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January 2017 • SMT Magazine 25 tions in use at the factory level can then also make use of the machine data, providing mutu- al operational value. The series of these processes is recorded by our traceability camera. A base level of traceabil- ity may be satisfied with just a check that the part number was correct. On the other hand, most reputable electronics manufacturers will need to have clear control of quality and re- sponsibility, requiring a higher level of trace- ability that goes into the detail of the handoff between these different systems within the fac- tory. This simple example of the traceability of SMT materials illustrates that the whole solu- tion cannot come solely from one point. Au- tomatic collaboration needs to be done. Many other processes consume materials, including manual assembly and repair, as well as configu- ration using virtual materials such as MAC ad- dresses. There are also consumable materials such as solder paste, which in itself has a com- plex working procedure to follow, with similar different levels of traceability data capture. Traceability does not stop with simple ma- terials, however. Quite often, subassemblies are used as part of the product assembly, which need to have their traceability data inherited from their production history. Our recording of assembly operations has to be linked with oth- er recordings made at different times and in dif- ferent places, but they need to be are complete- ly compatible to create a complete record of the build of the finished product. Traceability covers more than just materials though. The process history is also a key part of any build record. Smart factory systems contin- uously plan the factory operation, making deci- sions about the best product flow and the best machine configuration setups. The information associated with each work order of products, in- cluding process setup configurations also needs to be seen by our traceability camera. This link of planning information is critical because we need to ensure that all processes have been set up and executed in the right sequence in the correct conditions, and that the result of the process has been good. Test processes especially provide a large amount of data about each product, as well as the simple pass or fail result. Products that do not pass a test must be routed to a repair sta- tion. These processes also need to interact di- rectly with the traceability data to determine any possible cause that may have arisen from deviations that were recorded throughout the production cycle, as recorded by the traceability data. The defect, once found, triggers an assess- ment to be made as to whether corrective ac- tion needs to be taken in the process or wheth- er previously completed production units need to be double-checked. In this simple example of just a cross-sec- tion of the factory operation, we can see the need for the exchange of data from all aspects of production: direct, indirect, and transaction- al. Data collected directly from processes is only valid where qualified against the prior processes and transactions through which the materials, the PCB, and operations that the machine went through to get to that point in time. The impor- tance of the machine data is that it allows our traceability camera to see the progress of the op- eration, establishing the timeline against which every other aspect can then be related, looking backward or even forward in the recording. About IPC-1782 The IPC-1782 [1] traceability standard for electronics is a comprehensive specification for the capture of both material and process data, with four defined levels of detail/specification for each. Understanding traceability require- ments is essential for expectations to be ful- filled, especially if and when traceability data is needed to identify the causes of complex issues or to identify the exact scope of an issue. Hav- ing the specification clearly defined also means that only the necessary data is captured, reduc- ing costs. About OML The OML [2] specification is designed to en- able the interconnection of all machines and processes using a single language definition, including transactional activities on the shop floor. OML supports all forms of smart factory activity for use in any digital factory/Industry 4.0 solutions, as well as being a conduit for all levels of traceability data. Virtually every ma- SMART FOR SMART'S SAKE, PART 3: UNIFICATION & TRACEABILITY