It’s Only Common Sense: Invest in Yourself—You’re Your Most Important Resource
Dan's Biz Bookshelf: 'Revenge of the Tipping Point'
Marcy's Musings: Engineering Economics
Registration: From Raw Data to Intelligent Manufacturing
November 27, 2023 | Andrew Kelley, XACTPCB LTDEstimated reading time: 1 minute
While previous industrial revolutions have introduced factories, mass production, and computer-controlled systems, the advent of Industry 4.0 and the concept of the Smart factory have ushered in a new era in PCB manufacturing. For the PCB industry it is a very ambitious and aspirational objective to evolve from disconnected processes to an integrated system with automated data capture, real-time data analysis, process visualization, autonomous control, and self-correcting processes.
Industry experts claim that those who fail to engage will rapidly fall behind, however, the paradigm shift that this revolution brings to manufacturing has left many plant managers wondering where and how to start the process of implementation. The reality is that implementation of a Smart factory is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and companies need to adapt their existing systems, process, and infrastructures to embrace this transformation gradually.
In the PCB manufacturing plant, there is a profusion of design and production data that is held in many places and in many different formats. There is an opportunity to incorporate this information with data gathered in real time from manufacturing processes to provide intelligent analysis, derived actions, and control immediately for use throughout the manufacturing process chain. Very few companies will start a Smart manufacturing implementation from nothing. The key will be to understand how to adapt existing systems, process, and infrastructures to the requirements of the Smart factory. A step-by-step implementation focused on key aspects of manufacturing will allow the benefits to be realized soon. Therefore, the smart manufacturing solutions implemented should be modular, scalable, and flexible. This approach allows businesses to establish proof of concept, leverage existing equipment, and strengthen their infrastructure without the need for building entirely new factories. To embark on this journey successfully, it is crucial to harness the power of data and transform it into actionable information and knowledge.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the November 2023 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
NEOTech Significantly Improves Wire Bond Pull Test Process
11/25/2024 | NEOTechNEOTech, a leading provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), design engineering, and supply chain solutions in the high-tech industrial, medical device, and aerospace/defense markets, proudly announces a major advancement in its wire bond pull testing process, reducing manufacturing cycle time by more than 60% while maintaining industry-leading production yields of over 99.99%.
HANZA Wins New Customer in Germany
11/25/2024 | HANZAHANZA AB, listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, continues to secure new business, and has entered a manufacturing partnership with a leading German company specializing in advanced measurement equipment for mechanical components.
Standard of Excellence: Hiring for Quality Positions in Manufacturing, Engineering, and Management
11/25/2024 | Anaya Vardya -- Column: Standard of ExcellenceIn continuing my series on finding, signing, and keeping good people for your company, this month we discuss hiring good people for your quality department. Even when hiring was easier, hiring for the quality department has always been especially challenging. It takes a special kind of person: someone with attention to detail, someone ready to stand for his or her convictions, and someone who can stand up under pressure when the company needs to ship product and the quality manager refuses to because it is not up to par. The quality department is the very soul of any manufacturing company.
China Overtakes Germany and Japan in Robot Density
11/22/2024 | IFRChina's adoption of robots continues at a rapid pace: The country has surpassed Germany and Japan in the ratio of robots to factory workers, taking third place in the world in 2023.
PCB Design Software Market Expected to Hit $9.2B by 2031
11/21/2024 | openPRThis report provides an overview of the PCB design software market, detailing key market drivers, challenges, technological advancements, regional dynamics, and future trends. With a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4% from 2024 to 2031, the market is expected to grow from USD 3.9 billion in 2024 to USD 9.2 billion by 2031.