I allow x-outs on my paneled arrays. I have an option on my pick and place
system to turn off any individual board number. If I have a 20 board panel
and board 4, 12, and 18 are x-outs, before I hit the button to start part
placement I go into options and turn off those three boards. I originally
was not going to allow x-outs until I realized how easy it was to turn off
individual boards in the panel. I still expect good quality from my board
vendor and still complain about x-outs. Continuous process improvement.
Joel

----------
> From: Steve Collins <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [TECHNET] DES, FAB: X-Outs
> Date: Thursday, August 21, 1997 10:22 AM
>
> I have reviewed the archives on this subject and found only 4 responses
> that are directly related to X-Outs with only one providing any response
to
> questions. This subject is raising it ugly head again in our company and
I
> would like to get some more input from other Design, Manufacturing &
> Fabrication professionals as to their individual x-out policies.
>
> I realize that accepting x-out puts a burden on the warehouse people
> keeping up with the sorting and allocating of boards to the line. Also
the
> manufacturing departments for keeping track of the correct program to run
> depending on which x-out they are running. But if all of this is set down
> in an acceptable policy and everyone from the fabricator through to
> production follows the procedure wouldn't the out come give the bottom
line
> of the company a boost. Since the other end of the spectrum is to not
allow
> x-outs and have vendors start raising prices.  We all know this is what
> will happen even if we stand on the statement that we will not pay for
> vendors poor quality. At some point the vendor has to make up for those
> boards on the panels that were good and went into the garbage anyway.
There
> are situations where a vendor may only x-out the obvious bad boards and
may
> still have marginally acceptable parts not x'd out. In these cases
> shouldn't it be the responsibility of the incoming inspection department
to
> catch these as bad boards and make a qualified rejection based on their
> findings.
>
> Well I'll get down off my soapbox for now. As you can see this is a
touchy
> subject not only here but I suspect at other companies as well.
>
> All responses will be greatly appreciated since I don't think this
subject
> has garnered the attention is deserves in the past.
>
> Thank again.
>
> Steve Collins
> PCB Design Supervisor
> ANTEC International
> [log in to unmask]