Optimizing PCB assembly for family setup strategy
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the optimization for a placement machine in printed circuit board (PCB) assembly when family setup strategy is adopted.
Design/methodology/approach
A complete mathematical model is developed for the integrated problem to optimize feeder arrangement and component placement sequences so as to minimize the makespan for a set of PCB batches. Owing to the complexity of the problem, a specific genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed.
Findings
The established model is able to find the minimal makespan for a set of PCB batches through determining the feeder arrangement and placement sequences. However, exact solutions to the problem are not practical due to the complexity. Experimental tests show that the proposed GA can solve the problem both effectively and efficiently.
Research limitations/implications
When a placement machine is set up for production of a set of PCB batches, the feeder arrangement of the machine together with the component placement sequencing for each PCB type should be solved simultaneously so as to minimize the overall makespan.
Practical implications
The paper investigates the optimization for PCB assembly with family setup strategy, which is adopted by many PCB manufacturers for reducing both setup costs and human errors.
Originality/value
The paper investigates the feeder arrangement and placement sequencing problems when family setup strategy is adopted, which has not been studied in the literature.
Keywords
Citation
Wu, Y., Ji, P. and Ho, W. (2009), "Optimizing PCB assembly for family setup strategy", Assembly Automation, Vol. 29 No. 1, pp. 61-67. https://doi.org/10.1108/01445150910929875
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited