Evaluating storage requirements for standard electronics assembly

The development of an Integrated Facilities Plan has required evaluation of and assumptions about the manufacturing facility. The analysis of requirements for equipment has progressed from back-of-the-envelope-type calculations through spreadsheets to sophisticated computer simulations. This has resulted in excellent analysis of the equipment requirements for facility automation. However, the analysis of material storage requirements has not progressed as quickly. Most approaches have employed straight numerical averaging. The author explores the results of these simplifying assumptions and presents alternative considerations to be used in calculating storage requirements. An example of a typical electronics manufacturing facility is used to indicate the potential magnitude of error caused by straight numerical averaging