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36 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2022 For manufacturers who have high-mix, low- volume production, there are certain pieces of equipment that can help optimize your throughput potential. For an application with high-mix boards, the most important thing is to choose a pick-and-place machine that can support many feeders. If you are unsure of the number of feeder slots your production level requires, it is best to speak with an expert who will review your bill of materials (at no extra charge) to determine exact equipment require- ments. In general, our team recommends pick-and- place machines with 128 feeder ports or higher for high-mix production. is number of feed- ers (or higher, if needed) allows for optimized throughput potential. For example, one com- pany was able to have all the feeders needed for six different products loaded onto a single pick- and-place machine, thanks to its 128 feeder ports. is allowed them to do very short runs and quickly change from job to job. A high-quality batch oven can simulate a much larger oven while taking up a fraction of the space. Choose a model that is single phase, simulates up to five zones, and uses around 30 amps of power. A small, manual stencil printer will meet the needs of low-volume, high-mix applications without breaking the bank; just choose a printer able to accommodate a sten- cil up to 29" x 29" and that provides fine-pitch printing (down to 12 mil recommended). Optimize Throughput: High-Mix, Low-Volume Manufacturing The Mannifest Feature Column by Emmalee Gagnon, MANNCORP Figure 1: The high-mix, low-volume line provides partial automation for speeding up production while operating in a small space.