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The electronics manufacturing is a ruthless industry. The failure of one component in a circuit board will cause an overall uselessness of the device with expensive recalls, the delay in product release, and the loss of reputation, which is extremely difficult to recover. To hardware startups and even the electronic well-established companies the printed circuit board or PCB is the ‘core’ of the product. This means that the partner you will be teaming up with in order to put together that ‘core’, PCB assembly services provider is one of the most important strategic alliances you will have to make.

It is not only the price per unit that is important here when it comes to selecting the correct vendor. It involves immersion into capabilities, quality assurance, supply chain management and style of communication. There are thousands of assembly houses operating all over the world, and it may be tempting to be drowned in an enormous number of choices.

Scoping Your Project: What and How Much

You must have a crystal-clear understanding of what your own project requirements are before you even make a contact with vendors. PCB assembly services providers have a tendency to focus on various aspects of product lifecycle. Others are agile, and are well suited to quick-turn prototyping in which speed is paramount. Others are configured towards high volume mass production where consistency and unit cost are the primary driving factors.

When you are in the initial phases of the development, seek a partner that deals with low volume, high-mix assembly. These stores are used to high-frequency changes in the design and small production in batches. They will presumably have shorter set-up periods and be able to work on a more flexible schedule.

On the other hand, when you are willing to scale you should find a partner that has high-volume capacity. Inquire of prospective suppliers of their monthly capacity and increase in production capacity in minimum time. A store that does your prototype superbly may collapse under the stress of making 100009 a month when they do not have the required automated machinery and manpower.

Check QA & Certifications

Quality is non-negotiable. In the process of assessing a prospective partner, consider the marketing assertions of the partner and review the certifications and standards. An acceptable provider of PCBA must, at least, have ISO 9001 certification, which reflects a dedication to quality management systems.

Other specialized certifications might be needed counting on your industry:

·        ISO 13485 Essential to the manufacture of medical devices.

·        IATF 16949: Automotive electronics required.

·        AS9100: The aerospace and defense standard.

Besides certifications, inquire about compliance to IPC standards. The majority of consumer electronics in use are in IPC Class 2 (Standard Electronic Products) with critical systems in medical, aerospace or automotive applications usually being in IPC Class 3 (High Reliability Electronic Products). Make sure that your partner is aware of the difference and that there are mechanisms in place to comply with the stricter requirements in case it is needed by your product.

Test Procedure Evaluations

What is the mechanism used by the assembly house to guarantee that the boards they deliver are functional? Solid testing procedures are what stands b/w a manufacturing error & your customer.

Enquire of prospective partners on their testing abilities. A methodology of detailed testing basically involves a combination of the following:

·        Visual Inspection: Rudimentary scans of blatant errors, however not enough on complicated boards.

·        Automated Optical Inspection (AOI): This is a camera process that inspects the boards against missing components, soldering flaws, and polarity. This is typical of contemporary SMT (Surface mount technology).

·        In -Circuit Testing (ICT): Tests electrical shorts, opens, as well as component values.

·        Functional Testing (FCT): A simulation of the operating environment of the board in order to check that it works as expected.

Those who resist testing or consider it a secondary measure are a big red flag to a partner. The finest services will collaborate with you to develop a testing plan that is worth the money and also probability of success.

Communication and Engineering Support Review

The manufacturing process is a joint one. Issues will be experienced- a footprint on PCB layout may not correspond to the component, or part may become out of stock. The manner in which the assembler deals with such problems determines the success of the relationship.

Search a partner which provides Design for Manufacturing (DFM) checks. Their engineers would need to look at your design files to discover the possible production problems before they solder a single component. DFM report is able to identify an error which would lead to scrap or rework costly.

The way of communication is also important. Do they reply to emails? naturally do they have a local support team, or will you be working with a 12-hour time difference and language barriers? When quoting, it is important to note the quantity of questions they pose. A supplier who poses technical questions in detail is most likely a detail oriented one. A seller who provides a quote immediately without seeking explanations on unclear issues may be missing some important intricacies.

Compare Cost vs. Value

The cost is never irrelevant, but the cheapest offer is hardly the best one. Quote comparisons should be done with the Total Cost of Ownership.

The low-price offer could not include tooling costs (NRE), stencil expenses, or testing expenses. It could also specify the application of inferior solder paste or general parts. Better still, a low-cost supplier may not have the quality measures to avoid defects thus causing a high rate of failed products to leak into your system that cost you much more at the long term than the assembly charge.

Transparency is key. An honest partner will give a comprehensive breakdown of the costs, the PCB fabrication, acquisition of components, labor in assembly and tooling. When a quote sounds too good it probably is.

Conclusion

The process of choosing the appropriate PCB assembly services is a tradeoff of technical proficiency, quality control and cost. It is a relationship where trust is needed. The right partner can serve as your own team in a way that he or she catches mistakes when they occur and assists in overcoming supply chain challenges on your behalf.

Get time to vet out possible vendors. Test them out or pilot before making a huge order. The work you do on the selection will subsequently pay off at a later date by way of an excellent quality reliable product.