Industry Articles

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Increase Efficiency and Organization with Akro-Mils and 5S Lean
5S Lean is a methodology to improve efficiencies and enhance operational performance.

5S / Visual Workplace Handbook
Building The Foundation For Continuous Improvement
Provided courtesy of Brady Worldwide Inc.
S1: SORT >> S2: SHINE >> S3: SET IN ORDER >> S4: STANDARDIZE >> S5: SUSTAIN
5S is one of the most widely adopted techniques from the lean manufacturing toolbox. Along with Standard Work and Total Productive Maintenance, 5S is considered a “foundational” lean concept, as it establishes the operational stability required for making and sustaining continuous improvements.

Sustain the Gains of Lean Improvements
Provided courtesy of Brady Worldwide Inc.
Visual Workplace Critical To Promoting Long Term Continuous Improvement
If your company uses lean practices to improve plant operations and business performance, or if you're considering a lean transformation, you're not alone. In recent years, more companies are adopting lean as a continuous improvement method to improve profitability, enhance customer satisfaction and maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Equipment Reliability Made Visual
Effective Labeling Enhances Asset Performance
Provided courtesy of Brady Worldwide Inc.
Manufacturers on the lean journey are discovering how critically important it is to stabilize and optimize
equipment performance.

Conduction Soldering – Facts, Fiction and Best Practices
Provided courtesy of OK International.
Poor hand soldering results are costing electronic manufacturers thousands of dollars every year. There is no secret to producing a good solder joint; the challenges comes with repeating this feat for all joints in the assembly, at production speeds.

OKi SmartHeat® Technology
Provided courtesy of OK International.
Through the evolution of OKi's product lines there have been some inconsistencies of the Smartheat story. These newer, different, and sometimes made up versions can be confusing and cause us to look less credible when customers hear two stories during the same presentation.
It is the intention of this guide to help us all find a more consistent message to better educate our customers and provide a better Smartheat experience.
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions.

Weller Extends Product Line with Introduction of New Electric Screwdriver System
End Users Can Now Rely on a Trusted Brand for Electronic Assembly Needs
Weller, a global leader in soldering solutions announced a series of new Weller® High-Precision Electronic and Mechanical Torque Control Screwdrivers for electronic assembly applications.

Fume Extraction
Provided courtesy of Weller®.
  • 90 Minutes of Soldering - An image illustrating the effects after 90 minutes of soldering.
  • Fume Extraction - The danger of solder fumes.
  • Health Hazards - Health hazards from inhaling and exposure to soldering fumes.
  • Isocyanates - Isocyanates are from a family or group of substances used extensively in today's working environment.
  • Solvents - Everyone working in an industrial environment comes in contact with chemicals containing various solvents.

Tackling High Mass Soldering Applications
In today's electronic rework and repair field, the operator is faced with a myriad of challenges from the use of lead-free alloys to emerging package styles and sizes to PCB layouts that are highly densely populated.

ESD Fundamentals
A six-part series on Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) prepared by the ESD Association
Provided courtesy of the Electrostatic Discharge Association -- http://www.esda.org
  • Part 1 - An Introduction to ESD
  • Part 2 - Principles of ESD Control
  • Part 3 - Basic ESD Control Procedures and Materials
  • Part 4 - Training and Auditing
  • Part 5 - Device Sensitivity and Testing
  • Part 6 - ESD Standards
© 2010, ESD Association, Rome, NY
ESD Association • 7900 Turin Road, Building 3 • Rome, NY 13440-2069 USA • Ph: +1 315-339-6937 • Fax: +1 315-339-6793 • email: info@esda.org

Wet vs. Dry Fiber Optic Cleaning
by Harvey Stone – MicroCare Corporation

The Benefit Of Tool Kits
Why Tool Kits?

Fiber Optic Troubleshooting In The Data/Telco Network Environment
There are several steps to trouble shooting a fiber connection, cable, patch cord or connector.

Emergency Screw Removal
While a good quality selection of straight, Philips, Torx, and hex-head drivers should handle most screws found in consumer electronic equipment, a couple of other types do turn up and can really be a pain to remove intact.

The Difference Between Precision & Commercial Stripping
The two basic levels of stripping requirements.

Time Tested Wire Connection Technique To The Rescue
How to make connections in densely packed equipment with terminals close together.

Tool Selection Tips
How to choose the right tool for your needs.

Cutter Terms
Different blade types for electronic cutters.

Troubleshooting Techniques
by Samuel Goldwasser
Website: http://www.repairfaq.org/
E-mail: sam@stdavids.picker.com

Test Your Electronics Knowledge, Part A
by J.A. Sam Wilson

Test Your Electronics Knowledge, Part B
by J.A. Sam Wilson

Choose The Right Solder Alloy
Properties for different soldering applications.

Selecting The Right Tweezers
Shape, precision and material.

All Cutters Are Not Created Equal
Material, head shape and joint type.

Get More Life Out Of Your Soldering Tips
Bad techniques cause poor performance.

Is Your Digital Multimeter Truly Safe?
The danger of overvoltages.

Premise Wiring Primer
What type of cable should you use for your network?

Tool Kit Terms
Construction and features.

Do You Know The Internal Resistance Of Your DMM?
Why and how to measure it.

Wire Stripping Basics
Wire diameter affects stripping requirements.

What is Ergonomics?
A definition and explanation of ergonomics.