Unmasking the Truth:

More Myths in Electronics Manufacturing Busted – Part 2

Every industry has its share of rumours and myths, and the electronics manufacturing sector is no exception. But how can we separate fact from fiction? Let's debunk some of the most persistent myths in the world of electronics manufacturing and uncover the truth!

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felix moegele

Felix Mögele
Senior Business Development Manager

Odd-shaped components can only be placed manually.

It’s a myth!

Panasonic's all-rounder pick-and-place machine NPM-VF handles both SMT and THT components as standard or odd-form components. The machine is equipped with two placement heads where a wide variety of vacuum nozzles and grippers are available. All kind of supply types like tray units, axial-, radial-, stick-, tape feeder and special solutions are available and allow full flexibility.  Contributing to reduce manpower requirements and to consistent production with high productivity, flexibility and high-quality pick and place results, the NPM-VF is a gamechanger within the industry.

THT assembly is dying and no longer relevant?

It’s a myth!

In recent years, power electronic was experiencing a comeback. Panasonic started as a pioneer and continued to develop their axial with the AV132 and radial insertion machines (RL132, RG131) for PTH & THT (Pin Through Hole / Through Hole Technology) processes with high density and high speed. This machine developments complement - together with the NPM-VF machine - the THT portfolio. 

As an example, the Panasonic RL132 machine offers an insertion time of 0.14 s/component and outstanding technology in an efficient footprint. It can handle board processing sizes up to 650 x 381mm and reach a 33% reduction in PCB transfer time

There is no supervision, traceability and support for manual assembly processes.

It’s a myth!

The Panasonic Guided Manual Assembly (PGMA) station helps to enhance manual assembly processes. PGMA is a reliable and effective manual Through Hole Technology mounting manufacturing solution. A computer-assisted manual workstation developed with our partner Computer Aided Works that uses software to provide specific work-instructions for manual assembly. With the support of PGMA, traceability as well as a reduction of error rates in manual manufacturing and effective, end-to-end material management all becomes possible. Instructions for placing components on the board are shown visually in sequence. Lights show which component to pick, and placement instructions are projected onto the board. If components are placed incorrectly, an error is indicted by a red light and an acoustic signal (beep). Each process step can also be supported by images and photos and detailed work instructions and/or drawings on the display.

The heart of automated manufacturing lies in efficient material management and planning. 

It’s true!

It’s all about transparency. From the moment where the goods in our case electronic components are received in the factory, we manage the quantity and location of them and trace them, including the produced PCBs, until they are packed into boxes and ready to ship. This is where Panasonic’s PanaCIM advanced module of material control operates.

Knowing exact locations of material in the factory helps our customers to keep general stock at a low level and allows to guide operators in the most efficient way through the shop floor. An exact backflush of consumed material to ERP systems enables our customers to order right quantity at the right time. At the production site, the innovative Inovaxe solution offers flexible and traceable material storage solutions. Material is scanned, tracked and verified when added or taken off the shelf before taken to production. 

We have our own production planning tool called MFO for our equipment but also for 3rd party machines. Taking multiple parameters like operator availability & skillset, available equipment such as nozzles, feeders and machines, shift schedules, product information and planned workorders into consideration, MFO is providing an optimal production and set-up plan that allocates operators in the most efficient way. Having a digital twin of the production line allows to plan and reserve material precisely and react very quickly to unplanned events. To have minimum stock at production lines we reserve the materials based on workorder and can deliver the material not only Just in time to the line but also JUST in sequence to the production lines to have minimum changeover time. Improving the changeover time to a minimum and keeping it flexible, our systems are able to operate and switch between product families.

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