Collaboration provides factory-wide traceability and connectivity

The customer requirement included Universal’s core product offerings for automated pick-and-place in SMT and automated through-hole insertion, as part of a comprehensive factory-wide solution.

The EMS provider needed a complete traceability solution to cover every single operation on each line in order to meet the needs of their OEM customers. Universal thoroughly evaluated multiple vendors to support these traceability requirements, and chose to collaborate with Cogiscan. Track, Trace and Control is what Cogiscan is known for, and that is exactly what Universal needed in order to put together a true connected factory solution. "It's truly an honour that Universal Instruments chose to collaborate with Cogiscan. The team at Universal evaluated potential partners based on a deep understanding of their customer's objectives and requirements. The net result is a completely connected factory that will provide their customer with a significant competitive edge for years to come," stated Mitch DeCaire, Channel Account Manager, Cogiscan.

Universal also served as a complete systems integrator for the entire project, including the selection and delivery of best-fit equipment for all operations throughout each line, such as screen printers, automated inspection and reflow. Cogiscan was a suitable fit, with the biggest interface library on the market, enabling them to connect to each different type of machine.

“We selected Cogiscan because the company is a focused Track, Trace and Control solutions provider, offering connectivity, data collection, and a modular suite of TTC application modules. We also found Cogiscan to be extremely responsive and willing to collaborate with us”, commented Brad Bennett, Vice President of Customer Operations, Universal Instruments. Cogiscan does not compete or overlap with any of Universal’s software, but rather complements its software products, enabling Universal to offer a complete TTC solution that connects to all of the different equipment on each line.

This successful collaboration between Universal Instruments and Cogiscan has led to other joint ventures, including machine and software connectivity projects. Through a fully connected and intelligent manufacturing environment, Universal's customers will be able to implement Industry 4.0 initiatives to improve productivity, quality and visibility on the shop floor.