Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1539960
OCTOBER 2025 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 23 will help ensure the integration project is success- ful. For example, Cogiscan's solution is specifically tailored to meet the complex requirements of elec- tronics manufacturing. It is configuration work, not customization work, so it's easy to deploy in small and large factories. We back it up with a team of dedicated support and application engineers avail- able remotely and onsite to ensure a project can be achieved. Tell me more about that distinction between cus- tomization and configuration. The easiest way to describe it would be that con- figuration is using what is already available within the existing platform—it simply involves tweaking settings or parameters without any changes to the underlying code. This includes data entry for the necessary parameters (host names, folder paths, IP addresses) to enable an existing Co-NECT adapter to communicate with a machine or host software. It could also mean populating certain data fields within our traceability reports. Or, enabling a fea- ture to display existing functions within our plat- form, such as loading a reel to a feeder. Customization, on the other hand, requires devel- opment work, which typically requires changes to the code within our platform. This could include cre- ating a brand-new Co-NECT adapter when a new machine enters the market. We might also need to redesign our traceability reports because a change to the framework is required to support creating new data fields. Or, we might need to develop a new user interface to support a specialized work- flow—perhaps a customer has a unique way to load reels to feeders. Smaller teams should minimize customization and maximize configuration as much as possible. This simplifies integration complexity and makes ongoing maintenance and expansion easier. What's the facility downtime to effect an installa- tion? How does the size of the facility affect instal- lation time? This will depend on the scope of the project more than the size of the facility. The configuration is really in the scope, and when sizing, you just copy and paste. In other words, the downtime will vary widely, whether your project is enabling line-level analytics or activating Level 4 traceability on all SMT lines. We always work in collaboration with our cus- tomers, defining the expectations of the estimated timeline. We try to perform installations during an already planned downtime. Additionally, many manufacturers today tend to opt for a modular rollout. Instead of implementing analytics throughout the entire factory, they start with one line, measure efficiency, and then roll out from there. Do you recommend additional soft- ware/IT engineering resources to accomplish these projects? We need a dedicated IT advocate and project champion at a minimum, but we don't require additional resources. We can adapt to a smaller team and include the appropriate services for those projects. With our strong expe- rience base, we provide clear IT guidelines, such as server recommen- dations, to greatly reduce the risk of undersizing or oversizing a project to make sure the manufacturers get the most out of their investment.