Introducing visual inspection systems at each stage of the assembly line has now become a common practice. This trend is driven by the need for quality assurance as passive components continue to shrink in size and mounting pitches become increasingly narrow, requiring inspection at every process step. Typical inspections include solder paste inspection (SPI), pre-reflow optical inspection, and post-reflow automated optical inspection (AOI).

Inspection systems are selected based on factors such as quality requirements and cycle time, and they come in various forms, including 2D, 3D, and laser-based technologies. However, after installation, it is necessary to create recipes tailored to each production item, configure inspection parameters, and input tolerance ranges. Furthermore, until a satisfactory inspection state is achieved, engineers with knowledge, experience, and expertise in assembly quality must continuously monitor operations, address false calls, and adjust tolerances.

This series of tasks—from installation to full operation—varies by production site and product, and the transfer of know-how has become increasingly difficult, especially against the backdrop of labor shortages. Ideally, if each assembly process and inspection could be linked and automatically controlled through feed-forward and feedback mechanisms, significant reductions in labor and improvements in quality could be achieved in a short time. However, in reality, measures such as false call reduction and tolerance adjustments are ongoing, and improvements in labor efficiency remain elusive.

The ultimate goal is to automate the optimization of the entire process. To achieve this, there is still considerable room for improvement in reducing the setup workload for multiple inspection systems and in streamlining adjustments and validations during actual operation.

Koh Young leverages AI-driven automatic programming (KAP) and “Smart Review,” which efficiently adjusts inspection parameters based on real production results using AI. This approach enables increased production capacity and reduced engineering workload with minimal investment. The number of compatible printers and mounters continues to grow, marking significant progress toward full optimization.

Koh Young Technology will continue to support and advance our customers’ assembly technology by utilizing the high reading accuracy and repeatability that characterize our inspection systems.