CAM Variance May 2026

There is a cumulative schedule variance of -$781k in the cost account 402.04.04.04 CE - Standard Module Assembly Site 2 (CMU). The variance is from the assembly and testing of the first 64% of modules and the associated cleanroom consumables.

This variance is expected, primarily due to delays input parts (baseplates). CMU has recently completed a run of 100 CuW/200 modules. Ti baseplates baseplates have arrived, but have been found to have QC issues that are blocking further production. Our focus now is the setup and commissioning of the thermal unit needed for high-throughput testing. This is well advanced.

There is a cumulative cost variance of -$533k in cost account 402.04.04.04 CE - Standard Module Assembly Site 2. This is expected and is consistent with the cumulative schedule variance discussed below. Schedule delays, due to missing input parts, have caused cost variance resulting from labor costs not earning value.

The activities contributing to this variance are due to upstream delays in receiving input components needed for the final module test stands, resulting in completion later than scheduled. Once the components become available, the value will be earned, and it should not impact the overall schedule.

There is a cumulative schedule variance of -$837k in cost account 402.04.04.05 CE - Module Assembly at UCSB. The variance has two components: most (90%) is due to the assembly, testing, and shipping of full-size equivalent odd-sized modules (9-64%); the remainder is for supporting production at other assembly sites. This past month UCSB has continued to produce modules with 16/day protocol and is catching up earning value given the available input parts. Value has now been earned for the first (1-8%) and most of the second (9-16%) batches.

The multimodule testing equipment, required for high-throughput tests of the assembled modules, has been installed and commissioned. Modules are being to be tested in significant quantities.

There is a cumulative cost variance of -$1,186k in cost account 402.04.04.05 CE - Module Assembly at UCSB. This is expected and is consistent with the cumulative schedule variance discussed above. Schedule delays, due to missing input parts, have caused cost variance resulting from labor costs not earning value.