SMT Process Strengthens Productivity in Electronics Manufacturing Sector

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- May 21, 2002 � Bliss Industries, Inc. today announced the general availability of Profit-Driven Manufacturing� (PDM�), a cart-based process for electronics assembly companies that improves SMT Component Placements per Day and line throughput by up to 40%. By reducing non-productive manufacturing time, the PDM process offers dramatic productivity gains without increased overhead or capital outlays.

The shocking explanation of what the industry is calling overbuilt infrastructure is �acceptable downtime.� Examples of this downtime can be found during a four-minute feeder reload or a ninety minute feeder changeover. Twenty-five reloads and two changeovers per shift quickly equal 50% percent downtime. A significant portion of this downtime IS avoidable and should not be accepted. The consequences of such acceptable inefficiencies create overbuilt infrastructure of capacity and ultimately hurt shareholders.

The process of Profit-Driven Manufacturing is simple. It forces the bottleneck of the SMT manufacturing line to be positioned on the pick and place machine(s). The second step is to emphatically manage the components placed per day versus the sum of ALL non-productive time of that bottleneck.

�Implementation of this rather simple process change delivers an immediate bottom-line impact,� states Ken Bliss, CEO of Bliss Industries. �The ability to ship more components with less overhead and fewer defects is exactly what this sector needs right now.�

"Tektronix enjoys working together with Bliss Industries in significantly improving board handling throughout our factory,� states Jim Bloomfield, Process Engineer at Tektronix (NYSE:TEK). �Our board handling scrap rate has decreased and continues to decrease as we implement across our factory.�

About Bliss Industries, Inc.

Serving the electronics assembly industry for over 20 years, Bliss Industries, Inc. has developed PROFIT-DRIVEN MANUFACTURING (PDM�), a cart-based process and integration service developed to increase PC board SMT-line throughput and capacity by up to 40%. Hundreds of customers worldwide, including dozens of the top OEMs and EMS providers have reported "dramatic" increases in throughput and capacity as a result of PDM. Bliss Industries prides itself on a no-surprises approach to management and is renowned for its commitment to quality, integrity and customer service. For more information, please visit http://www.blissindustries.com or call us direct at +1-510-490-8401.