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At Mycronic, Robert Helleday, head of R&D, and Göran Frank, head of Product Management, are quick to clarify that setup optimization is “in our DNA at Mycronic.” That’s important because, in electronics manufacturing, every minute of machine downtime directly impacts productivity, profitability, and responsiveness to customer demand. As product lifecycles shorten and high-mix, low-volume production becomes the norm, manufacturers are under increasing pressure to reduce setup times, accelerate changeovers, and improve material flow without sacrificing quality or traceability.
In this interview, Robert and Göran discuss why setup optimization has long been a core focus of the company. That philosophy influences everything from machine design to software development. For manufacturers looking to increase flexibility and throughput in a high-mix environment, this interview offers valuable insights into the future of factory optimization.
Nolan Johnson: Much of the research on EMS processes points to setup and changeover as a significant contributor to system downtime on the factory floor. How does Mycronic best address that situation, and what are you seeing with your customers?
Robert Helleday: For changeover, there’s a big difference between unidirectional and bidirectional material flow in factories. In unidirectional flow, components come from storage, go onto the machines, then the boards, and that's it. But our whole concept is specializing in bidirectional material flow: You put some of your components on the board, and some go back. It’s everything from the software and hardware to accessories, feeders, storage, and so on. That's what we have built everything around.
I was just at a customer here in Europe, and they do 100 NPIs per day. I've been in the business for 30 years, and I've never seen anything like it. That is a good example: If you work the process from A to Z and use our equipment, you can do some great stuff.
You have to know what you're doing, though—everything from the data flow from their customers, the whole Agilis feeder system, the material handling system, and the software. This customer shows you can get those results without investing crazy amounts of money.
Johnson: When we start talking about changeover optimization, industry insiders understand there's significant potential for human optimization. There are many manual operations that need improvement. That involves adjusting the timing of your processes and equipment to optimize them. How is Mycronic helping with bidirectional flow?
To continue reading this article, which appeared in the July 2026 SMT007 Magazine, click here.
