Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1010078
AUGUST 2018 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 87 are still doing with the reels and feeders, that is not going to be automated anytime soon. But the software is also the problem. I am not a big believer that AI will create some emerging groundbreaking solutions in electronics manufacturing. I believe in human intelligence more than I believe in AI. Humans will develop better software, but fundamental science and better designs are needed, not gimmicks. For pick-and-place vendors, to completely redesign everything is a major undertaking on their side. I do not know if they are willing to do that. And I do not know if they have ideas how to do that. Without them doing that, we are not going to get to a completely automated line. Las Marias: How are you helping companies begin their journey towards smarter manufac- turing? Vujosevic: That is what we are trying to provide globally—smart factory software solutions. For example, we just developed a vision- based system for receiving materials, where there is no operator typing in and scanning the date code, lot code, etc., to create the material label. We just let cameras scan everything, then create and print the label, without the possibility for error. Our customers report that just at the receiving side, there are a lot of mislabeling issues that are happening. They are placing the wrong parts. We are eliminating that using a vision-based labeling system. We also put in production an interface with SAP that allows us to download a finished goods BOM with all data and dependencies to be able to collect and report traceability data on multi work order level in SMT and backend operations. We can now model the largest electronics assembly operations and allow our customers to meet the toughest traceability requirements. Two themes that we hear over and over in our sales meetings from our prospects: help us reduce material and overhead cost, and help us meet traceability requirements. And we will also continue to use AI solutions everywhere. Everything we are doing has one goal: help our customers be better businesses. Las Marias: What are some of the market trends that will drive the growth of the electronics manufacturing industry here in the region? Vujosevic: Last year, we talked about the absence of new products. This year, there are still no new products. We are just recycling cellphones. We need some new electronics products, something that will make people excited, that will make people go out and buy. I have a phone that is five years old, and I am not going to change it because it works fine for me. People want to be part of something exciting. And we do not have anything exciting now unless you include flying toys, or drones. What else is exciting these days? Maybe going to Mars will be exciting because it will involve a lot of electronics, but not on an enough large scale. I am not going to live long enough to see that. But, if there is a sign up list to go to Mars tomorrow, even if it is a one way trip, I would sign up. People want to be inspired. People want to be part of something big. But something extraordinary that will excite people to go out and buy more electronic products, that will drive the electronics manufacturing growth - we do not have much these days. Las Marias: What about autonomous vehicles? Vujosevic: That is going to eliminate drivers, but we will see what impact that will have on growth of the electronics manufacturing industry. It is going to be a long time to get to that point, especially with some of its drawbacks. But that is expected with anything new. There is an infrastructure that is needed for that to be in place, in addition to the cars. Las Marias: Alright, thank you very much, Dr. Vujosevic. It was great speaking with you again. Vujosevic: Thank you very much. SMT007