Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/921680
JANUARY 2018 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 35 4.0 achieves through the use of computeriza- tion. When considering implementation of Indus- try 4.0 solutions, following the hype in the market, attention typically is focused on the need for communication between machines on the shop-floor. Knowing what is currently executing and the status of each process in the factory, as well as all the related resources and support operations, provides critical informa- tion for Industry 4.0 computerized manage- ment systems. This includes work-order creation and assignment, as well as the control and planning of related resources and support operations. What is often neglected however until much later in the process, is the manage- ment and control of the engineering definitions of products and related variants that are to be made in this ultra-flexible factory. Engineer- ing control is quite a challenge considering the many tens, hundreds or indeed thousands of products and variants that can potentially be live in production in a single factory at any time. The management of the precise engi- neering data, which includes visual aids and documentation, to be supplied to all processes exactly when needed can quickly become an extreme drain on engineering resource. Add to this the need for conformance, where every set of engineering data, whether comprising a set of machine instructions, or an ISO controlled operation standard for a manual process, needs to be issued and confirmed into place prior to specific execution of a work-order. Apart from the number of different prod- ucts and their variants, managing the many sets of BOMs on an individual variant basis is made more difficult where the differences between each variant can be quite small, but critical. Many of the differences will be at the end of the production process, for exam- ple the casing, manual, or packaging which is different. Of course, making a mistake here carries the same level of importance as anywhere else, as no-one wants to get a prod- uct with the wrong manual or power adaptor, or worse, with the wrong version of software. Small differences earlier in the manufacturing process, such as those in SMT production may make no discernable visual difference, but can affect many of the tests and processes that come later, as measurements and inspections Figure 1: Knowing what is currently executing and the status of each process in the factory provides critical information for Industry 4.0 computerized management systems.