-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueCertifications
Certifications have historically been seen as a cost of doing business, but how do we turn them into a positive ROI and a value to both customer and vendor?
The Butterfly Effect
The basis of chaos theory is a key concept known as the “butterfly effect.” It’s the idea that a small event in one place creates a cascading set of events elsewhere. So, how is the EMS landscape changing? We’re tracking the concerns and dynamics of this landscape, and there’s a lot to learn.
Coming to Terms With AI
In this issue, we examine the profound effect artificial intelligence and machine learning are having on manufacturing and business processes. We follow technology, innovation, and money as automation becomes the new key indicator of growth in our industry.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
Supplier Selection Key to Assembly Reliability
February 5, 2014 |Estimated reading time: 1 minute
Defining terms is always a good point to start, and from a practical standpoint, reliability can be simply defined as performance to both the design intent for the expected life cycle of the product.
When asked to discuss supply chain strategy, EMS and OEMs often respond with something like, “Yes of course, we have a purchasing department.” Supply chain management has progressed far beyond the old school purchasing mentality to become a key component of the modern business organization. We are all just pieces in the supply chain puzzle that is responsible for getting the ultimate customer’s product to market.
The first step in developing an SCM program is to identify all purchased materials (and services) into two categories, standard and critical. Suppliers of critical materials are the ones that need to be controlled; you probably don’t want to spend too much time managing your supplier of stationary and paperclips. A raw PCB supplier is a perfect example of a critical material, both from a technology complexity standpoint as well as a risk level. It only takes one defective $25 printed circuit board to destroy $2,500 worth of perfectly good electronic components.
Qualification Criteria
Strategically, deciding how to qualify new suppliers is the most critical step in the process. Of course, there must be an overriding strategy governing supplier identification and selection, but that would be a whole other column. The underlying tool should be an audit/survey that measures the quality system, financial viability and technology. Audits are frequently based on ISO 9000, which would be preferable if ISO registration is another qualification criterion (which is highly recommended). There should be a re-audit frequency established and some provision for the supplier to provide demonstration of continued capability for the time period between audits. This could be in the form of quarterly Cpk reports, ISO surveillance audit summaries, etc.
What is found too often are that suppliers have been grandfathered onto an AVL because they have always supplied materials, and that no one has ever audited the facility. Or, the only existing control is a self-audit that the supplier completes with no verification (which is probably ok since we all know that no one ever embellishes on their capabilities when filling out one of these!).
Read the full article here.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2014 issue of SMT Magazine.
Suggested Items
iNEMI Packaging Tech Topic Series: Damage-Free Rapid Electron Beam Testing for Advanced Packaging
07/24/2024 | iNEMITesting issues are limiting chip makers’ ability to create larger SOCs (system-on-chip). The scan field dimensions of EUV (extreme ultraviolet light) and NA (numerical aperture) EUV, which are typically used for testing, are too small.
Dymax Expands Core Market Focus to Include the Energy Sector
07/24/2024 | DymaxDymax, a leading manufacturer of rapid curing materials and equipment, announces a curated lineup of light-curable adhesives and coatings designed to meet the complex assembly needs of stationary energy storage systems such as industrial gas turbines (IGTs) and various types of fuel cells and electrolyzers including Solid Oxide (SOFC) and Proton Exchange Membrane (PEMFC).
Trouble in Your Tank: Materials for PWB Fabrication—Drillability and Metallization
07/16/2024 | Michael Carano -- Column: Trouble in Your TankLaminate materials are the building blocks on which printed circuit boards are manufactured. Circuit board designers rely on the critical electrical properties of the materials to design the interconnects, and with the drive toward IoT (internet of things), autonomous driving, and virtual and augmented reality, material properties take on a very high level of importance.
Halo Industries Closes $80 Million Series B Funding Round Led by Thomas Tull’s U.S. Innovative Technology Fund
07/16/2024 | BUSINESS WIREHalo Industries, Inc., the creator of a laser manufacturing technology platform for the semiconductor industry, announced it raised up to $80 million in its oversubscribed Series B funding round. Led by Thomas Tull’s U.S. Innovative Technology Fund (USIT) with participation from 8VC and SAIC, the funding will help Halo Industries scale the commercialization and reach of its technology and advance its mission to establish the new gold-standard of silicon carbide substrate production.
iNEMI Packaging Tech Topic Series: Damage-Free Rapid Electron Beam Testing for Advanced Packaging
07/16/2024 | iNEMITesting issues are limiting chip makers’ ability to create larger SOCs (system-on-chip). The scan field dimensions of EUV (extreme ultraviolet light) and NA (numerical aperture) EUV, which are typically used for testing, are too small. To enable larger chips, manufacturers are migrating to system-on-a-package (SOP).