requires strong relationships. Design Ready Controls collaborates with top-tier suppliers, universities, and even competitors through joint ventures.
These relationships allow them to:
- Introduce new materials or technologies faster than markets expect.
- Get engineering feedback and technical validations in real-time.
- Stay aligned with upcoming government and safety regulations.
Their partnerships with companies like Siemens and Allen-Bradley ensure they’re working with the best electric components on the market—keeping their panels reliable and future-ready.
Impact on Minnesota’s and National Economy
As a company pulling in over $144 million in revenue, their economic impact is significant not just for Minnesota, but nationwide.
In addition to their Brooklyn Park headquarters, Design Ready Controls also operates in South Dakota and Virginia. Collectively, they create hundreds of high-tech jobs, impacting the economic development of their regions.
They’re also involved in workforce development programs—partnering with local colleges to train students in mechatronics, electrical assembly, and industrial design.
Looking Toward the Future: Sustainability and New Technologies
Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important part of modern manufacturing. Design Ready Controls is embracing this challenge in several ways:
- Energy-efficient facilities that use smart temperature and lighting controls to reduce consumption.
- Green procurement policies that prioritize suppliers with environmental certifications.
- Reducing electronic waste through end-of-life recycling collaborations.
They also have their sights set on new frontiers—such as machine learning algorithms to automate more testing functions, and IOT (Internet of Things) enabled panels that can ‘talk’ to the cloud. These upgrades are not just enhancements; they’re game changers for industries that rely on remote diagnostics or predictive maintenance.
Final Wrap-Up: The Innovation Engine of Brooklyn Park
To summarize, Design Ready Controls isn’t a typical manufacturer. They’re a technology-forward, lean-driven, people-powered enterprise committed to delivering smarter control panel solutions for an evolving world.
Whether it’s through advanced robotics, streamlined workflows, or deep-rooted partnerships, the company consistently sets itself apart—and delivers serious value to clients across sectors.
Their story is a blueprint of what manufacturing can look like when vision, technology, and purpose collide.
You can learn more about their innovative approach and available solutions by visiting their website www.designreadycontrols.com.
For business development leaders or anyone searching for a control panel manufacturing partner that brings ideas to life faster, smarter, and greener—Design Ready Controls is worth the call.
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