Lines
Startup Card
A Startup Card records the first line settings for a known board before routine production begins. It gives operators, setters and supervisors one sheet for feeder positions, programme name, stencil reference and the first handover remarks.
First board line record
Startup Card covers the first practical checks for bringing an SMT line into use on a known product. It keeps the machine setup, board information and handover notes in one place from the start. South African electronics manufacturers use it when a line is being prepared for actual floor work, not a showroom demonstration.
Capture the exact PCB code, machine recipe, nozzle set and stencil ID before the first build is released. In Gauteng, dust around feeders and cameras often needs an early cleaning note, while coastal plants may add humidity and paste handling remarks for Durban or Cape Town conditions.
Photograph the line only after feeder loading and board support positions are confirmed. Add the date, shift, operator names and any temporary machine changes so the next team is not guessing why this product was started differently.
What the card must hold
Keep enough detail to restart the same product without rebuilding the setup from memory. Include board orientation, fiducial method, paste type, oven profile reference and any exceptions agreed during the first article check.
Use Startup Card alongside the matching reflow note and board record when the line moves from setup into normal output. SMT line enquiries should name the board type, the placement volume and the machines already on the line.
- Feeder slots logged against part numbers
- Board support width confirmed before release
- Shift handover notes stored with setup
Site conditions that alter startup
Sites near OR Tambo or major courier routes often need packing and dispatch notes added on the same day as startup. Older factory buildings can also affect compressed air quality, lighting at inspection points and how quickly dust returns to sensors and tape paths.
At coastal plants, salt in the air may shorten cleaning intervals for metal parts and exposed mechanisms. Inland production teams often watch static, dust and power interruptions more closely, especially when the first article record still needs signatures before volume build.
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Details worth adding early
Note any rejected components, substituted reels or disabled feeders while the setup is still fresh in mind. Record who approved the change and whether the programme, placement library or inspection limits were edited.
Keep it with a project note and a resource sheet when the buyer needs traceable production records. That keeps machine settings, board revision details, and operator handover points together for audits or customer files.
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