Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1542458
JANUARY 2026 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 45 that information before committing to quote or manufacture the part. This is truly what people mean when they say design for manufacturability. It includes not just the assembly or the bill of materials, but also labor, cost, build time, and throughput. How does this translate to the shop floor? Ng: One really cool thing is that the TV becomes the plywood board. These work surfaces feature magnetic clips, allowing wires and connec- tors to remain in place once they are positioned. With Harness Builder, you can automatically spec- ify details, such as placing clips every six inches or placing a clip directly where the connector is. The operator pushes one button, and the system tells you where to put all the magnets to build the harness. So, you have this projection system, and you're dis- playing clip locations dynamically. What's the pro- cess for starting a new job on the floor? Harvell: The starting point is, of course, engineer- ing, where people are placing connectors down on this formboard in the digital world. The designer may not want to know where the clips go, nor may they know exactly where they get taped together; they possibly don't even know the size of the tubing or the cable protection that might be used around the harness. Harness Builder is the automated tool to provide all those details. It exports the data into the augmented reality projection device. Opera- tors are then shown tasks one at a time, beginning with placing the clamps that will hold the wires; the screen or projector shows exactly where to put that clamp. Once the setup is complete, the next step involves routing the wires between these specific clips and so on. Ng: In front projection, the TV has the complete layout with the connectors and wires, in a dim color. The technician works with a tablet-type device, instructing where to place Magnet One on the board; it displays a bright color, indicating exactly where Magnet One should be positioned. The oper- ator picks up the magnet from a table and sticks it right on the picture, putting all the magnets down, then the connectors. Then, connector P1 lights up