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34 The PCB Magazine • May 2016 by Happy Holden Materials handling is a huge topic. The au- tomation of materials handling is also a very big industry. For PCB fab and assembly, the prob- lems with materials handling can be significant. Scratches, nicks, dents and abrasions can be se- rious reject categories for the product, and the indirect materials used to make the PCB can be formidable, as can their disposal. The solutions are varied depending on the size of the opera- tion, the size of normal lots, and the number of different processes the facility runs. For a PCB fabricator, the important aspects of material handling are: • Minimize damage to products • Organize the queue for WIP and through-put • Allow lots to be found in a timely manner • Minimize labor/maximize safety in transporting materials • Make distribution, storage and disposal of indirect materials timely, economical and safe For assembly, the emphasis is on the parts that make up the BOM. But the inspection and test of each assembly is of major concern also— especially fixtures, revision control and product options. For a PCB assembler, the important as- pects of materials handling are: • The right part, in the right quantity, at the right place • Minimizing damage to products • Storage and retrieval of components and parts • Storage and retrieval of test fixture and cables • Disposition of the correct product to the intended user Minimizing Damage Minimizing damage to a PCB panel while in production starts with these questions: How will you transport the panels between process- es? Will the panels just be stacked on carts? Will they go into totes, trays, or bins that offer pro- tection for their edges? Will they go into 'cas- settes' that may be part of the loader's or un- loader's mechanization? Material Handling Innovations: Should You Automate? feature