Project Background

APQS, a leading manufacturer of longarm quilting machines, relied heavily on manual service workflows to support their customer base. Troubleshooting and diagnostics were primarily handled over the phone, requiring customers to describe issues without a structured way to transmit machine data. In many cases, machines were shipped back to the manufacturer for further inspection, creating delays and added operational costs.

APQS identified an opportunity to modernize their product ecosystem by enabling direct communication between machines, users, and service teams. The objective was to improve diagnostic accuracy, streamline support workflows, and establish a scalable foundation for future product capabilities.

Services and Solutions

EngineeringPeople partnered with APQS to design and implement a connected system that integrates embedded hardware, mobile applications, and cloud-based infrastructure.

01

Embedded System Development

Designed and implemented firmware using an ESP32 microcontroller integrated with the machine’s electrical system
Enabled real-time data capture and communication between the machine and external devices
Supported firmware update capabilities for ongoing product improvements

02

Mobile Application Development

Designed and implemented firmware using an ESP32 microcontroller integrated with the machine’s electrical system
Enabled real-time data capture and communication between the machine and external devices
Supported firmware update capabilities for ongoing product improvements

03

Platform Integration (Fabric)

Designed and implemented firmware using an ESP32 microcontroller integrated with the machine’s electrical system
Enabled real-time data capture and communication between the machine and external devices
Supported firmware update capabilities for ongoing product improvements

04

Production Enablement

Designed and implemented firmware using an ESP32 microcontroller integrated with the machine’s electrical system
Enabled real-time data capture and communication between the machine and external devices
Supported firmware update capabilities for ongoing product improvements

Approach

EngineeringPeople executed a phased approach to transition APQS from a standalone product environment to a connected platform:

Phase 1

Developed the embedded system and mobile application to establish direct communication between the machine and user device.

Phase 2

Expanded system capabilities to support structured diagnostic data capture, configuration management, and improved service workflows.

Phase 3

Integrated the solution with EngineeringPeople’s Fabric platform, enabling scalable cloud connectivity, web-based service access, and long-term product expansion without requiring architectural redesign.

Outcome and Results

EngineeringPeople delivered a fully integrated system that transformed APQS machines into connected products with enhanced service capabilities.

Enabled remote diagnostics, improving the speed and accuracy of troubleshooting
Reduced reliance on phone-based support and manual service workflows
Reduced the need to send machines in for service by allowing issues to be identified and addressed remotely
Introduced over-the-air firmware update capabilities through mobile and Bluetooth communication
Established production-ready processes for device configuration and firmware deployment
Provided a scalable platform foundation to support future machine integrations and expanded service functionality

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