CompUSA's Quality Integration Center (QIC) provides corporate, government and education customers mass configuration solutions that standardize the desktop environment and reduce costs through centralization and control.

Center Overview

• Situated inside CompUSA's 180,000 square foot Distribution Center, the QIC occupies 34,500 square feet.
• The QOC is ISO 9002 certified, and all work is performed by certified Technicians and Systems Engineers.
• The QIC offers:
        - Configuration and integration of hardware and software products
        - Software image loading and management
        - Services for customer-supplied and proprietary products

• The QIC network structure consists of Compaq Proliant 7000 servers running NT and Novell operating systems interconnected via a 1GB Ethernet backbone.
• The servers support Token Ring network nodes terminating on configuration workbenches.
• Configuration workstations are wired with ISDN lines.
• A dedicated Lead Technician supervises workstation groups for accountability.
• Independently run workbenches allow images to be loaded concurrently on PCs.

• We offer installation of hardware devices such as hard drives, I/O cards, NICs, controllers, modems and PCMCIA cards.
• The QIC maintains an extensive database of configuration instructions for each customer and hardware product.
• Configuration Instructions are grouped with each product throughout its entire configuration process.
• All hardware device installations include testing and Quality Assurance checks.

• Any commercially licensed software packages for which the customer has purchased a license can be loaded at the QIC.
• Application installations may be made individually or as part of package.
• All application installations include virus scanning, testing and Quality Assurance checks.

• GHOST (General Hardware Oriented System Transfer) software is the tool used at the QIC for multicasting images, or simultaneously distributing software onto computer workstations.
• Published by GhostSoft, this program minimizes the installation times for operating systems such as Win95/98, WinNT and OS/2. For example, GHOST reduces the time to install a typical 300MB Win95/98 load from one hour with substantial operator input to about 5 minutes with no operator input required.
• GHOST is used to ensure that the unique system ID (SID) is maintained in NT operating system configurations.
• The QIC's 1GB Ethernet backbone further facilitates the multicasting capabilities and economies of scale.

• The QIC has FTP capability to access remote servers via a T1 line for file transfer and product configuration.
• Customers may dial-in to the QIC for remote configuration, such as database replication.
• T1 line usage fees are determined prior to start of production.

• An Asset Management program begins by recording asset data including:
        - Asset tag number
        - PC serial number
        - Other information specified by the customer
• Asset data is loaded into an ODBC database that can be utilized by the customer to generate reporting.
• Customized asset tags are attached to equipment.
• Asset tracking can detail equipment moves, equipment additions, or equipment changes.
• Asset management services are available for refurbished products.

• CompUSA's refurbishment services help customers extend the useful life of expensive technology equipment.
• Some Refurbishment Services include:
        - Cleaning
        - Preventative Maintenance
        - Upgrading System Capabilities
        - Loading Updated Software

• Our bundling and staging services may be used for project roll-outs, or to ship complete systems with peripherals.
• Entire networks can be staged and deployed in a palletized system.
• Bundling and staging services minimize on-site services, and simplify the installation process.
• Costs for bundling are based on the number of units per pallet.