NTI-100
The Changing Fab Landscape
The annual list of the largest PCB fabricators reveals big changes coming to Japan and Thailand. But for Brazil, India and the West, it’s more of the same.
by Dr. Hayao Nakahara
CLEANING
Determining Critical Cleaning Process Parameters for QFNs, Part 2
The second part of this two-phase study to assess how to completely clean underneath leadless devices following soldering with Pb-free water soluble and Pb-free no-clean pastes looks at the methodology and results.
by Umut Tosun, Naveen Ravindran and Michael McCutchen
CAPACITY UTILIZATION
Saving on Capex Using Dynamic Capacity Planning
Operations with variability cannot ne run close to 100% loading because queue times become unacceptably high. Thus, management invests in surplus capacity — not to increase throughput, but to keep queue times in check. What is the optimal amount of surplus capacity to purchase, and exactly where? And what is the optimal capital-equipment (capex) purchase plan?
by Bob Kotcher
Caveat Lector
Killer apps.
Mike Buetow
ROI
Tight squeeze.
Peter Bigelow
Final Finishes
End times for HASL?
Lenora Toscano
Dispensing
Adhesive application.
Michael L. Martel
Getting Lean
The soft benefits of value engineering.
Steve McEuen