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Handling/storing SMT leftover parts - cut strips

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#90330

Handling/storing SMT leftover parts - cut strips | 11 December, 2023

Looking for ideas/conversation on how people handle short strips or leftover SMT parts in inventory

We do a lot of high mix low volume jobs we often have strips or even parts in bags which we need to keep and inventory. Presently the non reels are coiled or kept in esd bags - but the bags are different sizes because our people like to keep the original labels from DK for instance once there is a future question to realize about the part.

This is only the start of a conversation. I wish I could print labels 1/2" square and the. We could use small bins for instance for loose parts.

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#90336

Handling/storing SMT leftover parts - cut strips | 12 December, 2023

Are you a contractor or are you building your own products?

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#90337

Handling/storing SMT leftover parts - cut strips | 12 December, 2023

Both, but a larger portion is EMS contract.

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#90338

Handling/storing SMT leftover parts - cut strips | 12 December, 2023

We are building our own products and we tend to keep our strips in bags. The same goes for bulk bags.

What I would do, should there be no management issues, is to throw any bulk/strips of resistors and capacitors away, as any additional handling gives them more value. In addition to that, its difficult to recognize them. I'd rather buy more of them, than keeping strips. Obviously, stock adjust comes right away.

The more expensive parts are the ones I would be worried about. MSL parts, transformers, inductors, etc. Yes, keep these accordingly in bags and in the right environment.

Do not over-handle bulk capacitors and resistors, as they are cheap and easy to get.

Regards, Tom

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#90339

Handling/storing SMT leftover parts - cut strips | 12 December, 2023

Yes we are in alignment of thought on this. Deciding on a value point of keep/toss is always a challenge - availability also comes into play - but this has improved over the last year. This is a matter of - when you do want to keep - short tapes/parts separated from reels - how to physically handle/store them. I would like all (suitable - not MSD's) in bags of a standard size so they all stand up and can have the label across the top so you can quickly flip through the group.

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#90340

Handling/storing SMT leftover parts - cut strips | 12 December, 2023

Its pretty retro, but we keep then in a filing cabinet(s). Gestapo style index card storage would be even better (smaller)

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Tom

#90341

Handling/storing SMT leftover parts - cut strips | 13 December, 2023

We print 1/2" x 1" labels via desktop thermal printer for many different applications both product and internal. Fairly easy to whip up a C# or similar program to print what you need on the labels. We wrote a program that has some predefined text for common labels and fields for custom text labels. Labels available from uline, etc.

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