Apr 02, 2003
eM-Assembly Expert 2.0 is a major upgrade to the proven electronics assembly and test solution from Tecnomatix Unicam.
Claimed to be the only complete solution for new product introduction (NPI) on the market, the new version has several industry-exclusive features that will enable electronics manufacturers to increase productivity, reduce costs and easily transfer and share jobs between different plants.
Effectively eM-Assembly Expert 2.0 is a completely integrated, single solution for electronics assembly and test programming, documentation creation and parametric optimisation.
Advanced features include the integration with an exclusive vendor part library for automated transfer of manufacturing component data.
It also integrates seamlessly with other eMPower for Electronics solutions, including eMPower Execution Systems for real-time access to shop-floor information and performance monitoring, and eMPower Box Build for integration into final assembly processes.
eMPower for Electronics solutions can also be used with existing customer business processes, from manufacturing order through product shipment.
"Since its introduction, eM-Assembly Expert has become an industry-leading, machine-neutral platform for assembly and test.
Our customers tell us that it is helping them increase yields while maintaining high quality levels - while also meeting the challenges of reduced resources and fierce competition in their markets", said Israel Levy, CEO of Tecnomatix Unicam.
"With its broadened capabilities, eM-Assembly Expert 2.0 is a major component of our commitment to a more comprehensive, integrated eMPower for Electronics vision".
Key features of eM-Assembly Expert 2.0 include: a process-oriented user interface with Internet-ready workflow navigation for implementing customer defined processes and reduced user errors; optimisation capabilities that reduce line changeover time by up to 25%, resulting in more throughput capacity and reduced costs; integration with a vendor part library that significantly reduces time to program machines; support for over 65 CAD parsers and 160 machines to aid the most diverse assembly and test environments; common job and library files for easy transfer and job sharing between plants, allowing manufacturers to plan anywhere, build anywhere; and initiation of a co-operative program with machine vendors to certify eM-Assembly Expert machine program outputs.
eM-Assembly Expert is one of the many Manufacturing Process Management applications from Tecnomatix that fills the traditional product lifecycle management (PLM) gap between product design and manufacturing systems.
"We've had great success for years with Tecnomatix Unicam's best-in-class solutions for optimising our test and inspection processes, and for programming our multivendor SMT lines", said Brian Langevin, Documentation Supervisor at Plexus Corp.
"With the new eM-Assembly Expert, Tecnomatix Unicam's combined tool for assembly and test programming, documentation and viewing, Plexus expects to dramatically decrease time to market and reduce costs.
eM-Assembly Expert offers a common database for test and assembly processes, allowing us to streamline our operations by entering design and bill of material data once for all of our NPI processes".
According to Steve Clouther of ARC Advisory Group, solutions such as eM-Assembly Expert 2.0 are proof of the growing importance of manufacturing process management among electronics manufacturers, focused on delivering the best products to market on time.
"OEMs and contract manufacturers that do not manage their entire product development process in a strategic way - from concept to execution - will be at a distinct disadvantage to those that do", he said.
