When it comes to choosing a contract manufacturer to outsource your printed circuit board (PCB) assembly jobs, there are seven areas to look at when deciding upon the optimal PCB Assembly firm:
1. Location: Choosing a contract manufacturer that is inside a drivable distance from your business enterprise gives you far more flexibility and agility to adapt to changing conditions especially when a deadline is imminent. A PCB assembly organization that is in your regional area also is far more practical when website surveys need to have to be conducted and when a shortage of materials and elements happens.
two. Functionality of Manufacturing Equipment: The functionality of the manufacturing gear of a PCB contract manufacturer is important to their ability to fulfill the contract’s requirements. Do they have new or obsolete gear? Are the choose-and-location machines, reflow ovens, and wave soldering gear properly maintained? Reviewing their maintenance logs can give you the confidence that the enterprise is really serious about quality. This builds trust in the business partnership.
three. Assembly Employees Certifications: To assure the PCB contract assembler can total your production run on schedule calls for not only well maintained gear, but also a certified staff of assembly technicians. So, overview the coaching and certification records of the assembly staff. Guarantee they have obtained the technical credentials to allow them to execute their assigned tasks. For these employees members who are not certified, verify on their progress in the certification method.
four. Top quality Systems: Does the assembly business have a top quality method in location such as ISO 9001:2008? This need to be the minimum certification attained by the business to ensure they can deliver a top quality product. If it has a further excellent method in spot, is the company presently certified by a licensed registrar? Finally, would the PCB assembly company agree to invest in becoming certified to the identical quality system as your business? By carrying out so, it indicates the business is committed to a long-term small business partnership with you.
5. Shipping Deadlines: The capability to meet shipment deadlines is a crucial metric for you to establish if a contract manufacturer has the capacity, personnel and sources to meet your business enterprise requires. When achievable, receive records from the PCB manufacturer concerning their ability to meet deadlines. Obtain a detailed understanding of who is manufacturing the PCBs and exactly where they are made.
six. Components Procurement: Conduct a critique of their procurement department. Do they maintain an sufficient in-home inventory? Are their vendors nearby, regional, or geographically diverse and what is the nature of those vendor relationships? Are the relationships close adequate such that price discounts can easily be passed down to you? How does their procurement division deal with really hard-to-fine or obsolete components? Do they have procurement specialists who have expertise in sourcing substitute components for obsolete parts? Can they take your schematics/drawings and develop a Bill of Materials with tiny or no help by you?
7. Cost Rogers RT/duroid 5880 PCB : Due to the fact labor prices vary, you ought to obtain an itemized breakdown of the total cost of manufacturing. Confirm what is integrated in the manufacturing costs. Then you must conduct a expense comparison study to determine if their costs are commensurate with the industry average and their competitors. Make sure you have and accurate comparison of all expenses and the bottomline price tag.
By using the 7-point checklist above, you can accurately determine no matter if a particular PCB Assembly Property is a good match for your enterprise and PCB assembly desires.