Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1472190
74 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2022 Johnson: When it comes to doing high-density board placement and that sort of work, what are your greatest challenges? Preston: To be honest with you, the factory itself runs extremely smoothly. We have the gear set up identically line by line so we could put jobs on any line. e real challenge is get- ting all the material onsite, auditing it, and then issuing to the floor. Once it's issued, everything usually runs very smoothly. We do a pretty good job on the program- ming. We're able to do some of that setup magic before the parts are issued. Stencils are ready, along with everything else, even though I have only five days. We check and recheck, do the first article setup; everything is done and ready to roll. But materials are still a challenge. Johnson: What about feeder technology? We're hearing this area could certainly use some improvement, especially when you start talk- ing about the very small components. What's your take on that? Preston: It is somewhat dated technology. We could use an upgrade as a potential bene- fit long term; that will help us in the long run, changing out that technology and the feeders, the barcoding and scanning placements, for the manual parts of the setup. Johnson: Speaking of the long run, let's look ahead two years with Green Circuits doing high density work. What are the one or two key things that you would like to see change to make the job easier for that? Preston: For the company or for my role? Johnson: For the company, for doing that kind of work. Preston: I've worked at Tier 1 for six years, and then at a midsize EMS player for nine, and now, at Green Circuits. I've seen the range of expertise and I can say that, at the end of the day, the large production houses crank out the widgets all day long. ey have the big ham- mer to beat up the suppliers, and they have all the machines. But when you say, "Hey, make this board for me and do it in five days," every- thing just shuts down. ey don't know what to do. It clogs up their system. At Green Circuits, we're the opposite. We're extremely nimble; we're doing that all day long. But you tell us to build something six months from now and we're not sure how to do that. So, we're the opposite here. Our ability is in maintaining our secret rec- ipe for doing things quickly, efficiently, and with high quality standards at a reasonable cost, while also expanding our production and box build business. For us the goal is to have the systems and tools; that's what we're looking at now. We just started the due diligence phase for what we need to do. What are those tools and systems that will allow me to be more efficient and predictable for both quick turn and pro- duction? Johnson: at's a great answer. anks for that, Ron. Preston: All right. Great talking with you. SMT007 The real challenge is getting all the material onsite, auditing it, and then issuing to the floor. Once it's issued, everything usually runs very smoothly.