Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/935136
64 SMT007 MAGAZINE I FEBRUARY 2018 ing their EMS manufactur- ing needs with both exist- ing programs as well as new product initiatives. Equally important is engaging with new customers on a regular basis. Our seasoned sales team understands that the life blood of any organization is based on new program launches. We focus a significant amount of time in working with new program initiatives within the engineering groups to provide additional support and value as and when the program is being developed. Las Marias: What trends do you see as you look out at the electronics manufacturing industry? Hebson: Customer requirement for new product launch support and speed to market continue to dominate our discussions. This, coupled with a somewhat uncertain end-market demand, drives the need for high levels of procurement and manufacturing flexibility. Although these business pressures are not new, they continue to grow in importance as we provide service to new and existing customers. Environmen- tal compliance and the selection of component materials, which comply with environmental requirements, are growing as a focus area as we work with OEM customers. We continue to invest in training for our staff in these areas to remain current with environ- mental directives. Also, as more OEMs shift their focus from factory exit costs to total cost of ownership, we see growing opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of a global sourcing and manufacturing model. I see this as a very positive trend. Las Marias: What percentage of your custom- ers do you work closely with from design to assembly? Hebson: Mostly, our model aligns well with our customer's needs during the early design stages. Be it working on new electro-mechanical prod- ucts and/or the EMS assem- bly requirements allows us to become involved very early in the process. We focus a considerable amount of time in designing out costs, with an eye towards design for manu- facturability (DFM). During our involvement in design reviews, we'll focus on key areas throughout the cycle and provide critical feedback to address potential issues and ensure a successful new product introduction. Design reviews can also be categorized into material (design for supply chain), test (design for test- ability), fabrication (design for fabrication) and assembly (design for manufacturability). Key areas of DFM include: • Develop, support and release product level process flow, control plans, FMEA, Master Validation Plan and IQ/OQ/PQ in conjunction with your engineering. Design FMEA and critical part inputs drive risk assessment and development strategy. • Develop process and test traceability to support your reporting requirements. • Utilize our copy exact processes and procedures to facilitate multiple site transfer and validation as production ramp. • To support the product development, automatic optical inspection (AOI), 5DX, flying probe, in-circuit test (ICT), and functional system integration and test capabilities will be quoted and provided to support the product development. • Process engineering in conjunction with your requirements will design any neces- sary custom packaging and perform required testing as per ISTA requirements. Working closely with our customers on early involvement in the design cycle can provide a product that is more cost effective, has increased Greg Hebson, Vexos