Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1323994
58 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2021 In my September 2020 column I discussed the overview of an audit process to assess the manufacturing capability of OEMs or EMS com- panies. In my second column in this series in November I focused on technology and man- ufacturing capabilities of the supplier. We will conclude this three-part series with questions on quality and RoHS compliance. Even though I have divided the questions into various areas, there are going to be over- laps because they are interconnected. As I mentioned in my previous columns, it is not important which category these questions fall into, but they are asked. These questions are intended to help generate questions that are relevant to your product and the manufactur- ing site you plan to audit—be they at an OEM or EMS site. Quality and RoHS Related Questions There is a lot of interest in AOI machines these days and there is a good reason for it. AOI systems not only collect the defect data, but they also analyze and plot the data to help you do the root cause analysis. The problem with most AOI systems, however, is that they are wrong quite a bit. So, it is not uncommon for companies to buy multiple AOI systems and then not really use them since operators lose confidence in them. The reality is that it is not really the fault of the AOI machines but how they are used. Most AOI systems are noth- ing more than a few cameras that take pictures of what you are interested in, like components and joints, and compare them to an acceptable standard (image sensor technology with com- puter analysis of the digital images). How to Audit OEM-EMS Assembly Capability, Part 3 SMT Solver by Ray Prasad, RAY PRASAD CONSULTANCY GROUP