Page 48
www.us-tech.com
September 2025
Smart Factory Evolution: Fuji’s Innovations in Automated Production By Akihiro Senga, Engineering Planning Department Manager, Fuji Corporation F
uji Corporation is committed to future- oriented technological innovations as the leading brand for factory automa-
tion processes in SMT. As industry shifts from the Internet of things, entailing machine to machine (M2M) and person to person communication, to the Internet of everything, enabling communication be - tween people and things on a global scale, it is necessary to build more advanced systems by integrating items beyond just things, that include people, processes, and data. For example, changes in automotives
and the use of VR and AI are revealing new possibilities. Smarter factories re quire pro- duction systems with integrated data linkage and automation. Systems that allow devices to share data with each other and automati- cally solve problems are being put to practical use as produc- tivity-enhancing measures. Considering this, Fuji is devel- oping “FUJI Smart Factory” smart solutions that are taking the lead toward this level of automation.
Smart Solutions As expressed by Fuji’s
head of robotic solutions, Takeshi Sato, “Fuji is exceed- ing placement limits under the ‘Target ZERO’ concept, aiming for the ideal SMT production site. This concept encompasses ‘Zero placement defects,’ ‘Zero machine operators,’ and ‘Zero machine stops,’ leading to the newly defined goal of ‘Zero placement limits.’ Each of these contribute directly to achieving high quality, automation, stabilization of production, and enhancement of the ability to handle complex placements, and are important pillars sup- porting the next generation of manufactur- ing.”
Fuji has worked to achieve the first
three zeros by developing equipment that does not permit placement defects, creating a production environment in which lines do not stop, and automating standard operations, all while sincerely addressing the problems faced on the production floor. Now, in
response to the rapid changes in technology and markets, it has expanded its focus to ‘Zero placement limits’, with the belief that there is no placement Fuji cannot achieve.
FUJI Smart Factory In 2017, Fuji launched the FUJI Smart
Factory project to develop work guidance functions and units that automate manual tasks. Starting at around the same time, Fuji also formed alliances with other equipment manufacturers that make up the SMT line (FUJI Smart Factory members) to expand M2M functions that lead to improvements in overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). The roadmap for FUJI Smart Factory
FSF 2.0 includes the following features
for automation of the entire production floor. Collectively these features lead to increased efficiency, reduced production times, improved utilization rates, drastically reduced potential for errors, enhanced flexi- bility, higher quality in output, and improve- ments in inventory management.
Improved Efficiency in Placement Fuji’s Scheduler tool automatically cre-
ates the optimal production schedule that includes the optimal conditions for produc- tion, taking into account multiple factors including panel widths and reflow tempera- tures.
Parts allocation (reserva-
tion) prevents repetition of tasks due to a lack of the neces- sary parts after production preparation has begun. The system provides guid-
ance for which parts need to be collected at each storage loca- tion by utilizing parts location management for efficient col- lection of the necessary parts using the shortest route. The host system transmits
information on necessary parts to the automated warehouse, enabling reliable checkout of parts. Guidance for changeover
The FUJI Smart Factory project provides work guidance functions and units that automate manual tasks.
(abbreviated to FSF) was broken down into three steps. In FSF 1.0, the systems and machines
that configure the production line are linked together, and some traditionally manual work is automated. In FSF 2.0, the current stage of smart factory support being provided to cus- tomers, automation and linkage extends beyond individual lines to the entire produc- tion floor. And in FSF 3.0, the planned next step in automation, the 5M+E data contained within the factory is consolidated to realize a factory that continues to operate through feed- back cycles and analysis of differences between planned and actual production.
is issued by the system so that operators know what work needs to be done in what order, to ensure that the necessary
parts can be supplied to the placement line without delay. LED lighting patterns provide visual indication of whether it is possible for a feeder to be used or not. AMRs automatically transport the nec-
essary feeders, printing materials, and pan- els, to load and unload these items to and from the line. By scanning either the kanban ID or the
panel ID code, production programs can be changed from the current production to the next for all machines that configure the line. Upon receiving inspection results from SPI and AOI, the necessary actions are per-
Continued on next page
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96
