DIS: Thriving With New Processes and Technologies

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

What does it take to really thrive in today’s business environment? Will it require big changes, or can you make small, incremental improvements? Jesse Ziomek, global sales director and product manager at DIS, Inc., a company that designs and manufactures automation equipment, focuses on strategies for thriving in the PCB industry by emphasizing cost reduction through smart robotic solutions and addressing bottlenecks to optimize yields. He keys in on registration issues, clean manufacturing processes, and advancing manufacturing capabilities, and highlights automation and consistent manufacturing practices as crucial for industry growth.

Barry Matties: We’re talking about how to thrive in the industry, and part of that strategy is about lowering costs, an area where DIS has some new solutions. What should a bare board fabricator be thinking about if they want to thrive?

Jesse Ziomek: Thriving seems to encompass three areas within the lay-up process. First, customers are looking to solve registration issues, which ultimately increase yields; high yields equal good profits. Second, customers want to know not only how to advance their technology but the manufacturing of it what I’ll call “clean” manufacturing. What other tools and resources are available to break away from the conventional methods of hard tooling—like old-school hammer and pins and heavy plates—which carry a lot of regular maintenance costs and are labor intensive? How do we change that environment and make it a more streamlined manufacturing process that is less labor intensive?

A better work environment helps with employee retention. One can also hire a different type of employee. For example, maybe one doesn't need a super-strong employee who can pick up 45-pound-plus caul plates because we've eliminated that need with our pinless process and blocking plate technology. That’s the kind of hidden reality that comes into play.

The third area is advancing a manufacturer's technical capabilities. If you can introduce new technology that addresses one pain point, increases yields, introduces a more streamlined manufacturing process, and a safer working environment, the third jewel in the crown is advancing technology capabilities.

When customers advance their capabilities, they can enter new PCB markets, gain new customers, and strengthen existing business relationships by offering new products.

To level up, customers need new tools, resources, and education on the new processes and technologies available. That's where automation comes in. So, there is actually a fourth area, which is how we actually go about automating our processes.

To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the July 2024 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.