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76 SMT007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2022 mation planning. en they can teach others, as the factory will need to pass along this skill repeatedly. One recommended team configuration is having two engineers: a process engineer (usu- ally a chemical engineer) and a control/data engineer (usually an electrical engineer). Hav- ing access to a statistician (either a univer- sity or a consultant) will be extremely useful. Both engineers should be capable of working independently, with the capability to quickly learn new skills, including statistical tools and data analysis. New college graduates, especially with a graduate degree, would be suitable. A bonus and compensations need to be established, as successful factory automa- tion engineers are highly prized and heavily recruited. What They Need to Learn ere are seven major topics to be addressed with the primary one being to meet your company's business objectives. e com- pany should already have some long-term business objectives that will shape the pri- orities for an automation strategy and prod- uct roadmap. Achieving these objectives depends upon the other six topics listed here: 1. Zero waste: Waste of any sort, including materials, rework, repair, paperwork, environmental, or workforce, are all suitable focus for benchmarking (or best practices) analysis to improve performance. 2. Internet-of-ings sensors: New sensors to provide real-time data are the basis for most Smart factory automation. Sensors can be purchased to provide relevant information and integrated by low-cost programmable logic controllers (PLCs) for storage in the cloud. Some may have to be a DIY sensor, like the specific grav- ity unit or amp-hour unit from Chapter 4 of Automation and Advanced Procedures in PCB Fabrication. 2 3. Predictive analytics: Using new sensor data stored in the cloud, regression analysis, and DOE procedures can create predictive models (digital twins) to reduce or eliminate defects or enhance product specifications like impedance control and registration. 4. Zero-defect manufacturing: Unless your yields are 100%, defects are your largest waste and benchmarking will provide project focus. 5. Driving zero-downtime: Downtime for equipment or process affects the bottom line and delivery performance; new sensor data and predictive models can eliminate this. 6. Create solution templates: Documenting automation solutions with a template that others can follow to solve similar problems and waste. How to Analyze and Plan the Automation Give your team the time to learn about some of the new tools and skills that will be required. is education starts with these seven resources: 1. 24 Essential Skills for Engineers: 17 chapters to study (Figure 1) 1 2. Automation and Advanced Procedures in PCB Fabrication: e chapters that will especially need to be studied are, "CIM & Automation Strategy" and "Mechanization in PCB Fabrication" Figure 2) 2 3. e eHandbook of Statistical Methods: Use the free handbook and soware from NIST to study the chapters on DOE and problem-solving (Figure 3) as it is the world's best engineering statistics training, including examples, and will be used by you and your team for the rest of their careers 3 4. Siemen's e Printed Circuit Assembler's Guide to... Advanced Manufacturing in the Digital Age, which focuses on understand- ing the new roles for ERP, MES/MOM,