Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1398328
As they began their discussion, Maggie explained that uptime was simply the percent of time that the lines were running. "Chuck, what do you think our line uptime is?" Maggie asked. "I'd like to think it was really high, but I'm assuming it must be low since you are asking. Is it about 50%?" Chuck asked. "Frank gets about 15%," John said. Chuck turned pale. "That's embarrassing," Chuck groaned. "But how about we try to measure it as precisely as possible?" "How do you propose doing that?" Maggie asked. "The junior techs an I will monitor the lines every half hour," Chuck explained. "If the line Editor's note: This series of columns is about a fictional character and her electronics company, BE, to demonstrate continuous improvement and education in SMT assembly. Maggie was never interested in things like makeup and dresses. Instead, she preferred to spend her time playing sports like basketball, baseball, football, and especially golf. Needless to say, Maggie was thrilled when her mother and John's mother agreed to take the lead on planning Maggie and John's wedding. She was also thrilled that her parents approved of John as a future son-in-law, and John's parents approved of her as a future daughter-in-law. While thinking these pleasant thoughts in her office at BE, she remembered she had a meet-ing coming up in just a few minutes. After Frank Emory's measurement that line uptime was only 15%, Maggie and John decided that increasing uptime was now an emergency. They chatted with BE's lead technician, Chuck Tower. Chuck was 6 feet 5 inches tall and all of his co-workers called him "The Tower." Chuck had worked for BE for years and seemed to Maggie and John to just be "with it." Maggie set up a meet- ing for the three of them. "Chuck, you did the best on the SMT 101 test: nine out of 10. Nice work!" John exclaimed. "Thanks, Mr. Jennings," Chuck responded. "It's John," John replied. "Remember, we are a team." 84 SMT007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2021 What is Your Uptime? Maggie Benson's Journey by Dr. Ronald C. Lasky, INDIUM CORPORATION Illustration: Sophie Morvan