Valor and Assembléon Sign Cooperation Agreement

Brussels — November 10 2009 — Valor Computerized Systems Europe has formerly announced today that it has joined forces with Royal Philips Electronics subsidiary Assembléon to bring full factory integration to Assembléon’s pick and place equipment. The first industry partnership of its kind, the two companies have created a complete suite of software and tools for the electronics assembly marketplace.

The announcement was made jointly in Hall A2, Stand 477 as Productronica 2009 opened its doors. The software suite and tools are designed to automate machine, line-and-factory-level workflows and business processes. The result is a complete, lean manufacturing operations management framework that is open, modular and flexible.

A key benefit of the new software suite is to integrate business planning and logistics systems with systems on the shop floor. Assembléon’s real-time machine-level data communicates transparently with the line-and-factory-level controls in the Valor Manufacturing Execution Systems (“MES”) suite. This breaks the tradition of pick & place machines being merely “islands of automation” and slims down the entire manufacturing operation. It also helps to eliminate bottlenecks and improves parts management, logistics and quality improving systems.

Optimal integration into operational management systems
Assembléon systems already integrate into manufacturing processes; the new partnership will enable Valor to optimize them for all operational management systems. The new software suite automates process preparation and engineering, work-order and workflow control and tactical-level scheduling. There are modules for quality, test, inspection and repair, real-time performance management and reporting, as well as materials flow and replenishment management. These combine to bring efficient and lean manufacturing, ensuring regulatory compliance and traceability for electronics equipment assembly.

Performance monitor dashboard on show at Productronica
Specific tools cover Process Preparation for New Product Introductions (“NPI”), Real-time Performance Monitoring and assembly Traceability.

For NPI, vPlan-Lite is a dedicated version of Valor’s leading vPlan platform. It rapidly generates run-ready optimized programs and setup instructions for Assembléon’s flagship A-Series. vPlan-Lite handles all parts-data management requirements of the Assembléon machine. It can be conveniently upgraded to the full vPlan platform to address complex multi-vendor lines and factory-level engineering requirements.

For Performance Monitoring, Assembléon is demonstrating a powerful real-time dashboard for machine and line performance display and management of alerts and exceptions. Developed jointly with Valor, the Performance Monitoring dashboard provides immediate visibility of all operational information for accurate and timely decisions that will maximize productivity, quality and efficient use of materials.

For Traceability, Assembléon will showcase a comprehensive reference-designator and serialized-reel I.D. solution that connects seamlessly into a complete build-record strategy at the factory and supply-chain level.

Valor products deliver a high return-on-investment and provide future-proof expansion to complete factory automation. The alliance with Assembléon will create a winning formula for the electronics manufacturing sector.