Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1535954
essarily linked to the automated optical inspec- tion (AOI) defect reports. is lack of integra- tion can create inefficiencies. Incomplete Quality Insights When AOI machines detect defects, engi- neers must correlate errors back to pick-and- place or even serial peripheral interface (SPI) data to discover the root causes. ese datasets oen appear in different formats and locations. e engineer must determine the correlation between defects across these processes. With- out automated correlation, manufacturers waste valuable time and risk recurring defects. Lack of Real-time Decision Making Disconnected systems prevent real-time pro- cess optimizations. If an SPI system detects an issue with solder paste, that could potentially create a change in screen printer or pick-and- place parameters. Disconnections delay these adjustments, increasing defect rates. Inefficient Inventory and Material Management Many of today's placement machines track component usage, but if the factory doesn't share that data across its enterprise resource planning (ERP) or material requirements planning (MRP) system, material shortages or excess stock can result, creating potential line-down scenarios for materials previously assumed to be in stock. Missed Predictive Maintenance Opportunities When machines operate independently, manufacturers can't predict failures accurately. If the numbers in placement quality drop, this could indicate an impending issue. In addition, some placement vendors offer to track nozzle and feeder usage and error information. Inte- grating that data with production logs allows for proactive maintenance before failures cause downtime. Redundant Manual Work Engineers can spend hours manually gather- ing and analyzing data from different sources to optimize production. An integrated system automates this analysis, allowing engineers to focus on improvements rather than data col- lection. The Solution: Unified Data Collection for a Smarter Factory e key is integrating data from different machines into a single, real-time monitoring system. Here's how manufacturers can achieve this: 70 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2025