Home/PCB Technology/PCB Materials and Technology: A Buyer’s Guide PCB TECHNOLOGY PCB Materials and Technology: A Buyer’s Guide PCB technology choices connect electrical performance, mechanical constraints, reliability and fabrication capability. Layer count, material system, copper distribution, interconnect structure and component packages affect both the board and the assembly process. A useful specification states the performance requirement […]
Home/Regions & Supply Chain/Choosing a Manufacturing Location REGIONS & SUPPLY CHAIN Choosing a Manufacturing Location Choosing a manufacturing location is a decision about capability, total landed cost, communication, logistics and supply risk. The lowest quoted assembly price is not necessarily the lowest delivered cost. Compare scenarios using the same scope, delivery terms, demand pattern and […]
Home/Industry Applications/Specifying Manufacturing for Your Industry INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS Specifying Manufacturing for Your Industry Manufacturing requirements should come from the product’s intended use, environment and market. Medical, industrial, automotive and consumer applications can share assembly processes while requiring very different evidence, traceability and change-control arrangements. Start with the product requirements before choosing a supplier category. By […]
Home/Cost & Lead Time/What Drives Electronics Manufacturing Cost? COST & LEAD TIME What Drives Electronics Manufacturing Cost? Electronics manufacturing cost includes purchased materials, bare boards, conversion work, inspection, testing and project-specific overhead. Tooling, engineering and fixture development may be one-time charges. A useful estimate separates these elements and states the quantity, scope and assumptions behind […]
Home/NPI & Prototyping/From Prototype to Production: An NPI Guide NPI & PROTOTYPING From Prototype to Production: An NPI Guide New product introduction is the controlled transition from a design into a repeatable production process. Prototype, pilot and volume builds answer different questions. A practical NPI plan names the evidence needed to move between them and […]
Home/Box Build & Cable/Box Build Assembly: Beyond the Circuit Board BOX BUILD & CABLE Box Build Assembly: Beyond the Circuit Board Box build is the integration of electronic assemblies into a more complete product. It can include enclosures, wiring, displays, power supplies, programming, labeling and final test. The scope is defined by the product specification, […]
Home/Quality & Standards/Quality Standards: What Buyers Should Verify QUALITY & STANDARDS Quality Standards: What Buyers Should Verify A quality-system certificate describes an organization’s certified scope; a workmanship standard describes acceptance criteria; and product compliance addresses a product’s applicable requirements. Buyers should keep these concepts separate and request evidence that applies to the actual facility, process […]
Home/Testing & Inspection/AOI, X-Ray, ICT and Functional Test Compared TESTING & INSPECTION AOI, X-Ray, ICT and Functional Test Compared Inspection and testing answer different questions. AOI checks visible assembly features, X-ray can reveal selected hidden conditions, in-circuit testing checks electrical characteristics, and functional testing checks specified behavior. Effective coverage starts with a defect and risk […]
Home/Sourcing & BOM/A Practical Guide to Component Sourcing SOURCING & BOM A Practical Guide to Component Sourcing Component sourcing starts with an unambiguous bill of materials and ends with approved parts available for the planned build. Price is only one input. Availability, lifecycle, authenticity, traceability, approved alternatives and the ownership of excess material all affect […]
Home/DFM & Design/Design for Manufacturing: A Practical PCB Guide DFM & DESIGN Design for Manufacturing: A Practical PCB Guide Design for manufacturing is a review of whether a design can be built repeatably using the intended processes. For PCB assembly, it connects the electrical and mechanical design to placement, soldering, inspection, rework and test. The […]