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September 2015 • SMT Magazine 17 a "low level warning" can be created, which in combination with the work-order planning data can be made into a pull signal to trigger just-in-time (JIT) material replenishment to the warehouse. Knowing exactly what material is needed, where, and when, Lean supply-chain logistics software can select the best material available from the warehouse and send it direct- ly to the required position on the SMT machine so that it arrives immediately before it's needed. In so doing, the traceability data of the materi- als is linked with that of the machine, connect- ed by the software-driven verification process of the material on to the feeder. three benefits of Automated traceability The live data coming from the SMT ma- chines, associating picked materials with place- ments, would now be used to generate three benefits for manufacturing. The first is the automated creation of exact traceability data without manual effort or mistake, as well as the elimination of kitting errors. The second ben- efit is the use of Lean materials logistics, which eliminates significant stocks of materials on the shop-floor, reducing needless investment cost as well as space and handling overheads. Third- ly, the assurance that the production is being executed exactly as specified. The automotive management conformance requirements have been satisfied through the material verification process, which does not allow any machine to work unless every material has been actively verified for use only in its set position. Three separate benefits have been achieved simply and automatically through the capture and use of one key source of data, bringing low- er cost and inter-process automation between the supply-chain to manufacturing flow. Simi- lar mechanisms exist to support non-SMT ma- chines for manual assembly and even for repair, as well as the bare PCB and consumable items such as solder paste, all with active verification, pull material signals, and the subsequent au- tomated association of data to create material traceability. These additional steps, although usually representing a small fraction of the total ma- tHe "NeW FACe" OF AutOmOtIve trACeAbILIty continues FeAture figure 1: full automation carries through all the necessary manufacturing data to comply with automo- tive management reporting requirements.