CHICAGO -- The annual SMTAI show kicked off here yesterday with an overflowing technical conference and scattered exhibit floor crowds.

Keynoter Jeff Gallinat, senior vice president of Cisco supply chain operations, presented on what was billed as the Internet of Everything but was actually more about the connectivity of devices inside the factory. In his talk, Gallinat noted an emerging disconnect between what software and hardware can provide. "Apps in many large factories are killer," Gallinat said, but the tech platforms are behind in terms of what they can integrate." He cited the ability to harvest information as a critical function for supply chain companies, and bemoaned the lack of human and machine flexibility to parse and center on the data that is both truly needed and predictive.

He emphasized the need for proper data structure, because of the potential for data gluts, or reams of unuseful data. "We need to create rapid prototype capability and rapid data access," he said. "We have to give engineers and supply managers the ability to do their job."

 "We look at data in historical terms, as in 'yesterday was a good day,' " Gallinat said. "We need to look at tomorrow, using alerts [from the factory or supply chain] to trigger a supply chain action ... in order to avoid the 'glut'."

Gallinat also pointed to the need for a common automation language, suggesting a connecting layer that allows devices to talk to each other. "Every company has developed their own protocols for managing automation," he said, suggesting this complicates data management.

But he sees hope for greater continuity in the future. "We are seeing some traction in that automation providers are seeing some value in a common language."

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SMTAI isn't a show where boatloads of new equipment are rolled out, but there were some announcements.

CyberOptics is demonstrating its CX150i automated conformal coating inspection machine, which has a novel "Multi-Reflection Suppression" technology said to suppress reflections that can distort the image capture data. Expect a new 3D AOI platform from the company next spring. The machine debuted in China earlier this year.

ViTechnology was touting its web-accessible 3D SPI software, which features an automated program generator, data review and data analysis in a single program. The software works in tangent with the company's AOI to display such conditions as solder deposts, and suggests potential out of tolerance conditions. 

The new ASM is here, bringing Siplace and DEK together under a single umbrella for the first time in North America.

Traffic on the show floor ranged from heavy at the lunch hour to light in the mid to late afternoon. Problems with flight delays at nearby O'Hare Airport were reported by many attendees.

The tech conference registration, however, is up a reported 30% over last year, when the show was held in Dallas. Next year's SMTAI will also be in Chicago (Rosemont).