With component sizes shrinking and board complexity rising, maintaining a quality standard is challenging. Luckily, the systems responsible for identifying quality defects have also undergone technological advancements. As a contract manufacturer, we have to identify trends early and adopt the technologies that create value for us and ultimately, our customers. Here are some of our quality and testing processes that we implement that help deliver great results for customers.
Until 40 years ago, through-hole mounting was the dominant method for placing electronic components on printed circuit board assemblies. For years, this method was used to place virtually all components in the time period from the 1950’s until surface mount technology became popular in the 1980’s.
Engineers encounter innumerable variables when designing a printed circuit board, especially when you consider that even though a printed circuit board may function properly, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it can be manufactured in a way that maximizes quality and reduces cost. Completing a PCB design is a struggle between different constraints which encompass time, budget, and functionality, with manufacturability often seen as an afterthought. However, if engineers involved their manufacturing team and considered a comprehensive design for manufacturing review, many common problems could be avoided. In addition to increased manufacturability, engineers can benefit from reduced cost and time to market.
As a contract manufacturer, we repeatedly see the same mistakes regarding design for manufacturing. These hold back projects and create additional design costs and delay timelines. We’ve compiled a list of the top 15 “gotchas” for PCB design to make sure your board is set up for success when it’s time to transition to manufacturing. This is not a completely comprehensive list, but we always tell prospective customers that if these rules are followed, about 80% of DFM mistakes can be avoided.
This list is based from over thirty years of experience and it’s our hope that they can help you see success with your next project.
For most individuals involved in outsourced contract manufacturing, Bill of Materials is a common term. For the few that aren’t familiar, the Bill of Materials (BOM for short) is a spreadsheet document that lists out all parts needed to complete a build and it is a major aspect of the supporting documentation needed to deliver an RFQ/RFP.
With component sizes shrinking and board complexity rising, maintaining a quality standard is challenging. Luckily, the systems responsible for identifying quality defects have also undergone technological advancements. As a contract manufacturer, we have to identify trends early and adopt the technologies that create value for us and ultimately our customers. Here are three quality processes we offer that help deliver great products to you.
It is only a matter of years before flexible health care technology saturates modern medicine. As paper record keeping gives way to electronic information management systems built on a network of connected assets, patients stand to gain truly "round-the-clock" care from their medical providers in the form of wearable sensors made from rigid-flex and flexible printed circuit boards.
One weak link in a supply chain can cripple business, regardless of industry, products or economic standing. Yesterday's successes are no guarantee for tomorrow, so original equipment manufacturers must put in the time to ensure hangups between them and their suppliers are dealt with quickly and completely before they upend operations.
Inspections, as they pertain to quality assurance in printed circuit board manufacture and assembly, are a double-edged sword for electronics providers. On the one hand, a thorough vetting of components and connections makes for a reliable, functional product with a long life cycle. Detailed inspections, however, obviously take time, which could lengthen PCBA lead times on prototypes or new goods.
As with all manufactured or processed goods, businesses in the market for printed circuit board assembly go where the money is - or isn't, as the case may be. For the most attractive costs, companies are willing to outsource operations.