NAMPA, ID ― Silicon Mountain Contract Services, a leading provider of custom electronics manufacturing solutions, today announced the recent implementation of the Vorne XL real-time production monitoring system. This strategic move is designed to improve job time tracking, identify bottlenecks in real time, and increase overall production efficiency on the factory floor. By enhancing process control and operational visibility, the new system also helps support consistent pricing for customers through more stable and predictable manufacturing operations.

The Vorne XL Productivity Appliance is an advanced Industrial IoT device that integrates data capture, real-time production monitoring, a plant-floor scoreboard, and a robust reporting platform into one solution for driving continuous improvement across all levels of manufacturing. With the XL system in place, SMCS operators and managers gain instant insight into production status and performance metrics, enabling them to track each job’s progress and respond immediately to any issues. The real-time dashboard and alerts provided by Vorne XL give a comprehensive view of all processes, so teams can spot emerging delays or inefficiencies as they happen and take corrective action without delay.

Key Benefits of the Vorne XL Implementation

• Precise Job Time Tracking: Vorne XL allows Silicon Mountain to measure actual production and labor time against target standards for each part or job, providing immediate feedback on whether teams are meeting expected cycle times. This accuracy in tracking ensures better scheduling and resource allocation.
• Real-Time Bottleneck Identification: The system’s real-time monitoring and visual Andon displays make it easy to see the status of every workstation at a glance, enabling staff to quickly identify areas of concern or any process that needs attention. By catching bottlenecks or downtime events in real time, SMCS can address problems before they impact downstream processes.
• Higher Production Efficiency: By minimizing unplanned downtime and allowing rapid response to issues, Vorne XL helps improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and boost productivity. The data-driven insights from the system enable continuous improvement initiatives that streamline workflows and increase throughput without sacrificing quality.
• Enhanced Process Control & Visibility: The XL platform provides management with comprehensive, data-backed visibility into operations, ensuring processes run under tighter control. Stable, well-monitored production processes lower manufacturing costs and increase predictability, which in turn enables Silicon Mountain to maintain consistent, competitive pricing for its customers. The improved transparency and control reinforce the company’s commitment to delivering reliable service and value.

“Being able to see what’s happening on our production floor in real time is transformational for our operations,” said Eddie Garcia, Operations Manager at Silicon Mountain. “Vorne XL allows us to spot inefficiencies or delays as they occur, so we can respond immediately. This means we keep our workflows running optimally and maintain the cost efficiencies needed to offer consistent pricing to our customers.”

This implementation of the Vorne XL system underscores Silicon Mountain’s ongoing commitment to operational excellence and innovation. The company continues to invest in advanced Industry 4.0 solutions to enhance its manufacturing capabilities and deliver exceptional quality and consistency to clients. By leveraging real-time production data and analytics, Silicon Mountain is further strengthening its ability to provide high-quality electronic manufacturing services at stable, competitive prices for its diverse customer base.

For more information on Silicon Mountain’s advanced capabilities and services, visit www.siliconmtn.net.

MILPITAS, CA – FlexTech, a SEMI Technology Community, today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to advance flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) technologies, including the development of advanced materials and additive processing. Selected projects will receive cash awards ranging from $250,000 to $750,000. The program is funded by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL). ARL funding will be matched with contributions by selected recipients to cover total project cost.

The RFP seeks proposals targeting FHE advances in the following areas:

• Advanced Materials
• Integrated Digital Twin Platforms for Multiscale, Multimaterial, Additive Electronics Manufacturing
• System Integration, Reliability, and Standards for Scalable FHE and Additive Electronics Manufacturing
• Restricted Open Topics
  • Market & Application Landscape Assessment
  • Process Development Kit for FHE
  • 3D Geometry & Co-Design Tools

Organizations submitting proposals will be evaluated based on their capabilities, experiences, and strengths. See the FlexTech 2025 RFP for more details on the evaluation process.

White Paper Submissions

White paper submissions, the first step in responding to the RFP, are due July 14, 2025. Following the review of white papers by the RFP review committee, FlexTech will invite selected organizations to submit full proposals. The committee consists of FlexTech Council members and other subject matter experts (SMEs). Evaluation criteria include:

• Rationale
• Budget
• Collaboration value
• Dual-use (industry and military) applicability
• Relevance to the FHE ecosystem
• Schedules and milestones
• Reasonable and stretch deliverables
• Overall proposal quality
• Request for Proposals Webinar

To help organizations craft their proposals, FlexTech staff will review the RFP topics and the submission and review process during a live webinar on June 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. PDT. A recording will be available for registrants unable to attend the event. Register for the webinar.

CHINA – Essemtec is pleased to announce that Jacky Zhou has joined the company as Country Sales Manager for China, effective immediately. With more than two decades of experience in technical applications, sales development, and operational management, Jacky brings a wealth of expertise to further strengthen Essemtec’s presence in this strategically important market.

Jacky’s impressive background includes leadership roles at major industry players such as Mycronic, AmericanTec, ViTechnology, WKK, and Flextronics. His deep knowledge of the electronics manufacturing sector in China – spanning from application engineering to regional sales leadership – makes him an asset to Essemtec and its customer network.
In his new role, Jacky will be responsible for driving business growth across China while supporting and collaborating with Essemtec’s trusted local partners. He also will focus on strengthening customer relationships and ensuring they receive exceptional support and tailored solutions.

“Having Jacky Zhou on board marks a significant step forward for Essemtec in China,” said Klaus Salmhofer, Director APAC at Essemtec. “His strong track record, deep industry knowledge, and customer-centric approach align perfectly with our vision. With Jacky working closely with our partners Intellengine, SF-SMT, and DKSH, we’re confident that we will strengthen our customer relationships and accelerate growth in the region.”

Jacky holds dual MBAs from Westminster College and Donghua University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Electric Power Supply from North China Electric Power University.

“Joining Essemtec marks a new and exciting chapter in my career. I’m eager to work with our local teams and partners to drive success and bring the company’s dynamic solutions to more customers across China,” said Jacky Zhou.

Jacky’s appointment marks a new chapter for Essemtec in China as we continue to deliver innovative, high-performance SMT solutions tailored to the evolving needs of our customers. His strategic mindset and experience support our mission: “Our Focus – Your Solution.”

VERNON HILLS, IL – Fuji America Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Choi as Business Development Manager for North America, effective April 2025. With over two decades of experience in the electronics manufacturing industry, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record in sales, engineering, and strategic growth.​

Prior to joining Fuji America, Mark held leadership roles at Hanwha Semitech, including Vice President of Sales for the U.S. and Canada, and Western Regional Sales Manager. His extensive background also includes engineering leadership positions at Samsung and Dynatech, where he focused on advanced SMT solutions and customer-centric innovation.​

In his new role, Mark will be responsible for driving business development initiatives across North America, strengthening customer relationships and expanding Fuji’s market presence in the region.​

“We are thrilled to welcome Mark to the Fuji America team,” said Tom Zabkiewicz, Executive Vice President at Fuji America Corporation. “His deep industry expertise and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our mission to deliver cutting-edge solutions and unparalleled service to our customers.”​

Mark holds a degree from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and is based in Garden Grove, California.​