Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1088168
10 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2019 tory Giant Technology, a Chinese-based manu- facturer implementing smart factory solutions as they transition from traditional manufactur- ing to automated systems, and from a half-bil- lion in revenue to well over one billion. Cybersecurity will be crucial to Industry 4.0 as factories interconnect across multiple loca- tions and geographies. I Spoke with Anfield Group's Chris Humphreys about current cyber- security concerns in the in- dustry. This may be a spoiler, but cybersecurity cannot be an afterthought in your Industry 4.0 plans. Happy Holden returns with "A Working Definition of Au - tomation." Here, Happy delves into technical details on how to plan for your smart factory transition. Happy Holden's "What Do You Know About Automation?" 10-question quiz will test your mastery of the technical de- tails, protocols, and standards that serve as the connections and channels for moving smart fac- tory data. See how you do! In "How Smart is Your Factory?" columnist Eric Camden reminds us that working smart is not simply equipment and data capture. Careful attention to every detail in reducing contamina - tion and handling damage must be considered. Anchoring this issue, Bob Wettermann fo- cuses on "Inspection of BGAs After Rework." In particular, Bob looks at IPC-A-610 and IPC-7095 for visual and X-ray inspection. The I-Connect007 editorial team is always open to your suggestions for topics or feed - back. If this issue caused you to rethink what you know about smart factories and the global transformation under way, let us know. You can reach us at editorial@iconnect007.com. SMT007 well-established technology for factory monitor- ing is being stitched together in new ways, ben- efiting from interconnects and a ubiquitous data communications network worldwide. It's the same monitoring, but it's no longer functioning as an island in the overall supply chain. In this issue, we explore smart factories from a wider angle and a higher-level perspective. The focus isn't so much about the technologies being used, nor is it just about the machinery; instead, it con - cerns the shift in thinking that Industry 4.0 and smart factories will bring to our world. For our first practical exam - ple, Barry Matties takes us on a tour of DSG, a China-based fab- rication facility. DSG's recent performance shows that, done right, concentrating on smart factory fundamentals can be a big help to your business—not a hindrance. Neil Sharp discusses four core electronic component packaging issues in "Improving the Efficiency of Your PCBA Pro - duction." Neil's points keep current processes streamlined and costs controlled, which are nec- essary best practices at any level of automation. Our first feature, "Automation and the Smart Factory: Introduction to Industry 4.0" by Happy Holden, lays the philosophical groundwork for thinking in the smart factory future. Happy's working definition for automation includes some excerpts from his book Automation and Advanced Procedures in PCB Fabrication, which is also recommended reading for more on this topic. At the CES Show in January, I met with Phoebe Francis, a representative for the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). The WPC is at the center of standardizing wireless power systems across all industries. If you're familiar with Qi, then you know part of the WPC's work. Whether on the shop floor or in the end products built there, wireless power systems are on the increase—yet another point technology contributing to the smart factory revolution. Then, Barry Matties brings us on a tour of Vic - Nolan Johnson is managing editor of SMT007 Magazine. Nolan brings 30 years of career experience focused almost entirely on electron- ics design and manufacturing. To contact Johnson, click here.