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42 SMT Magazine • September 2014 of reliable data from the departments involved, but we continue to improve the tool as we use it. One example of a partially automated pro- duction line is a rotary assembly machine we developed and deployed at our factory in Jiax- ing, China (Figure 1). It combines eight differ- ent production steps into a single, compact foot- print. It checks the sub-assemblies after loading, performs the final assembly, does an optical test and a functional test, laser marks the finished assembly, checks the marking, and identifies and sorts bad parts from the good ones. Not only is there no manual handling of the parts during the entire final assembly sequence, but there is also an added high-resolution 3D in- spection step. We continuously evaluate the benefit of automation at our manufacturing facilities, in- cluding those in traditionally low-cost China. Automation strongly supports our zero-defect program in China by improving quality and re- peatability at critical process steps where a high turnover of staff would otherwise have had a particularly debilitating effect. Typically, how- ever, we continue to use manual operators for noncritical steps and for loading and unloading parts in and out of any automated equipment. Looking now at the revenue side, automa- tion will often enable a manufacturer to take on customer projects for which a demanding OEM or Tier 1 customer would otherwise not have considered them as a supplier due to the vol- ume, the quality requirements or the complex- ity involved. For our high-volume quotations, investment alternatives with and without auto- mation are compared as a matter of course. Au- tomotive and medical-grade products likewise warrant close evaluation together with the cus- tomer, while complex products involving criti- cal process steps such as precision press-fitting or selective soldering are also considered for au- tomation. feATure reDUCING tOtAL mANUFACtUrING COSt WIth AUtOmAtION continues figure 1: rotary back-end assembly machine.