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24 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2024 President of Operation Patrick Stimpert is driving this manufacturing revolution. "We don't go into vendor relationships without it being a partnership," Patrick says. "I will not do it. If you're asking me to take a machine and go out on a limb for you, you're going to be right there with me. We're going to fail together, or we're going to succeed together. It's been nice to see Koh Young and Panasonic Connect work together. It's good when I pull both parties into a room and say, 'Hey, this is our next step, and I need you guys onboard,' and for them to say, 'Yes, we're going to do it.'" In the Smart factory ecosystem, data fuels continuous improvement. Inspection-based process control tools generate valuable data, offering insights into trends, patterns, and potential improvements. Manufacturers can use this data to identify bottlenecks, fine-tune processes, and predict maintenance needs while maintaining the highest quality stan- dards. From automated programming and smart review that help operators to conduct autonomous process optimization for printers and mounters to assist engineers, Koh Young is applying AI to help inspection equipment mit- igate talent shortages and improve operational efficiency. As this evolution continues, it changes the approach to product design and solution offer- ings and, more importantly, it strengthens the relationship with the manufacturer. One case study comes from Holger Groksch, head of manufacturing in the SMT department at SICK AG. Groksch and his team are focused on performance, and as Holger says, "It's not just controlling quality, it is about making the quality better at the machine level." He continues, "Koh Young provided very high performance and support to help us install the Koh Young Process Optimizer (KPO) Printer." When SICK first installed the solder paste inspection (SPI) machine, they reduced its failed parts at the end of the line by half. is was a dramatic reduction and process improvement. Now, SICK has installed the KPO Printer, and Holger believes this could once again halve the number of failing parts at the end of the line. ese real yield improve- ments are both significant and achievable using the combination of AI-powered soware and hardware solutions. As we witness this era of evolution and dig- ital transformation, we are enthusiastic about the potential for game-changing operational improvements by: • Making our equipment and soware even more user-friendly, reducing the need for extensive training and the potential for errors, and expediting programming and NPI. • Enhancing the networking capabilities of our machines, enabling small teams of experts to manage multiple machines remotely if necessary. • Ensuring that the highly accurate and valuable data collected can be used to enhance processes, going beyond a simple go/no-go decision on a board. • Extending our focus beyond the machine and driving improvements throughout our entire product portfolio. • Aggregating all collected data to provide real intelligence with actionable insights that enhance line, factory, and business performance. • Continuously bringing technological innovations to market. • Most importantly, we listen to our customers and implement the improve- ments they require. e integration of AI in electronics manufac- turing emerges as a pivotal solution. By embrac- ing AI, manufacturers can streamline opera- tions, enhance efficiency, and maintain high- quality standards, all while reducing the depen- dency on a large workforce. AI has proven to be instrumental in mitigating talent shortages through autonomous decision-making.