To be a low to middle volume manufacturing service company, it’s a big topic for us to live well, to live long and to live health. PSI started for 17 years since 1999, not too long but also not to short. Fortunately, PSI still lives well through so many times of economy depression. The economy seems not to improve too much these years. Generation change is a crisis for a company, but it might be a chance for some companies too. PSI always thinks how to keep progress under current situations. This article will try to point out PSI’s direction in 2017 by technology, management and capacity.

Electronic products keep going by the trend of complex and small size. Same as electronic components, it changes to more functions and smaller size. Production technology is more difficult as well, especially the SMT mounting technology. The engineer of manufacturer should always study the SMT mounting technologies and know how to improve the production equipments for the new package of components. DIP technology is a stable loop, not too many changes these years. Following processes of Testing and assembly are another topic for progress. Most of the products change to low volume high mix production mode currently. Product owners normally don’t setup their own factory, but produce the products by CM. How to get the fully trust between customer and CM? Real time and transparent information flow by networking and bar code system is the way to let customers feel comfortable. PSI made and will continue to improve some standard criteria to send testing and production status by real time base. It meet PSI’s slogan “Your trust, Our survival” as well.

Because the mobile products are more and more popular, products with functions of rugged, shockproof and waterproof are increased rapidly. It’s a test to the production company. PSI will work on the technologies in 2017. The design companies work well on the new technology for the product design and PSI works well on production.

It’s a big challenge to manage a factory with low to middle volume production. PSI set the vision as “Guardian of low to middle volume production.” since company established. From small size plant at beginning to middle size plant now, PSI always think how to organize the complex working orders to be in orders and keep stable with quality, delivery and service. PSI started to do the system built of production data collection and working automation since 2012 and finished the system of sales order auto-imported to ERP system, BOM built automation system, MES system, shortage simulation system, customer real time communication system and quality system in 2015. Between, PSI started to plan management flow automation system. We’ll expect to change the operation flows from hand-over by people to by computer system by 3 years period. It’s a progress of Industrial 4.0. Also, it’s the basis of artificial intelligent management further more.

Production capacity planning was not a major topic during the mass production times before. Gradually, it becomes a subject and an important topic at low volume high mix period.

Customers of low volume and high mix production always did longer time production planning at the past. Also, did some safety stocks in house. That means delivery time for low volume and high mix is not a key issue. Customers were more concern quality at that time. It’s changed now. More and more companies move their production strategy to low volume high mix for profit margins difference. Therefore, the market of low volume high mix becomes competitive now. The marketing strategy is not only quality, but also delivery schedule and pricing. The flexibilities of production space and lead time are important missions for the low volume high mix factories. It should be an economy recovery year in 2017. How to keep the best productivities and flexibilities is another direction for PSI in 2017.

The depression period is almost gone. Let’s welcome the abundant year in 2017. Let’s well prepare the tools and get into the prosperous period. Work intelligent and let more people live better.