3 Ways to Get More Value from Box Build Services

May 2019 – When sourcing box build services, manufacturers must evaluate the sophistication of the provider’s assembly tools and methods, the strength of its engineering team, and the breadth of its capabilities.
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A PCB Supplier’s Inspection Protocol Does More Than Minimize Escapes

June 2018 – It’s not easy to change suppliers for custom printed circuit board assemblies if you experience a high rate of quality escapes. Look at your contract manufacturing partners’ inspection processes to help prevent this problem. A contract manufacturer should have an inspection process that not only minimizes escapes, but also allows them to identify root causes and take corrective actions.
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Why Electronic Design Projects Take Months

November 2017 – Buyers are often surprised when we quote 18 to 20 weeks for an outsourced electronic design project. But when you understand that failing is a big part of the process, you can start to see why it takes so long. More importantly, you can predict whether the quoted lead time is realistic and achievable.
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What Else Can a PCB Contract Manufacturer Do for You?

July 2017 – Contract manufacturers (CMs) offer many services ancillary to printed circuit board assembly.  Taking strategic advantage of “one-stop shopping” for these services can often reduce your cost or lead times. The types of services, and how well they are done, vary widely from one manufacturer to the next.
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Protecting PCBs: Costs & Benefits of Conformal Coating, Encapsulation, RTV & Overmolding

March 2017 – Printed circuit board assemblies often require protection from moisture, dust, or vibration. Common techniques include conformal coating, encapsulation, room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone spot treatment and overmolding. Here is what to look for in a contract manufacturer’s (CM) capabilities and how your choice impacts lead time, cost, and quality.
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Sourcing Electrical & Mechanical Design Services: Coordination Has Benefits

Dec. 2016 – Buyers sourcing electronic design services can benefit from choosing one supplier with both electrical and mechanical design skills.
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Who Owns the Design?

July 2016 – When outsourcing electronic design services, understand who will own any intellectual property (IP) before you begin.
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Dry Heat Proves Hazardous to PCB Assembly 

April 2016 – As your boards use smaller and smaller SMT components, it may be time to audit your contract manufacturer’s humidity control systems.
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Separating PCB Assemblies Without (Much) Stress

October 2015 – Your contract manufacturer’s depaneling methods impact your PCB assembly costs and quality, especially if your company is trying to create smaller products.
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Flux Residue & Reliability of Conformal-Coated Boards

September 2015 – Solder flux residue on printed circuit board assemblies can cause long-term quality problems. Boards that will have a conformal coating need extra attention in this area.
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Burn-In & Reliability of PCB Assemblies

September 2015 – If you’re producing systems for high-reliability applications, you need to know about burn-in. Here’s how it impacts your product reliability and performance.
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PCB Buyers: You Don’t Have to Put Up with Little Plastic Bags

March 2015 – If you’re receiving PCB assemblies in little plastic bags, you may be causing needless waste of time and materials in your manufacturing operation. You can ask your contract manufacturer for custom-formed ESD trays instead.
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Why Thru-Hole is Not Dead Yet

February 2015 – Even modern printed circuit boards may need through-hole components. Buyers need to know whether their contract manufacturer can give thru-hole work the attention it deserves when the manufacturer’s business model revolves around SMT.
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Engineers Do Not Care

November 2014 – It may surprise you that design engineers don’t give a single thought to the manufacturing costs of the circuit boards they design for industrial, commercial, and even medical products.
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The Secret to Buying Electronics Design Services

September 2014 – When sourcing electronics design services, choosing a supplier that also does manufacturing can have significant benefits whether you use its manufacturing services or not.
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What Buyers Must Know About PCB Surface Finishes

July 2014 – The surface finish of a printed circuit board affects the bill of materials cost, but it can have an even greater impact on labor cost and yields for PCB assemblies.
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Beyond Smocks & Straps: Auditing ESD Protection

April 2014 – When you outsource PCB assembly, here’s what you need to ask your electronics contract manufacturing partners about ESD protection for your boards during production.
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Use Thermal Profiles to Improve Quality, Costs

February 2014 – When OEMs evaluate electronics manufacturing service (EMS) partners for printed circuit board assemblies, the manufacturer’s solder processes deserve close attention. Small differences in process, such as the use of thermal profiles, can have a big impact on yields, quality, and cost.
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Moisture-sensitive components need sensible handling

November 2013 – As moisture-sensitive devices become more prevalent in the supply chain, low- and mid-volume manufacturers need to adjust their processes to prevent manufacturing defects and early-life failures.
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Check your passives first

August 2013 – Mislabeled passive components (resistors and capacitors) are surprisingly common in the supply chain. We recommend checking SMT passives before using a new reel.
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Contract manufacturers can do more with AOI

May 2013 – As an OEM, you want high-quality boards with few rejects or warranty returns… you also want low prices and short lead times. Here’s how automated optical inspection (AOI) helps us deliver on all points.
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6 criteria for choosing an EMS provider, Part 1

February 2013 – Some essential criteria to consider when selecting a contract manufacturer and some pitfalls to avoid. Part 1 from Electronic Buyers News: Price location, and volume.
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6 criteria for choosing an EMS provider, Part 2

February 2013 – Part 2 from Electronic Buyers News: Technical capabilities, in-house design capability, and culture.
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Conformal PCB coating: The process matters

November 2012 – Programmable robotic PCB coating systems eliminate the problems of manual coating.
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Selecting Contract Manufactureres 101: Componet Size Matters

September 2012 – One of the critical factors for OEMs in picking a contract manufacturer is the ability to handle the smallest surface mount parts.
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