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Despite the advancement in manufacturing technologies, processes in assembly lines continue to involve multiple opportunities for errors or defects to happen. Sometimes, these processes involve factory workers doing repetitive, dull tasks that do not add much value into the overall productivity of the company. More often than not, such causes of errors also involve out-of-date or legacy equipment that electronics manufacturers are hesitant to replace, as doing so entails a significant investment.
Nowadays, the electronics assembly industry is looking more and more into automating their production lines as automation offers several benefits, including a return on investment in the long run; reduced variation; and higher reliability. In our recent survey, the majority of respondents said automation helps them reduce handling errors—or operator errors—in their processes. It also enables faster throughput, as well as reduces the number of processing steps.
However, many companies cannot afford to acquire new and more advanced equipment just to say they are automated. There are many alternative strategies to help assemblers improve their process and reduce errors along the way.
This month's issue of SMT Magazine features other aspects of the assembly line where improvements can be made to increase the efficiency of the process.
