August, 2014
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...Traceability, Process Control, and Quality Improvements Continued from previous page
mated optical inspection machines, repair cells, and hand assembly and test stations. At each location, the TTC system monitors every com- ponent used on a printed-circuit-board (PCB) assembly. Tracked by the unique serial number of each PCB assembly, the system records every component required for a particular prod- uct, including the PCB assembly and its indi- vidual electronic components. In addition, the system records details about the operator at each process station, including how much time is spent at each cell and the actual work per- formed.
Improving Traceability Prior to implementing this system, Saline
offered customers traceability per job lot. With the TTC system, the firm can offer more gran- ular data, including traceability to the reference designator. This will be critical for clients in medical and aerospace markets where rigorous traceability is typically required. Even beyond showing component traceability to the reference designa- tor, Saline can now offer real-time in- formation by providing work-in- progress (WIP) reports. These reports will provide customers with a snap- shot of an assembly’s progress through the manufacturing process,
For Saline customers
enrolled in the Cogiscan program, Product
Traceability Reports detail each part number, the lot number utilized and the
exact reference designator placement of each part number for a tracked PCB assembly.
and also offer yield data to help the production team know when correc- tive actions are required. In addition to providing real-
time data, this new TTC system al- lows Saline to enforce a more thor- ough check-and-balance system with alerts to help prevent human error. With radio-frequency-identification (RFID) Smart Feeder technology within the SMT equipment, the com- pany supports automated and closed- loop validation of machine setup and replenishment. Operators are noti- fied when a component reel is close to empty or when an incorrect reel has been loaded on an SMT machine. If an incorrect component reel has been loaded, the TTC system will actually stop the production line from run- ning, preventing placement of incor- rect parts on a PCB assembly. The TTC system also helps to
correctly convey a PCB assembly through the plant. For example, if a product has been flagged at AOI for repair, and it is mistakenly sent to another cell, a receiving operator will receive an alert to send that assem- bly back to repair. Such built-in alerts not only offer a way to help prevent human error in the manufac- turing process, but also provide addi- tional quality verification for PCB as- semblies that are part of the TTC program.
New Accountability Level This TTC system helps to bring
a new level of accountability to con- tract manufacturing. It helps to measure product flow; it is helping Saline to demonstrate a new level of
Questions? Sunstone Customer Support is always open: 1-800-228-8198 -
support@sunstone.com
With over 40 years of experience delivering high quality PCB prototypes, SunstoneCircuits® is committed to improving the prototyping process for the design engineer from quote to delivery.
We lead the industry with an on-time delivery rate of over 99%. Plus, our live on-site customer support is available every day of the year (24/7/365), giving Sunstone unparalleled customer service.
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This snapshot from the Cogiscan system shows the visibil- ity of all SMT lines. The yellow square on SMT line 1 is warning of a component reel that is running low.
transparency and to strengthen its relation- ships with its customers. It is also showing its client base that Saline is ready to take on more challenging assembly projects. As Vin- cent Dubois, Co-President of Cogiscan, com- ments: “This project exemplifies Saline’s dedication to providing the highest-quality products at the lowest possible cost for their customers. Cogiscan’s TTC system will help Saline achieve optimal use of materials and resources throughout the entire manufac- turing process, while verifying that products are assembled correctly and collecting the traceability data to prove it. These capabili- ties are essential to thriving in today’s econ- omy and will help to fuel Saline’s continued growth and success.” Customers choosing to enroll in the
Continued on next page
Quality PCBs from the established industry leader
design software Controlled impedance testing
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