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AUGUST 2025 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 49 S M A RT AU TO M AT I O N focus on performance during operation, but peo- ple pay less attention to downtime, which is just as impactful. The best modern platforms are designed with maintenance and uptime in mind and may include: • Low-level alerts for component replenishment • Self-diagnostics and error reporting • Predictive maintenance alerts • Tool-free access to high-touch areas • Remote support connectivity Reduced downtime leads to higher output, bet- ter OEE, and lower labor costs. For operations with lean technical support, ease of maintenance can be a deciding factor in long-term machine value. Conclusion: What to Look For in 2025 When evaluating pick-and-place systems, look beyond headline specs like CPH or nozzle count. Some of the most important questions to consider include: • How fast can the system change over between products? • How well does the machine handle small or odd-shaped components? • How easy is it to teach new parts or trouble- shoot errors? • Can the software scale and interface with other factory systems? • What is the level of support and long-term serviceability? There are more capable machines on the mar- ket than ever before. The challenge lies in identify- ing the platform that aligns with production needs, available labor resources, and long-term opera- tional goals. SMT007 Josh Casper is a regional sales manager for Horizon Sales. To read past columns, click here. As products have become more modular and tech- nologically advanced, the reliance on complex, glob- ally sourced components has grown accordingly. Global input flows are not just a prelude to final as- sembly, they are the core of the value chain. A semi- conductor may cross several borders before it is in- stalled in a final product. A single smartphone con- tains components sourced from dozens of countries. The finished product is only the last stop in a much longer and more fragmented journey. The structure of global electronics trade is there- fore defined less by where products are assembled and more by how they are made. This distinction mat- ters. Policymakers aiming to reshore production or reduce reliance on specific countries often focus on final assembly. However, the data makes clear that strategic leverage lies upstream, where components are designed, fabricated, tested, and shipped across borders. Understanding this reality, electronics man- ufacturers are not just skilled assemblers. They are supply chain experts capable of adjusting produc- tion and sourcing strategies across borders in re- sponse to market shifts and regulatory pressures. Appreciating the scale of this trade and the struc- ture behind it is essential for any serious discussion of industrial policy, economic security, or global com- petitiveness. But the foundation is clear: electronics trade is large, global, and shaped more by in- puts than by outputs. (Source: Global Electronics As- sociation report, "Interconnect- ed: Global Electronics Trade In An Age Of Disruption") Excerpt: The Scale and Structure of Global Electronics Trade