Project Key Features:
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The company delivers competitive advantages to the world’s leading semiconductor, electronics, automotive and network systems companies. In 2004, Teradyne had sales of $1.8 billion, and currently employs about 4,100 people worldwide.
Teradyne’s SMT (Surface Mount Technology) operation was a low volume, high mix manufacturing environment. The operation required frequent set- ups, and Teradyne needed a way to best maximize the time their SMT machine was in operation. Abel Womack designed a software system for the SMT operation that combined the use of barcoding and scanning to optimize efficiency.
Abel Womack’s software system improved Teradyne’s efficiencies by minimizing set-up time. Through the use of the sophisticated software system, Teradyne employees could simulate each job, prior to its set-up, allowing the SMT operators a forward view of shortages.
The system provided a complete knowledge of all inventory. This was accomplished by layering inventory. Bulk stock can be located in its bulk location, on a feeder, in a feeder bank, on the Remstar vertical carousels or on the SMT machine. This level of inventory control allowed Teradyne to virtually eliminate a shortage situation.
“During the setup of each job, the software will confirm the stock of each item being used. It continually tracks the quantity of each sub-component and allows for the “pre-plenishment of machine located SMT feeders. This is one of the keys to our efficiency and reduced downtime.”
Leo Montgomery, Materials Manager
Teradyne, Inc.
Download the complimentary Teradyne SMT Case Study here.