Electronics Manufacturing

Thinner boards. More powerful components. Denser layouts. Today’s assembled PCBs are increasingly complex and require thorough and accurate testing to ensure they perform as expected. That’s why, when it comes to getting your product to market, design for test (DFT) is crucial to the manufacturing process. Incorporating DFT principles into the production of your device increases the certainty of your product’s reliability, efficiency, and ultimately, commercial success.

What is Design for Test and Why is It Important?

Testing is an integral part of the electronic manufacturing process. Without it, failure points, power inefficiencies, and reduced functionality in a product can go undetected. Testing can produce valuable system information, providing engineers with opportunities to increase the product’s functionality and performance for the consumer.

Taking the trouble to incorporate DFT principles into your design is an investment that will yield benefits throughout the life of your product.

Designing your electronics device using DFT protocols makes it possible to efficiently and cost-effectively test the product—even after it has been assembled. DFT-savvy engineers can create designs for PCB assemblies that ensure easy testing, with test points that are properly spaced and with enough surface area to give accurate and reliable readings quickly and easily.

Taking the trouble to incorporate DFT principles into your design is an investment that will yield benefits throughout the life of your product—beginning with the detection of design flaws and ending with a satisfied customer.

DFT for Defect Detection

Testing ensures that your product is free of faults and malfunctions and delivers a customer experience that leads to repeat sales.

To ensure a high-quality experience for the end user, it’s important to test your device at multiple stages. Start by virtually testing your design. You’ll want to test each prototype as well, since that’s the best time to work out any real-world issues that weren’t caught during the initial design. Periodic testing should also be conducted during the manufacturing process, to ensure that the product coming off the line is performing to expectations at each stage.

It can even make sense to test after the sale. If a product is returned from a dissatisfied customer, testing will allow you to find any residual flaws that are affecting your product’s durability or performance. If such a flaw is found, it may make sense to tweak the manufacturing process. Testing will give you the information to determine if the benefits of a manufacturing change will outweigh the costs.

Provide Data

Recently the engineers at Space X cheered when the Starship rocket spectacularly exploded shortly after takeoff. It seems no one was upset at the sight of billions of dollars’ worth of material and effort going up in smoke. Why? The data. As one of the engineers said: “Success comes from what we learn, and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability.”

Information and data are essential. The benefit of DFT is not just the ability to detect and correct faults, but also to gather critical data that can inform the design of your product’s next iteration. It can allow you to spot weaknesses that can be designed out, or discover ways to increase the power of certain features.

Fortunately for electronics companies, DFT in manufacturing does not require any explosions. But as with space vehicles, it’s important to carefully analyze product failures. Determining what went wrong can yield precious data and allow you to better design your product’s next upgrade. Data gained from DFT can be used to develop new manufacturing procedures, refine features, and produce a more robust product.

Lowering Costs

When manufacturing any electronic product, costs need to be controlled, while quality, durability, and functionality must be maintained. Although testing procedures may initially impact production costs (depending on the complexity of an assembled PCB), testing provides significant savings in the long term. Including test points makes it possible to accurately identify the location and nature of a fault within a system and speeds up troubleshooting. And an experienced engineer can find the optimal placement and use of these test points.

For example, although test points can be located on either the top or bottom of the PCB (so long as they don’t interfere with other electromechanical components), having them on both sides requires the manufacturer to create a clamshell fixture. This approach is expensive, and less accurate than the ideal.

Usually, the better testing strategy is to put test points on one side only. This not only avoids the costs of the clamshell, but also increases accuracy, which in turn enables better batch quality prediction and a fast production time.

Incorporating DFT principles early in the design process will allow you to reap these and other benefits right from the start. Planning for testing, for example, allows you to avoid the expense of adding additional test points later in the production process once it’s become clear that they’re needed.

Compliance and Customer Satisfaction

Most consumers are unaware of the complexity of the assembled PCBs that power their products. But that doesn’t mean their expectations of quality and functionality are low. And of course, manufacturers and OEMs want safety and the very best quality for their customers.

Design for testability is not just about improved functionality and streamlined production. Safety, quality, and customer satisfaction are also key areas that can be improved with DFT. Standards and regulations required by governing agencies are built into the tests that each product must go through.

Even the simplest design has to comply with standards from numerous bodies, both state and federal. And if a device fails to meet regulatory standards, it will be much easier to discover the cause if the product was designed with testing in mind. In that case, it’s a straightforward process to determine which component failed, or which usage scenario created excess stress on the product—or worse, compromised safety or quality. A problem that is identified quickly can be rectified quickly.

Design for Test and for the Future

Electronic devices continue to evolve, as do the PCBs that form their backbone. Flexible PCBs, with their high heat resistance, are becoming more popular for wearable electronics and medical devices. Another trend in PCB construction is the use of biodegradable materials, spurred by consumer demand for greater sustainability. And in a related development, 3D printing—which produces less waste—is also making inroads into PCB production.

And as PCBs change, so will the ways to incorporate test points and other features that allow for the quick detection of flaws or failures. But what’s unlikely to change is the need to test both prototypes and finished products to ensure the best possible consumer experience.

DFT Expertise You Can Rely On

Not sure how to incorporate DFT into your design process? Our highly skilled SMTA-certified engineers are experts in DFT and in all aspects of quality electronics manufacturing. We offer a full range of testing capabilities on site, including 3D X-ray, flying probe test, ICT, conformal coating, functional testing, automated programming, and automated optical inspection (AOI). From streamlining PCBA testing to end-of-life product management, our team can ensure that the products you deliver to your customers meet the highest standards.

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Your team has been working round the clock on your latest product, conducting in-depth research and developing customer-pleasing features. Your concept is a winner, and now it’s time to take your electronic product from idea to reality. And to make sure your road to market is a smooth one, consider teaming up with an experienced electronic contract manufacturing partner.

Mapping out the Benefits of Using Electronic Contract Manufacturing

The advantages of having a manufacturing partner include lower engineering costs and reduced production overhead. And there’s another significant advantage of contracting with an electronics manufacturer: the savings in capital expenditure. As electronic devices become more and more sophisticated, the digital tools, software, and testing equipment needed to make them must keep pace. Whether your company has its own equipment and infrastructure, or just four bare walls, expending time and money on installing equipment or making costly additions to your existing factory—and staff—may not make sense for your bottom line.

To respond quickly to changes in demand, your EMS provider should have data analytics tools that can precisely forecast material needs, even for products with cyclical demand.

Electronics Manufacturing Expertise

The market for electronic goods moves at a fast pace, both in terms of technology and consumer tastes. Because of this, it’s essential that your manufacturing partner have certified and experienced engineers on staff. When it comes to designing and building electronic devices and the PCBAs that are their brains, engineers certified by SMTA (Surface Mount Technology Association) can be a significant asset. Having SMTA-certified SMT process engineers on your team will give you the expertise to streamline your product designs for greater reliability and lower production costs.

A Partner Who Values Data Security

Outsourcing manufacturing requires you to share proprietary information about your product—its unique features, its performance, and its design. This makes it vital that your contract manufacturer have strong safeguards in place to protect it from hacks and other security breaches. And if you’re thinking of contracting with an overseas manufacturer, you should be doubly careful.

According to the FBI, counterfeit goods and trade secret theft cost the U.S. economy $225–$600 billion per year. And even if your contract with a foreign manufacturing company seems ironclad, it may not be enough to protect you. The Chinese government, for example, does not view IP theft with the same seriousness as the U.S. does, and it’s nearly impossible for an American company to receive compensation from a Chinese subcontractor if there is a breach of security or even an outright theft of intellectual property.

This is one reason why some electronics companies are looking closer to home for their electronic contract manufacturing. U.S.-based subcontractors are subject to stringent intellectual property laws, enforced in American courts. And if your product is especially sensitive, you can gain an additional assurance of security by partnering with a manufacturer that is ITAR-registered.

Supply Chain Expertise

If an electronics manufacturing service (EMS) provider has been in business for at least several years, it likely has an extensive network of suppliers. Partnering with this EMS provider gives you access to that vast network, making it possible for you to quickly navigate supply chain disruptions—so that you don’t have to put production on hold simply because one parts supplier is backlogged.

In addition to sourcing components, an EMS provider should also have knowledge and experience in forecasting, procurement, and materials management. This will allow you to avoid manufacturing downtime and minimize warehouse costs.

A skilled manufacturing partner with deep PCBA design knowledge and a broad network of parts suppliers will be able to make suggestions on your product’s BOM that can reduce your reliance on scarce components and streamline the manufacturing process—saving you both time and money.

The Compliance Advantages of Partnering with an EMS Provider

The landscape of regulations and the different authorities that cover them, at the federal and state level, is vast. Your product may need to comply with several regulations set by bodies such as the CPSC, FDA, FTC, EPA, and DOE, just to name a few. And that’s just at the federal level.

This is why it’s so important that your EMS provider hold certifications in the areas that relate to your product. At a minimum, your manufacturer’s facility should be ISO 9001-registered. If you make a medical device, your provider should also hold ISO 13485 certification. And if you make a product for the aerospace or defense industries, it’s critical that you work with an ITAR-registered manufacturing partner.

Design for Testability and Quality Assurance

To ensure a high percentage of viable product, your contract manufacturer should have a quality control program in place. QC starts with rigorous testing of prototypes before production, to make sure there are no performance or regulatory compliance issues. At this early stage, your contractor should also perform a DFT (design for testability) review and recommend small adjustments to ensure easy testing, like adding test points to the bottom of a PCB.

Once products are coming off the assembly line, testing should be conducted regularly to ensure quality standards are maintained and so reduce customer returns. Your manufacturer should use the latest in automated optical inspection (AOI) technology, along with 2D and 3D X-rays, to check for quality, durability, and reliability.

Flexible Capacity, Flexible Labor Force

If you’re lucky, demand for your product will exceed your projections. But that kind of popularity won’t translate into sales if your contract manufacturer isn’t able to ramp up production in time to meet increased demand. To respond quickly to changes in demand, your manufacturer should have data analytics tools that can precisely forecast material needs, even for products with cyclical demand.

It’s crucial that the manufacturer you choose be nimble enough to handle small batches. But they should also have the capacity to increase production when needed. This means having ample facilities, a scalable workforce, and the engineering expertise on staff to modify or expand the assembly line quickly and efficiently.

Logistics Support: The Final Mile

Manufacturing and assembly are merely the first leg of your product’s journey. Just as critical is getting your product to its point of sale. This is why a full-service EMS provider—one that offers packing, tracking, shipping, inventory control, and logistics services—can make the difference between a slim profit on sales and a hefty one.

The ideal manufacturer will offer forecasting and capacity planning, along with procurement and materials management services. Having all of these services available through one supplier lets you streamline warehousing and distribution, so you can control your inventory more accurately, ramp production up or down as needed, and manage inputs more efficiently.

An Electronic Contract Manufacturing Partner You Can Rely On

Our flexible, customized electronics manufacturing and logistics services are supported by highly skilled staff and driven by a commitment to quality that extends to all the services we offer. From streamlining product designs for greater efficiency, to high-precision manufacturing, to supply chain management, shipping, and recycling services, our team can help you get the most from your product’s entire lifecycle.

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Design for manufacturability (DFM)—designing electronics devices with the manufacturing process in mind—lets you produce a high-quality product at a lower cost. It hasn’t always been a priority for those in need of electronics manufacturing, but that’s changing now as supply chain issues continue to hamper electronics manufacturing.

Why Design for Manufacturability?

Design for Manufacturability can help you:

Design out custom processes as much as possible to create a highly efficient, streamlined manufacturing and assembly line. This reduces labor time, which reduces cost.
Lower the risk of bad outcomes. The percentage of wasted units is reduced because products turn out consistently viable. Reviewing a product design through a DFM lens ensures the highest-quality product at the lowest overall cost.
Improve quality through testing. Testability is essential for creating an efficient manufacturing process. Designing with testing in mind ensures that engineers can easily and thoroughly test the product so that only reliable, high-quality products make it out the door.
Avoid nonstandard components that must be soldered by hand. In most cases, it is less expensive to use parts that can be installed using machine-based processes. This approach is also faster and ensures greater consistency—unlike humans, machines don’t get tired and create imperfect solder joints. And of course, having machines do the job of soldering is safer for workers.

The Supply Chain Threat

Beginning in 2020, the global supply chain became highly unpredictable. While conditions have improved, supply chains can still be unreliable. Design for Manufacturability is a secret weapon that allows you to better adapt to continuing global supply chain disruptions. For example:

Some parts that used to be easily sourced in tape-and-reel format may now only be available in bulk. This means they cannot be directly loaded by machine; they must be hand-soldered or sent out to a third party to be reeled, which adds time and cost. If you can redesign the product BOM to use alternate MPN’s, the manufacturing process will be more robust and allow for marketplace inconsistencies.
Relying on custom parts can also be a problem if there is only one supplier, which can put a whole product at risk. Standardized parts, on the other hand, can typically be sourced from multiple suppliers, who, at a minimum, will carry alternate parts that may not require design changes. We recommend to our customers that they move away from custom parts whenever possible.

For example, it is not uncommon for custom chips to be back ordered for months. However, if you can replace a scarce part with one that is available now, you’re back in business.

Redesign to the Rescue

Swapping out components often requires redesigning upstream and downstream processes. Swapping a processor can mean a redesign of a complex board, for example. But if you have DFM-based engineers in-house, you can save time and money with a design review to identify these risks early. Some recent product examples, negative and positive, include:

A company built their product around the Raspberry Pi single-board computer module. Because Raspberry Pi’s are both inexpensive and reliable, that decision allowed the company to produce a great product at a low cost in a very short amount of time. But when Raspberry Pi’s became extremely hard to source, they were in trouble.
A Class II medical device relied on a main processor that was suddenly backlogged for more than six months. A DFM review assisted their redesign of the main PCBA so it could work with a different processor that was widely in stock. They were able to redesign, prototype, and validate the product to make a manufacturing changeover in under three months.

Redesigns like this are becoming more common now, as OEMs adapt to supply chain shortages.

Look for Experience

A good DFM partner will understand your priorities and help you streamline your product’s design to meet your goals. Experienced engineers who have worked on hundreds of devices will know how to optimize your product. Some engineers have been doing this for so long that they have an intuitive feel for good product design. These are folks you want on your team. Degrees are good, but design and manufacturing experience are paramount when it comes to DFM.

A Win-Win

Successful DFM efforts create a win-win for contract electronics manufacturers and their customers. DFM allows you to develop a much cleaner manufacturing and assembly process for the product. If you can reduce custom processes, you can create highly efficient, streamlined manufacturing and assembly lines. This reduces labor time, which reduces cost. And the cleaner the manufacturing process, the lower the risk of a bad outcome.

Streamline Your Manufacturing

Are you seeking to wring more profit at the end of your product’s lifecycle? Do you want to build a more sustainable device? Or maybe you want to develop a less expensive manufacturing process. Whatever your priorities, the engineers at PRIDE Industries have the DFM and DFT expertise to help you reach your manufacturing goals.

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The impact of electronic waste on the environment continues to grow, prompting consumers to make ever-louder demands for sustainably made electronics. Today’s users want the benefits of electronic devices, without sacrificing the welfare of future generations. That’s a tall order for any industry. But it is possible to satisfy the green wishes of consumers—if you keep design for sustainability in mind when creating new products.

But what exactly does this mean?

Design for sustainability (DFS) is an approach to design that considers the environmental, economic, and social impacts of a product throughout its entire lifecycle. The goal of DFS is to reduce the overall environmental impact of a product, from the extraction of raw materials to its disposal. By making greener choices at every stage of a product’s lifecycle, and throughout the supply chain, manufacturers can create a product that passes muster with today’s environmentally conscious consumers. Here are five ways that electronics companies can make their products greener—and more appealing to consumers.

Use Sustainable Materials

Many of the metals, plastics, and chemicals that are used to make electronics are harmful to the environment. So much so that even their disposal can have severe environmental impacts. So one of the first ways to design sustainability into a product is to look for materials that are easy to recycle—or better yet, that can biodegrade on their own.

Plastic is the most visible material of any electronics device. It’s what the consumer sees and touches. And these days, many consumers are alert to plastic pollution, and aware of a slew of grim statistics about the material. They know that the world produces about 400 tons of plastic waste every year, that only about 6% of plastic waste in the U.S. is recycled annually, and that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is twice the size of Texas and contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic.

Plastic pollution is a widely recognized problem. So manufacturers that use recycled plastic for their products—or better yet, biodegradable plastic—can win big points with consumers.

Make Products Easy to Repair

In the past, electronics manufacturers have sometimes acted like the point of sale was the end of the product lifecycle. And consumers assumed that once a product stopped working, it was time to throw it out and get a new one. Not anymore. “Disposable” is no longer a selling point, and for many consumers these days, repairability is a critical concern.

This “right to repair” mindset is driven by two factors. First, most Americans believe that if they buy something, they should be able to do whatever they want with it—including fix it. Second, more consumers than ever take satisfaction in knowing that they’re not adding to their local landfill. They’d rather buy replacement parts from the original manufacturer than throw away the product.

Electronics companies can meet this demand by choosing a modular design in which the components are easy to access. Batteries that are easy to replace, for example, are high on consumers’ wish lists, as are repair manuals.

Riding the “right to repair” wave can require a shift in thinking. With this sales model, the company’s relationship to its customers is a long-term one. Like a car dealership, these manufacturers make money on the initial sale, and then garner subsequent revenue by supplying replacement parts and keeping the product in top shape.

By making greener choices at every stage of a product’s lifecycle, electronics manufacturers can create a product that passes muster with today’s environmentally conscious consumers.

Refurbish, Resell, Recycle

One of the best ways to generate goodwill among environmentally conscious customers is to offer a take-back program. Both Apple and Dell allow customers to trade in their old devices when they buy a new one. Consumers get a modest credit to put towards a new device, and the manufacturers get a product they can refurbish and sell at a profit.

But what about products that are too outdated to resell? In that case, it’s time to harvest the usable components. Some manufacturers are now partnering with e-waste recyclers, who open up electronics devices and extract the usable parts. Keyboards, screens, hard drives (wiped clean, of course), processors, memory units, and motherboards can all be given a second life in a new device. Selling these still-useful components can provide a significant revenue stream for the original manufacturer.

But to make the most of this type of recycling, the product needs to be designed up front with sustainability in mind. Making components easy to extract at the end of a product’s lifecycle will cut down on labor costs when it’s time to harvest and resell its components.

Use Design for Sustainability to Optimize Energy Efficiency

Another feature on consumer wish lists is energy efficiency. Consumers typically cite two main reasons for wanting this. On the practical side, electricity is expensive, and devices that gobble up energy may price themselves out of the market. But many consumers also have a more altruistic, if secondary, motive for seeking out energy-efficient devices: They’re aware of the environmental impact of high energy use.

According to a recent article in electronicsforu.com, global electricity demand is projected to increase by 30 percent in the decade ending in 2030. Many experts argue that this level of consumption is unsustainable. The general public is more aware of this than ever before, which is why they’re demanding more energy-efficient products.

To satisfy the consumer demand for more ecological—and economical—devices, today’s electronics manufacturers are choosing energy-efficient components like low-power processors and LED displays. And they’re making sure to choose highly efficient power supplies. Using components like these lets manufacturers rightly claim they’re protecting the environment—and helping customers save on their energy bills.

Use DFS Principles to Reduce Packaging Waste

It’s official, consumers hate hard plastic packaging, so much so that there’s a name for this particular dislike. It’s called wrap rage, and it’s defined as the frustration one feels when trying to open a plastic clamshell or other hard plastic container. In 2006 and 2007, Consumer Reports even issued “Oyster Awards” to companies whose packaging was particularly hard to open. Although the award was meant to be a joke, it highlighted a serious problem: In 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimated that injuries from plastic packaging resulted in approximately 6,000 emergency-room visits annually.

These days, however, hard plastic packaging is disliked for another reason as well—it isn’t biodegradable. Consumers have reported feeling guilty when they open a product that arrives “excessively packaged,” and it’s likely that some consumers are shying away from these overwrapped products.

Fortunately, the solution is simple. In the same way that products can be designed with sustainability in mind, so can packaging. This means minimizing the amount of material needed through thoughtful package design, and using customer-pleasing, easy-to-recycle material. Cardboard is always a reliable option. But now, in addition to this old standby, companies can choose from newer, highly biodegradable options like molded pulp, green cell foam, and even mushroom-based materials.

Getting the Most from Design for Sustainability

There are multiple ways to make any electronics device sustainable. It can be designed to use fewer chemicals and plastic. It can be made with recycled components and plastic, or organic versions of the traditional parts. These days, even semiconductors can be made using natural materials. Designing your products for easy reuse and recycling is another way to lower its carbon footprint. Even the type of packaging you use can make a big difference.

Few manufacturers can implement all of these sustainable techniques, but most can apply at least a few. This is why a thorough DFS review is critical. Getting a cost-benefit analysis of your sustainability options will let you know which changes in the manufacturing process will yield the most impact, at the lowest cost.

Your DFS, DFT, and DFM Partner

Are you looking for a manufacturing partner that can help you eliminate waste and pollution in your product’s lifecycle? A partner who can maximize the efficiency of both your product and your manufacturing process? At PRIDE Industries, our engineers are experts in streamlining product design for more sustainable and cost-effective manufacturing and end-of-life disposal. And our partner network of certified recyclers maximizes the recovery of useful material and ensures proper waste disposal.

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It can take months to design a new product, followed by more months of testing and modifying prototypes. After spending so much time and effort, you want to make sure that your contract PCBA manufacturer can deliver the product you designed.

So when it comes time to vet the manufacturer who’s going to bring your product to life, how do you ensure that you get the quality and reliability your design deserves? And at a price point that makes sense?

Here are a few factors to keep in mind when you’re looking for a contract PCBA manufacturer.

Deep Expertise and Broad Experience

There are some basic capabilities that any contract manufacturer should have. At a minimum, the vendor you choose should have deep expertise in both surface-mount technology and through-hole manufacturing. And whether your product calls for using automated or manual tooling, your contractor should have experienced assemblers on staff who can expertly manufacture your cable or harness assembly to the highest technical standards.

The manufacturer should also have experience with a variety of design tools, including CAD and schematic capture software, so they can ensure the most accurate and efficient PCB design and layout, and even catch any issues that might affect product performance.

And of course, experience assembling boards for your particular type of product is a plus, whether your product is a medical device, a consumer gadget, or an ITAR-compliant aerospace component.

PCBA-Specific DFM Expertise

Any PCBA manufacturer you work with should offer a basic DFM (design for manufacturability) review at no cost. This type of review allows your contract manufacturer to design the most efficient assembly process, which can lower your materials and labor costs. For example, a DFM review may enable your contractor to recommend easily accessible standard pieces to replace expensive custom ones, or design an assembly process in which pieces are soldered by machine instead of by hand.

A competent manufacturer can also analyze your board design with the entire product lifecycle in mind. There may be minor modifications that can make your product more sustainable, or easier to recycle at the end of its life—so that you can recover and resell components for a secondary revenue stream.

Certifications, Registrations, and Compliance Experience

An easy way to get a sense of a manufacturer’s capabilities is to look at the certifications they hold. At a minimum, their facilities should be ISO 9001 certified. For added confidence—especially if your device is complex—make sure your provider has SMTA-certified SMT Process Engineers on staff. Depending on your industry, you’ll also want to check for specialty certifications and registrations, like ISO 13485 certification for medical devices, and ITAR registration for defense products. And if you are making a device for the aerospace and defense industry, then your contractor should be accustomed to working on sensitive and restricted products.

Finally, keep in mind that while certifications are important, they’re not enough by themselves to ensure that the manufacturer you’re vetting can deliver what you need. Experience is just as important.

Certifications are important, but they’re not enough to ensure that the manufacturer you’re vetting can deliver what you need. Experience is just as important.

DFT and Quality Control

In addition to visual inspections, the manufacturer should also conduct component-level checks and in-circuit verification. This high level of scrutiny is required to detect minute defects, which is especially important for products that must meet stringent performance requirements, such as medical devices and goods destined for the aerospace and defense market.

While no manufacturer can guarantee that every product coming off the assembly line will be perfect, careful testing and stringent quality control measures should achieve first-pass yield rates well above expectations.

Data-Driven, Flexible, and Scalable Capacity

Extensive Supply Network

One of the most important questions to ask when vetting potential manufacturers is: Can they source quality materials and components?

A contract PCBA manufacturer that has been in business for several years should have an extensive network of parts and material suppliers. This means that they can not only source the parts you need, but most likely buy them at a bulk discount that you may not be able to get on your own.

Having a contractor with multiple supplier contacts means production won’t shut down when one parts supplier runs out of a component you need. And if you need to modify your product, your manufacturer should be able to quickly source any new components.

Shipping and Warehousing Services

The ideal manufacturer can also offer forecasting and capacity planning, along with procurement and materials management services. Having all of these services available through one supplier lets you streamline warehousing and distribution, so you can control your inventory more accurately, ramp production up or down as needed, and manage inputs more efficiently.

A manufacturer that offers logistics services can also review your product design with packaging and shipping in mind, so that you end up with a finished product that’s robust enough to not require expensive packaging solutions. And real-time tracking is a must if you want to avoid costly product shortages or overstocks.

Customer Support and Communication

Communication is key to a good working relationship with your contract PCBA manufacturer. No matter how competent your contractor’s team is, if they don’t have clear communication protocols in place, you’ll have a hard time working with them.

For example, contract manufacturers that offer fully automated electronic data interchange (EDI) or web-based interfaces make it easy to implement urgent changes in product configurations or shipping parameters.

But beyond technological considerations lies the simple question: If you reach out to your manufacturing partner, how easy is it to get a hold of someone? The technology is only as responsive as the people using it, which is why it’s important to know what customer service protocols a manufacturer has in place before you contract with them.

What is their policy for responding to queries, for example? Within 24 hours? Within two hours? Will you have a dedicated customer service representative, someone whose name you know and can call whenever you need? Or will you be given a general number that will connect you to whoever happens to be available that day?

If your product is not very complex, customer service may be less of a consideration. But if you’re producing a sophisticated product, you can’t wait for answers to technical questions. And you shouldn’t have to.

PCBA Manufacturing Services You Can Rely On

Our flexible, customized PCBA manufacturing is supported by highly skilled staff and driven by a commitment to quality that extends to all the services we offer. From streamlining product designs for greater efficiency, to high-precision manufacturing, to end-of-life product management, our team can help you get the most from your product’s lifecycle.

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Did shortages of semiconductors and electronic components cause problems for your company in 2022? How have you managed these supply chain issues in 2023? In an opinion piece that appeared in Circuitnet, Andrew Williams, Engineering Manager at PRIDE Industries, explains how design for manufacturability (DFM) can help electronics companies overcome these challenges.

Read the article