Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1502623
54 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2023 strengthen their bottom lines, OEMs must therefore elevate their standards beyond level 4 traceability 2 and strive for complete explor- atory traceability. Traceability Today IATF 16949:2016 3 , the international stan- dard for automotive quality management sys- tems, attempts to ensure the quality of automo- tive manufacturing. But the production needs of modern vehicles have evolved far more rap- idly than the regulations created to monitor them. For decades, the auto- motive industry concen- trated on optimizing prod- uct assembly over-assess- ing component quality. Currently, there are no widely used tools that pro- vide 100% inspection of electronic components during manufacturing. While manufacturers do maintain tight super- vision on quality control in the assembly process, assessing the authenticity and quality of individual components to pre- vent the integration of defective electronic components or those damaged by oxidized or corroded leads remains inadequate. Currently, the highest manufacturing standard still fails to examine products on the component level. In addition, the traceability resolution com- monly in use is essentially just a glorified ver- sion of batch traceability. The Automotive Component Crisis Considering today's limited traceability capabilities, any shi in the supply chain has the potential for serious implications for both automakers and drivers. Not only does this sig- nificantly increase the chances of automakers purchasing counterfeit or poor-quality chips, but OEMs have no real-time feedback about the quality of any given supplier's product. e consequences can be acute. In 2021, for example, Mercedes-Benz seized more than 1.86 million counterfeit parts globally 4 —a 6% increase compared to the year prior. What Better Traceability Means for Automakers With advancements in standards and regula- tions, a new solution has emerged that offers comprehensive visual inspection of every sin- gle electronic component. is groundbreak- ing approach is called "exploratory trace- ability," and it allows OEMs to identify and address potential issues at the individual com- ponent level. Unlike traditional batch trace- ability methods, explor- atory traceability pro- vides smart insights, enabling precise recalls of faulty component chips on reels. is tar- geted approach mini- mizes waste by avoiding the need to discard large quantities of products due to a batch-level issue. Providing OEMs with 100% accurate trace- ability has a host of benefits. Not only does exploratory traceability minimize disrup- tions within the manufacturing process, but it reduces waste, redundancy, and scrap rates, all of which ensure higher yields and better bot- tom lines. Exploratory traceability also mitigates the impact of recalls. While automotive recalls are rare and reserved for the most extreme cases, they can be incredibly costly, both in reputa- tion and financially. Without accurate trace- ability data on the source of problematic chips, auto manufacturers may be forced to recall an entire fleet of vehicles—even some without any actual defects, for safety's sake—as they The production needs of modern vehicles have evolved far more rapidly than the regulations created to monitor them.