How is Robotics Adding Value to Electronics Manufacturing?

By Embedded Advisor | Tuesday, November 19, 2019

The highly competitive electronics manufacturing industry is realizing the potential productivity gains of robots and is adopting them rapidly.

FREMONT, CA: Small parts, high speeds, precise placement are typical requirements in electronics manufacturing. Human-assisted assembling, dispensing, and inspecting processes are not feasible at the rate demanded by modern production trends. Given that, manufacturers are forced to process, assemble, and pack faster than ever while maximizing yields. The only answer to this challenge is robotic manufacturing. Robotic manufacturing lowers costs and improves quality throughout the production process. See how robotics is adding efficiency to electronics manufacturing.

Robotics is used in electronics manufacturing because it can handle the unique manufacturing conditions involved in the process. Robotic assembly can adapt to the production demand, quickly locating electronic parts as needed. Robots can verify solder joint quality or read unique identification codes for product traceability. When a circuit board is turned on, a robot can look for hot spots signaling possible failure. With the robot applying consistent pressure for a preset duration at every cycle, touch-screen functional testing emerges as an excellent robotic application in electronics manufacturing.

Robots also pack assembled products at high speed while leaving nothing out. Individual packages are put into cartons robotically, and the cartons are palletized—all without human intervention. Deploying robots in electronics manufacturing also protect workers from dangerous jobs. In electronics assembly, repetitive motion, twisting and lifting in handling, packaging, and palletizing may lead to musculoskeletal disorders. Solvents in sealing materials and adhesives can have health implications, so using a robot in manufacturing can avoid these risks. As robotics becomes essential in electronics manufacturing, manufacturers are abandoning manual processes. With a reduced need for human labor, robotics is making electronics manufacturing much easier, cost-effective, and fast.

Robots are proving their ROI and productivity potentials for manufacturers in the electronics industry. The rapid adoption of robotics has allowed manufacturers to compete in the market. Robotics will continue to permeate electronics manufacturing in the future, creating higher levels of automation in production processes.