(PRWEB) June 19, 2007 -- Any manufacturer of complex machines or vehicles that include a human machine interface (HMI) must face a crucial decision: should you build your own human machine interface or should you buy these vital components ready-made or customized from an outside source? QSI Corporation, manufacturer of rugged human machine interface terminals, addresses this important issue in the white paper, "Rugged Operator Interfaces: Build versus Buy". This free white paper provides readers with pros and cons to tough questions to consider when deciding whether to build a human machine interface solution in-house or buy a third-party HMI:

-Is developing the necessary hardware and software in-house the most cost-effective solution?
-Is such an engineering project consistent with your core competencies?
-Do your engineers have the time to develop these devices in house?
-Have you calculated the opportunity costs involved?
-Will a commercially available product line provide the features and operating reliability you require at a return on investment (ROI) you can afford?
-How will you ensure required features are present in a third party solution?
-Can you trust the quality and reliability of the end product?
-What are the real risk factors involved in developing in house?
-What are the real costs?
-Is your company ready to take on the expense and logistics required for testing and for compliance with industrial and regulatory requirements, troubleshooting and repair?
-How will you handle on-going product development in the face of ever increasing electronic component obsolescence?

"It is important for companies to consider their core competencies before taking on a project such as building a rugged HMI," said Jim Elwell, Chief Operations Officer for QSI Corporation. "It can be very expensive and time consuming for a company to take on a design and development project for which it does not have the expertise and tools to complete efficiently."

Individuals interested in attaining a free copy of "Rugged Operator Interfaces: Build versus Buy" may download the document at http://www.qsicorp.com/support/whitepaper/.
   
About QSI Corporation
Established in 1983, QSI Corporation (www.qsicorp.com) is a manufacturer of rugged handheld, panel-mount and pedestal-mount terminals for industrial OEMs and commercial vehicle systems integrators. QSI's human machine interface (HMI) and mobile data terminal (MDT) products include character and graphic terminals that are programmable, customizable, CE certified and NEMA 4/12/13 rated. Numerous interfaces are available, including EIA-232, EIA-422, EIA-485, J1708, Ethernet and Power-over-Ethernet. QSI excels at designing and building custom and semi-custom terminals able to withstand high levels of shock, vibration, humidity and other environmental parameters. QSI is also the InfiniTouch Force Panel Technology innovator. All QSI Corporation products are manufactured in the USA at the company's headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, contact QSI Corporation at 801-466-8770 or info(at)qsicorp.com.