Assembly In Action: Autoliv Upgrades Engineering Platform, Lowers PCB Assembly Cost
Before Autoliv Electronics America can provide
top-notch products to its automotive customers, the company must make sure the
equipment at its facility in Southfield,
MI, performs top-notch. One type
of equipment Autoliv uses there is pick-and-place machines, which are used in the assembly of printed circuit boards that mount onto various electronic safety
components.
Before Autoliv Electronics America can provide
top-notch products to its automotive customers, the company must make sure the
equipment at its facility in Southfield,
MI, performs top-notch. One type
of equipment Autoliv uses there is pick-and-place machines, specifically those
made by Siemens. These units are used in the assembly of printed circuit boards
(PCBs) that mount onto various electronic safety
components.
Recently, Autoliv upgraded the integrated engineering platform it uses with these pick-and-place machines to vPlan, which is made by the Valor Division of Mentor Graphics Corp. Autoliv selected the platform for many reasons.
“Valor’s vPlan accelerates the new product introduction process, increases asset performance, both human and capital, and increases customer confidence,” says Joe Borland, engineering services and software applications manager at Autoliv Electronics America. “This leads to more business and higher revenue, all while simultaneously driving down the cost per unit.”
The vPlan platform covers surface mount technology, through-hole technology and manual assembly. In addition, it delivers comprehensive and synchronized manufacturing process definitions (MFDs) to Autoliv’s production floor. MFDs define the exact set of operations a product must flow through and include manual assembly planning, test and inspection programs, and work instructions.
Autoliv uses the platform for programming the Siemens machines, related process documentation and to manage shape data. Doing so has helped the company increase the quality and accuracy of data sent to its assembly lines.
With vPlan, Autoliv has the ability to create template-based documentation tied directly to the manufacturing process. Additionally, Autoliv can perform offline validation for component off-set and rotations prior to sending a program to the Siemens machines for manufacturing.
All Siemens machines at Autoliv Electronics America feature a Siplace Pro software application that simplifies product definition and line control. This Windows-based application provides highly detailed graphics and imports component descriptions from extensive online libraries with just a few mouse clicks.
Finally, Autoliv engineers like vPlan because it provides them with a central location from which they can better plan and program surface mount technology. This has given engineers the flexibility to focus on solving daily problems, improving product quality and meeting changing customer demands.
For more information on engineering platforms for PCB assembly, call 503-685-7000 or visit www.mentor.com/valor.
Autoliv Electronics America likes the vPlan engineering
platform because it accelerates its new product introduction process and lowers
per-unit cost. Graphic courtesy Valor Division of Mentor Graphics Corp.
Recently, Autoliv upgraded the integrated engineering platform it uses with these pick-and-place machines to vPlan, which is made by the Valor Division of Mentor Graphics Corp. Autoliv selected the platform for many reasons.
“Valor’s vPlan accelerates the new product introduction process, increases asset performance, both human and capital, and increases customer confidence,” says Joe Borland, engineering services and software applications manager at Autoliv Electronics America. “This leads to more business and higher revenue, all while simultaneously driving down the cost per unit.”
The vPlan platform covers surface mount technology, through-hole technology and manual assembly. In addition, it delivers comprehensive and synchronized manufacturing process definitions (MFDs) to Autoliv’s production floor. MFDs define the exact set of operations a product must flow through and include manual assembly planning, test and inspection programs, and work instructions.
Autoliv uses the platform for programming the Siemens machines, related process documentation and to manage shape data. Doing so has helped the company increase the quality and accuracy of data sent to its assembly lines.
With vPlan, Autoliv has the ability to create template-based documentation tied directly to the manufacturing process. Additionally, Autoliv can perform offline validation for component off-set and rotations prior to sending a program to the Siemens machines for manufacturing.
All Siemens machines at Autoliv Electronics America feature a Siplace Pro software application that simplifies product definition and line control. This Windows-based application provides highly detailed graphics and imports component descriptions from extensive online libraries with just a few mouse clicks.
Finally, Autoliv engineers like vPlan because it provides them with a central location from which they can better plan and program surface mount technology. This has given engineers the flexibility to focus on solving daily problems, improving product quality and meeting changing customer demands.
For more information on engineering platforms for PCB assembly, call 503-685-7000 or visit www.mentor.com/valor.
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