We visited the Tablet team to ask them how things are going with the Agapao and Hero Tablets. The following post contains a few questions and answers around one of the most important initiatives here at VGR.
Q: On average, how many tablets are assembled per day?
A: Around 225 tablets for now, but that has the potential to increase significantly.
Q: What are some of the challenges the Tablet team comes up against?
A: Trying to find the balance of getting the right supplies in the time we need them. You don’t want components sitting around too long before we need to make another order.
Also, we deal with a lot of overseas companies, and language barriers can be hard to overcome. The simple fact of dealing with email in two different time zones can multiply the headaches.
Q: How far ahead do you order parts for the Tablets?
A: We have a container coming from overseas with cases, accessory bags, and cleaning cloths right now. By the time they arrive, it will be 12 weeks since the initial order.
The tablet speakers are 16-18 weeks out.
The LCD screens and batteries take about 10 weeks.
The balance of getting all these parts in at the right time and timing the assembly and release of those tablets can be challenging.
Q: Does the department only build tablets, or do they have other responsibilities?
A: For the most part, the personnel in the department build tablets. But there are cases when personnel are pulled for other initiatives Brother Joseph has set up. For example, during the summer some of the staff helps out at Still Waters Youth Camp. However, we are required to continue keeping our production numbers up even during camps.
Q: What was the first country that received the Agapao Tablet?
A: Colombia, and they received 1,300 in July 2017
Q: How many Tablets have you assembled?
A: Over 18,000 tablets since January 2017.
Q: Are there any hardware changes coming in the near future? As technology changes will you change components on the Agapao Tablet?
A: If it makes sense by producing a better product at a better price, we are always looking to improve.
Q: What does a typical order of components consist of?
A: Right now, we have over 40,000 circuit boards, 50,000 batteries, 50,000 LCDs, and 40,000 speakers on our last order. These components will allow us to build over 40,000 tablets.
Q: Once a tablet is built, how long does it take to seal and package them for shipping?
A: It takes four employees two weeks to seal and package 4,000 tablets.
Q: Who decides how many are built and where the Tablets are sent to?
A: Both of these are decided by Brother Joseph.
Q: How quickly do the believers get the Tablets once they are shipped?
A: This all depends on where they are sent. We had one instance where the team here in Jeffersonville sealed and packaged 900 tablets and had them loaded on the truck in two days. They arrived in Mexico five days later.
Q: Can I sponsor Agapao Tablets for a country I feel a burden for?
A: The sponsorship cost is $135 per Tablet. For now, your donation will be applied to production and delivery of the next set of Tablets. We can also apply your donation to a country that is scheduled later in the future, but we are not able at this time to change our production schedule.