Smart Modular Technologies Selected Critical Manufacturing’s cmNavigo MES

SMART Modular Technologies, Inc. has selected Critical Manufacturing‘s cmNavigo MES for implementation in its memory chip back-end plant in Atibaia (São Paulo, Brazil).

As the facility expanded after entering mobile device memory chips, it required a modern Manufacturing Execution System (MES) to manage their production processes and control quality.

SMART manufactures sophisticated memory products including DRAM, and LPDRAM, eEMC, eMMC, and microSD, and as the production volume grows, managing flows in the old fashioned way turned to be insufficient. Internally developed WIP tracking system and recording data in Excel did not allow for close yield monitoring or data analysis to prevent defects, and will now be replaced by complete automated data collection and standardized production flows. As a result SMART will achieve full WIP traceability complemented by quality and SPC, recipes and equipment selection and tight control of time windows between processes.

“Moving from a manual system is a major thing. We are changing the culture, not just the system, for all the levels – engineers, managers, and operators“, says Francisco Javier, equipment and system engineering manager. “By implementing a modern MES like cmNavigo, we are assured that all processes have strong controls. I would not choose differently.”

The decision to implement MES was followed by selection process, which led to the selection of a supplier that uses SQL server platforms, matching SMART’s other systems. cmNavigo modular system set Critical Manufacturing apart from the other three suppliers.

Details on selection and implementation process are available in a new case study available from IYNO Advisors, titled Software Project enriches controls and culture. Modern MES for memory IC back-end  (registration needed).