Today, we are visiting various areas of our manufacturing center at SPON Communications, a leading supplier in the sound system industry. Our factory spans five floors, each with an area of approximately 1,500 square meters, featuring key areas such as the SMT semi-finished product production workshop and the finished product assembly workshop. SPON Communications is recognized as a national-level "Little Giant" enterprise specializing in innovative technologies, a smart and intelligent manufacturing demonstration workshop in Hunan Province, and a benchmark enterprise for cloud platforms in Hunan Province. Additionally, we have been named one of the Top Ten Invisible Champions in Chinese Manufacturing and a leading quality brand in the national network audio industry.

This workshop primarily focuses on the production of speaker products, including prototypes like wooden speakers and their structural components, transformers, resistors, capacitors, and wire stocks or rods. The workshop also handles larger plastic brackets and utilizes antistatic boxes. Automated scheduling systems are in place to monitor the availability of production materials. The workshop is equipped with electric screwdrivers, automatic fixtures, and antistatic layers to ensure product quality. Regular skill training is organized for employees, and intelligent material racks or shelves are used for efficient storage. Additionally, spare parts and surveillance microphones are carefully managed.

Now let's have a tour of our production workshop. The workshop spans five floors, with each floor covering approximately 1500 square meters. It is divided into the SMT semi-finished product production workshop and the finished product assembly production workshop.

We are currently in the assembly production workshop located on the third floor. The assembly workshop extends from the third to the fifth floor, encompassing three floors in total. Each floor of the assembly workshop is equipped with 15 production lines. Among them, five production lines are dedicated to mass production, catering to customer demands and small batch requirements. Additionally, we have ten modular lines that offer the advantages of easy reconfiguration and high production efficiency.

In 2019, SPON Communication's production workshop received recognition as an Intelligent Manufacturing Demonstration Workshop by Hunan Province. Our operational management is supported by a customized MES (Manufacturing Execution System) intelligent manufacturing management system. Our production management adheres to the standards of five key management systems, including quality management, environmental management, occupational health and safety management, information technology, and information security management.

Production Line + MES Intelligent Management System

Now we're at the assembly workshop on the third floor. The workshop spans three floors and features five traditional semi-automatic production lines on each floor, along with several lean modular production lines designed for small-batch and multi-variety production. The modular lines offer the advantage of easy reconfiguration and flexibility, enabling a team of around two employees to efficiently complete the entire production process according to standardized instructions. The workshop layout is flexible, supported by an integrated material planning system and intelligent management. With these capabilities, we can effectively manage the delivery cycle for small-batch and customized orders, ensuring they are fulfilled within 1-3 days.

Three-proof Coating Line

Three-proof coating line: Our company utilizes a fully automated line for applying three-proof coatings to outdoor waterproof products. This advanced system eliminates the risks associated with manual application, such as missed areas or inadequate coating quality. Additionally, the automated line ensures the health and safety of our employees.

After curing, it forms a transparent protective film.

During production, our company utilizes the E-SOP electronic work instruction display board to provide clear guidance for production process. This ensures that each step is executed correctly. Additionally, our MES intelligent management system enables barcode linkage between key materials, critical processes, and the finished product. This allows for effective traceability and error prevention, ensuring high product quality throughout the entire production cycle.

At each stage, we strictly adhere to the process quality management flow, guaranteeing consistency and adherence to standards. The MES intelligent management system plays a vital role in monitoring and calculating human resource allocation and production efficiency. It provides real-time updates on production progress and quality status through the MES display board. By integrating online intelligent systems with offline management regulations, we maintain stable product quality and maximize production efficiency.

The production line we are currently visiting is the semi-automatic assembly line for power amplifier products. The daily production capacity of the power amplifier line is approximately 200 units. To ensure stable production capacity, we rely on the MES efficiency system and an offline efficiency monitoring system.

Before assembly, the quality of semi-finished products is verified through mainboard testing using specialized fixtures. Once assembly is complete, the production line conducts safety compliance tests and automated performance tests using self-developed interface testing fixtures. To ensure that all products are environmentally adaptable, we conduct tests under both normal and high-temperature conditions. Our production process includes self-checks and rechecks at each step, automated fixture performance control, and MES system checks to prevent errors. We have established a comprehensive process for quality monitoring and preventive measures, with the ultimate goal of achieving "zero defects" in our production operations.

By implementing these measures, we ensure high product quality and conduct regular quality assessments.

The production line we are currently visiting is the panel assembly line, which focuses on high-volume production of panel products. With the efficient coordination of automatic dispensing and drying equipment, the daily production capacity of the assembly line is approximately 1300 units. The management   mode of this line follows the same principles as the power amplifier line.

The previous section provided an overview of the assembly workshop on the third floor. Now, we will go to the second floor to visit the SMT semi-finished production workshop.

Overview of Automated SMT Production Lines

The semi-finished production workshop is equipped with three medium-to-high-speed SMT (Surface Mount Technology) lines. Now, let me give a brief introduction to the SMT production process for semi-finished products. Please be reminded not to touch the equipment during operation to avoid any injuries.

Here, we have three fully automated, high-speed, high-precision SMT production lines. These lines are equipped with automatic board loaders, solder paste printers, pick-and-place machines, reflow ovens, AOI automatic inspection equipment, X-ray inspection machines, insertion lines, wave soldering equipment, testing and packaging facilities, and other related equipment. By acquiring advanced automation equipment, we promote product miniaturization and multifunctionality, providing reliable technical and management support for the production of high-quality products.

Starting from here, the PCB boards are automatically loaded onto the assembly line. The solder paste printer applies solder paste onto the boards automatically. The solder paste inspection (SPI) machine performs automated optical inspection to ensure the quality of the solder paste application. After inspection, the pick-and-place machine automatically places components onto the boards. Finally, the boards go through the reflow soldering process for high-temperature curing. During this process, technicians measure and control the reflow temperature profile.

After the completion of the assembly process, the semi-finished products undergo strict quality control. The placement quality of the components is inspected using a 2D Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) machine, and an X-ray inspection system is used to detect any potential defects through X-ray imaging.

Due to the high integration level of the semi-finished products designed in our R&D, the demand for plug-in components is minimal. Therefore, we have temporarily allocated one assembly line for plug-in components. The entire process of plug-in assembly, as well as the quality control, is guided and managed through electronic work instruction display boards and the MES intelligent manufacturing management system.

To accommodate the production of a small quantity of hand-soldered plug-in components, we have set up four manual plug-in production lines and two automated soldering robots. Additionally, we have a mini automated transport robot to maximize quality assurance and improve efficiency. These measures ensure the highest quality standards while enhancing productivity.

IQC Area: Before any materials are stored, they undergo quality inspection in the IQC department. Only qualified materials are allowed into the warehouse. Once in the warehouse, the storage temperature and humidity are maintained according to relevant environmental management standards.

Before beginning the packaging process, packaging workers must ensure that all packaging materials are fully prepared, and that the packaging equipment is functioning properly. The finished products are assembled and packaged according to the order requirements and neatly stacked. It is essential to ensure that the products are undamaged, all accessories are included, and the appearance and specifications match the order. The packaged products are stored in a designated area to ensure a dry and clean environment. When the finished products are ready for shipment, they must be sorted according to the order requirements and delivered to the customer promptly and accurately.

Given the company's characteristics of small-batch, multi-variety products, our production line is designed to be flexible, allowing for quick switching between different industries and products from various partner companies while maintaining efficient operations. We specialize in providing technical upgrades and custom production for leading enterprises, creating specialized production workshops. As our production capacity continues to grow, SPON Communication plans to expand its facility and acquire world-class advanced equipment, increasing the number of production lines to enhance efficiency and standardize operations. Our goal is to become a smart factory that continually pursues higher quality.