Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1275152
40 SMT007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2020 Matties: That's a lot of security protocol capa- bility. When it comes to the towers, what's a typical installation? What do people have to prepare for? How did their systems change? Astle: The number one thing is that the unique identifier needs to be on the reel, and some companies don't have that. They must pre- pare for the fact that each reel needs to have its own license plate so that we can track it on the machines and back into the towers. A typi- cal setup is a couple of weeks. They also need to prepare their materials to have unique IDs on all of the reels. Then, it's a job to analyze the process flow and understand exactly how many reels of which sizes they have and the appropriate proposal to put in front of the cus- tomer in terms of towers. That's where it's an education for the cus- tomer, and it's a learning curve for the sales- person to propose the right set of software, hardware, whether it's a combination of automated or semi-automated cabi- nets, and what software they want to use. Do they want to talk to the MES? Do they want to talk to the mounter? All of this is like a project, to go over a full list and identify the customer's aim and goal. Black: The unique ID requirement is something that's very important and necessary if you're going to do Indus- try 4.0. We've made that easier for the customer with their incoming material station. If their ERP system doesn't use unique IDs, we will generate a unique ID and tell the ERP it now exists. We'll generate a label for the reel and also link it to the part number in that. This makes it easier for the customer to move to a unique ID situation without having to do a lot of work themselves if they don't use unique IDs now. Matties: Is there any special employee training that goes on, or is this a graphic user interface that's pretty self-intui- tive? Black: We usually tell people to give us any good, conscientious employee that pays atten- tion to details, and we'll make them an excel- lent operator. Holden: Does this system have CFX plug and play? Black: Yes, it does. Essegi, being European, started on the Hermes track, which has now merged with CFX. Matties: Bob and Bill, thank you both. As Nolan's pointed out, this is a great starting point for anybody who's serious about a digi- tal factory. Astle: Absolutely. Black: Thank you. SMT007 ISM material incoming station configured with two monitors for picking list and delivery note checking. (Source: storagesolutions.it)