Central platform for data exchange in electronics manufacturing

With WORKS Integration, ASMPT SMT Solutions provides a central integration platform that enables all its hardware and software solutions to communicate seamlessly with each other. By also integrating third-party and customer-specific systems, the platform serves as the foundation for the company's holistic concept of intelligent electronics manufacturing.

"WORKS Integration ensures that all production data is available exactly where it is needed for things like production planning and setup preparation, material flow and process optimisation, and quality control," said Thomas Bliem, vice president of R&D at ASMPT SMT Solutions. "By creating a centrally networked database with high connectivity across all systems, the platform makes fully digitised and highly automated intelligent production possible."

Extending across all protocols and versions, the platform establishes an IIoT communication base to which the sensors on the production hardware, as well as all software applications, send their data. In addition to connecting the complete hardware and software portfolio of ASMPT SMT Solutions, WORKS Integration enables the integration of third-party machines and programs via industry-standard interfaces. Even complex customer-specific applications can be readily linked via proprietary interfaces.

All connected systems obtain the information they require exclusively via WORKS Integration. Operating in the background, the application enables the continuous exchange of data between various hardware and software entities, regardless of their format or manufacturer. The platform supports both proven internal machine interfaces and industry standards, including IPC-2591, CFX, and SECS/GEM. Adapters convert all incoming information into a shared public data structure.

This unified system presents numerous advantages for users. Since the various instances do not communicate directly with each other but exclusively through the platform, the number of interfaces and data channels is greatly reduced, as are potential interdependencies and sources of errors.

Machines and/or programs can be easily replaced, updated and scaled up or down without creating version conflicts or redundant data streams, while encrypted communication reliably protects the system from unauthorised access. Also, a central health monitoring system provides valuable information for technical support and fault analysis.