Importance of Silkscreen in PCB Assembly

Hello, I recently received feedback from an assembly shop mentioning that the absence of silkscreen on PCBs is causing delays in the assembly process, particularly with SMT parts placement. This raised concerns about whether this is a valid reason for extended timelines or a genuine issue.

Key Questions:

• What are the benefits of having silkscreen on boards for small runs of 10-20 units with a variety of components ranging from 0201 to BGA 624 pins?
• What have been your experiences with assembly houses in similar situations?

Personally, I initially believed that providing assembly drawings and pick & place files would suffice for board assembly. I leaned towards omitting silkscreen and instead focusing on detailed documentation for future configurations or maintenance. However, if the lack of silkscreen truly hinders the assembly process for a few boards, I may need to reconsider my approach. Thank you.

Below are some examples of PCBs for reference: