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Thai Hibex is a trading company specializing in equipment, tools, and auxiliary materials for PCB, SMT, and assembly processes. Among their products, Electric Screwdriver HIOS stands out as one with which the company has extensive experience in Thailand and a particularly close relationship with the manufacturer.
In this article, we will introduce a case study in Thailand of the "Pokayoke (misktake-proofing) System," an original solution by Thai Hibex that has successfully addressed challenges in factories using HIOS electric screwdrivers.
The company that introduced the system is a Japanese-affiliated EMS factory in Thailand that manufactures parts for automobiles and office automation equipment as well as PCB mounting and assembly. It is a large-scale manufacturing plant with three factories in Thailand alone, employing nearly 4,500 people.
The factory mainly uses HIOS electric screwdrivers for assembling home-use printers. There are approximately 300 parts and 50 screw fastening points in the printer assembly process.
In the assembly process of this product, the following challenges were encountered:
【Key Features of the Pokayoke System】
・Adopts a mechanism where the process cannot proceed to the next step unless the screw tightening count meets the specified criteria.
⇒ Physically prevents forgetting to tighten screws.
・Requires a key to unlock the system, with on-site supervisors responsible for managing the key and visually confirming the system.
⇒ Designed to ensure errors during operations are not overlooked.
At the factory, this Pokayoke system has been implemented since January 2024 as part of the printer equipment assembly line for attaching critical parts.
[Features of the Implemented Pokayoke System]
・When the product to be screwed arrives in front of the operator, a pin stands at the back of the product and locks it in position.
・The lock is released and the product can proceed to the next process once the screws have been tightened the specified number of times and meet the specified criteria.
・If a screw-tightening failure occurs, a tower light alerts the operator, and the product remains locked until the production line supervisor takes action.
⇒ Prevents screw tightening omissions and defective products from advancing to the next process.
It has been about six months since the system was implemented, and the customer highly appreciates its significant contribution to the elimination of operational errors in the process.
Currently, the Pokayoke system implemented in the factory is for one process, but its high effectiveness has been highly evaluated, and the company is considering implementation of additional systems for other processes.
Thai Hibex's Pokayoke system is designed to solve challenges at production sites, offering flexible customization tailored to each customer's needs. With extensive experience in handling HIOS electric screwdrivers, Thai Hibex is well-versed in their strengths and functionalities, enabling it to propose highly versatile solution.
Furthermore, Thai Hibex maintains a plentiful inventory of HIOS electric screwdrivers and consumables, such as replacement parts, in Thailand. The company also offers repair services for electric screwdrivers, establishing a stable support system in Thailand to ensure reliable after-sales support.