Technical Library | 2001-05-23 16:29:52.0
Management consultant R. Michael Donovan outlines the problems and opportunities of performance measurement as an "enabling force" for improving overall business performance...
Technical Library | 2001-05-23 17:00:44.0
The complexities of getting material ordered, manufactured and delivered overload most supply chain management (SCM) systems. The fact is, most systems are just not up to handling all the variables up and down the supply chain...
Technical Library | 2001-04-24 10:41:53.0
Tau models describe the timing and functional information of component interfaces. Timing information specifies the delay in placing values on output signals and the timing constraints (set-up/hold, pulse-width) on input signals of a component. Functional information, through a finite state machine (FSM), specifies when output signal values change, when input signal values are latched, and how output values are determined as a function of input values.
Technical Library | 2001-04-24 10:44:24.0
This paper reviews the possible implementations of the Micro Via Technology within the Mentor Graphic's Board Station environment, specifically within the Librarian, Layout and Fablink applications. In this context, the definition of a Micro Via is constrained to Board Station’s support of such technology and contains only generalized descriptions of the manufacturing processes that require Micro Vias.
Technical Library | 2001-05-23 16:23:26.0
Lowering inventories is one of the quickest ways to decrease working capital needs. Performance measurements, such as the old standby ROA (return on assets) and the newer EVA (economic value added), as well as other measures that gauge how efficiently capital is used, have become more common organizational drivers. In fact, many an executive’s bonus depends, at least in part, on how efficiently capital is used.
Technical Library | 2001-05-23 16:36:43.0
Consultant R. Michael Donovan writes that manufacturers need to become more nimble and much faster in their order-to-delivery process. Mike discusses the implications of push vs. pull, IT tools as enablers and potential benefits from Demand-based Flow Manufacturing.
Technical Library | 2001-04-24 10:38:38.0
Many PCB designers are interested in taking advantage of Multichip Modules, but are unfamiliar with the technology. While the design process is very much the same, MCM manufacturing processes vary dramatically. MCM routing requirements are dictated by the manufacturing process and types of components. Components mounted on MCM substrates are predominantly, if not exclusively, bare chips. As a result, the component body and I/O pins are no longer constrained to industry standard pin counts and form factors as are packaged components...
Technical Library | 2001-04-24 10:47:02.0
Board-level circuits today routinely run at speeds of 100 MHz or more and are composed of dozens of complex interacting VLSI components. To design such circuits in a timely and correct manner it is necessary to pay close attention to circuit timing early in the design cycle. At fast clock speeds, managing component and interconnect propagation delay becomes a key aspect of circuit design. It is imperative that the critical paths on a circuit and the slack available for interconnect delay consumption be identified early, and drive subsequent stages in the design flow.
Technical Library | 2001-05-03 11:23:09.0
In this age of global competition, world class electronics manufacturers understand that increasing profit margins is accomplished not by increasing price or lowering the quality of components and workmanship, but by increasing production yields. Post-solder inspection ensures that your customers receive good product, but by separating the good boards from the bad boards you only measure yield, not improve it. A yield (and profit) improvement strategy consists of making measurements at critical stages, as early as possible in the assembly process, and adjusting the process parameters to achieve optimal performance.
Technical Library | 2001-05-23 16:15:54.0
The supply chain is made up of all the activities that are required to deliver products to the customer - from designing product to receiving orders, procuring materials, marketing, manufacturing, logistics, customer service, receiving payment and so on. Anyone, anything, anywhere that influences a product’s time-to-market, price, quality, information exchange, delivery, among other activities is part of the supply chain.