FEATURES

• Soldering
  Reflow Soldering with a SnCu Eutectic Pb-Free Alloy
  A design of experiment identifies differences in soldering between SAC alloys and SnCuNi.
  By Gerjan Diepstraten

• Cover Story
  Improving OEE in High Mix Facilities
  The growing negative overall equipment effectiveness trend can be seen throughout North American facilities, with rates sometimes falling to 50%. Manufacturers can, however, boost OEE through proper process control.
  By States Mead

• RF Production
  Effectively Managing RF Design in Utility Metering Applications
  EMS companies can provide the missing link between meter expertise, good distribution channels and the ability to easily develop RF products.
  By Roger Allcorn

• Pb-Free Rework
  Solder Joint Reliability of Different BGAs Reworked Using Low Melting Point Pb-Free Alloys
  Low melt rework process performed on 0.093" and 0.125" thick boards under nitrogen found thermal fatigue life may be comparable or slightly better than that of components reworked using conventional SAC 385.
  By Simin Bagheri, Polina Snugovsky, Zohreh Bagheri, Craig Hamilton and Heather McCormick

FIRST PERSON

• Caveat Lector
  Not this time.
  Mike Buetow

• Talking Heads
  Assembléon’s Dr. Jan Michiels
  Mike Buetow

MONEY MATTERS

• Focus on Business
  Weathering the storm.
  Susan Mucha

• Global Sourcing
  The biggest fabricators.
  Dr. Hayao Nakahara

TECH TALK

• On the Forefront
  Breathing lessons.
  E. Jan Vardaman

• Screen Printing
  Alden’s printing.
  Dr. Rita Mohanty

• Better Manufacturing
  What role government?
  Peter Grundy

• Tech Tips
  Water-based fluxes.
  American Competitiveness Institute

• Wave Soldering
  Common defects.
  Ursula Marquez de Tino

• Pb-Free Lessons Learned
  Eroding myths of copper.
  Chrys Shea

• Materials World
  Epoxy fluxes.
  Dr. Renzhe Zhao

• Process Doctor
  Clean as a ROSE.
  Terry Munson

• Equipment Advances
  Seho’s Go Soldering Line.

• Technical Abstracts

DEPARTMENTS

Industry News
Market Watch
Product Spotlight
Ad Index
Assembly Insider

On the cover: Achieving a well-balanced flow from prep through production. (Photo: Panasonic Factory Solutions)