Electronics assembly systems customer benefit modeling tools and methods

A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration;
• b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system;
• c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system;
• d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration;
• e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion;
• and
• f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration,
• wherein the performance measure is a cost of ownership of the electronics assembly system.

A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration;
• b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system;
• c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system;
• d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration;
• e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion;
• and
• f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration,
• wherein the model is generated within approximately one half hour.

A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration;
• b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system;
• c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system;
• d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration;
• e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion;
• and
• f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration,
• wherein the model is generated using a spreadsheet program in combination with a simulation program.

A method for configuring an electronics assembly system, comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a model of an assembly system having a first configuration;
• b. selecting a measure of performance for the assembly system;
• c. selecting a criterion for the evaluation of the measured performance of the assembly system;
• d. running the model on a computer to generate a performance measure for the system having the first configuration;
• e. testing whether the measure of performance satisfies the criterion;
• and
• f. if in the test of step d the criterion is not satisfied, modifying the configuration,
• wherein information relating to at least one method step is transmitted over a network.

A computer system configured to model an electronic component assembly line, comprising:

• means for selecting, from a predetermined list, specific equipment for a proposed line configuration, the specific equipment having operating parameters;
• means for associating predetermined values with the operating parameters;
• means for performing a simulation;
• and
• means for generating a report,
• wherein the means for selecting specific equipment for a proposed line configuration is a spreadsheet.

A method for assembling an electronic apparatus, comprising:

• a. creating an electronics assembly system configuration by:
• i. selecting assembly system components using a customer benefit modeling approach,
• ii. purchasing the components, and
• iii. installing the components;
• b. selecting settings of electronics assembly system parameters using a customer benefit modeling approach;
• c. imposing those settings on the electronics assembly system;
• and
• d. running the electronics assembly system to produce the electronic apparatus,
• wherein the customer benefit modeling approach comprises generating a model of the electronics assembly system having a given configuration, predicting on a computer a performance measure for the electronics assembly system having the given configuration using the model, comparing the predicted performance measure against a criterion to determine if the criterion is met by the predicted performance, and, if the predicted performance does not meet the criterion, modifying the configuration of the electronics assembly system, and
• wherein the model comprises a spreadsheet component and a simulation model component.