Designers Notebook: Addressing Future Challenges for Designers
Connect the Dots: Designing for Reality—Surface Finish
Fresh PCB Concepts: Tariffs and the Importance of a Diverse Supply Chain
New IPC White Paper Focuses on Use of Artificial Intelligence in Automated Optical Inspection in Electronics Manufacturing
February 6, 2025 | IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
A new white paper, “Unlocking AI for Automated Optical Inspection” released today by IPC’s Chief Technologist Council, focuses on AI’s role in AOI processes for printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs). According to data within the white paper, recent advancements in technology, particularly in Cloud AI, IoT and Smart Manufacturing, have provided opportunities to further enhance AOI performance. AI solutions leveraging deep learning and edge computing technologies have shown significant improvements in AOI accuracy and efficiency.
While the white paper focuses on the application of computer vision AI for automating inspection (i.e., applying AI for pattern recognition on inspection images), the rapidly growing availability and maturity of generative AI presents future possibility in generating inspection criteria.
Key focus areas within the white paper include:
- AI systems explanation
- The use of AI in AOI
- Challenges with deploying AI on the manufacturing floor
- “AI Enhancement to AOI for PCBA” project
- Technical Strategy Recommendations
“AI has shown significant potential in the realm of AOI, particularly in improving detection accuracy, reducing manual intervention and improving production efficiency. It presents many opportunities for the electronics manufacturing industry to increase reliability, speed up time to market and reduce costs and time associated with manual adjustments to systems,” said Matt Kelly, IPC chief technology officer and vice president of technology solutions. “However, several challenges must be addressed before AI can be widely adopted on electronics manufacturing production floors. AI research, industry collaboration and an ecosystem of standards, will help close the gap in AI adoption within the electronics manufacturing industry.”
Download “Unlocking AI for Automated Optical Inspection" here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Husqvarna, Flex Announce Strategic Partnership
02/07/2025 | FlexHusqvarna and Flex announced a strategic manufacturing partnership, which will enable Husqvarna to further enhance flexibility, efficiency, and time to market through Flex's strategic supply chain management solutions and expand Flex's Lifestyle portfolio into outdoor and power equipment.
AIM Solder Acquires the Assets of Canfield Technologies
02/07/2025 | AIM SolderAIM Solder, a leading global manufacturer of solder assembly materials, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the assets of Canfield Technologies, a renowned producer of high-quality solders and fluxes since 1844.
I-Connect007 Editor's Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
02/07/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007For my top picks this week, I wanted to highlight some other important content we’ve featured. First is the incomparable Stephen Chavez, who provides insight into what the future PCB designer will look like. Bob Duke of American Standard outlines the seven key challenges he sees in offshore manufacturing. We move seamlessly from there to tariffs, one of today’s most talked about topics. Jeffrey Beauchamp of NCAB looks back at a recent timeline regarding tariffs, and it’s quite interesting. I’m also pointing you toward a feature on a thriving EMS company in Malaysia, one of the two most popular locations for China Plus One manufacturing expansions. Finally, we acknowledge the expansion news of a long-time PCB and EMS global supplier.
Geopolitics Reshapes the Global PCB Landscape as Trump 2.0 Looms
02/06/2025 | TPCAThe global PCB industry is undergoing a period of significant transformation driven by geopolitical shifts, protectionism, and supply chain restructuring.
Flexible Thinking: Mind-tapping into January
02/05/2025 | Joe Fjelstad -- Column: Flexible ThinkingIt’s January again, and our beleaguered planet has completed yet another trip around the sun. The Romans named January in honor of their god Janus, who is usually depicted as a bearded old man with two faces—one looking back to the past and the other looking forward to the future. People venerated Janus as the god of beginnings and endings, transitions, and the passage of time. With that in mind, I’ll look 10 years into the future—hopefully with a bit of inspiration from Janus—and prognosticate what might be happening in electronic design.