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How to Evaluate PCB Producer or PCB assembler

How to Evaluate PCB Producer or PCB assembler

2020-12-08

For OEM customers, choosing a long-term reliable PCB manufacturer or assembler is a difficult task, because there are a lot of PCB service providers around the world. This article provides some guidance on how to select the most suitable PCB supplier from the extended ready list. Additionally, a FREE template survey list will be provided so as to directly apply it to be a standard when evaluating PCB houses for long-term cooperation.

Although there are many links in PCB production and assembly, each step ought to be carefully checked out, but the process mainly focuses on products, functions and services. Therefore, this paper follows similar route.

Product display

The quality of pcb will directly affect the application and performance of the final product. Therefore, the concern principle of reviewing PCB merchants is to verify their status, that may be expanded from three aspects: Quality, industry and price.

1. Quality

Everyone is eager to get high quality through the following aspects:

Has SPC been used in PCB manufacturing (e. g. , CPK control or manufacturing management chart of components?

Whether continuous quality management improvement, for example QCC or TQM, has been implemented;

Whether Engineering Change Orderis Managment used;

Whether the control principle of component exemption is published in its conditions and terms;

Whether they meet strict quality control assessment, which include Material examination document and management, SMT pass rate, AQL level, document management, BOM storage, ESD execution, Equipment standardization;

2. Industrial field

PCBs are used in many different industries, and you will find stringent and unique requirements for their manufacturing standards in specific industries. It is almost impossible for a PCB manufacturer to handle all industries evenly. Often, they tend to serve some industries more skillfully than others. For example, PCB manufacturers who are proficient in handling mobile phone PCB must have enough experience to limit the space of final products. PCB manufacturers mainly used in aerospace industry must have better performance in high density.

In this case, you must fully understand the industry that the PCB service provider surveyed is good at processing, so as to cooperate with professional partners (not omnipotent partners).

3. Cost

Although there are some techniques that can reduce the cost of PCB assembly, sometimes the price is the main factor that determines our final decision. When selecting PCB assembly, we must analyze the cost from two aspects,

  • Overall offer - don't just be attracted by attractive numbers. Reliable PCB service providers are responsible for every word they ask for protection. You should ensure that the price given to you by their salesperson is complete and there is no hidden or additional money at the end of your order;

  • Continuous cost reduction - refers to certain discounts in your reorder. Although PCB House would not offer you a consistently low price, acheive a constant discount inside your order, such as eliminating mold costs. This strategy is a firm foundation for long-term cooperation;


Ability

As pointed out above, product quality will be the soul of PCB manufacturers, and quality depends on their ability. PCB fabrication and assembly capabilities will be shown from the following aspects:

1. Certificate

Certificates represent real manufacturing capabilities. Whenever you cooperate with PCB manufacturers with ISO 9001, UL, RoHS and other standards certification, you can be sure that they'll strictly abide by the provisions of these certificates to obtain high-quality products.

2. Technology

The aspects related to the PCB manufacturer technology studied can be summarized as follows:

Whether the technology adopted meets your requirements and whether the processing capacity meets your requirements;

Whether they have advanced equipment for producing or automation at home;

Whether they are technically creative;

The ability to lead new processing methods in the market;

Assessment of processing capacity;

BGA IC maintenance capability;

Welding and maintenance capacity for 0201 or 01005;

RoHS implementation capability;

SOP integrity;

How to avoid wrong material choice and negative polarity;

Ability to review circuits and provide DFM services;

MSL component control function;

Solder paste temperature recovery, sealing and storage life management functions;

Panel processing function;

 

Equipment

They will never be fully developed until they're used on the latest equipment. In PCB manufacturing and assembly, top equipment and needed specifications include:

  • Printing accuracy of solder paste.

  • Can it print small components just like 01005 and CSP, and what kind of template is needed?

  • Solder paste thickness checker, like Solder Paste Inspection;

  • The accuracy of the SMT pick-up and placement machine is related to its function on the micro part register (e. g. 01005 and CSP);

  • X-ray detector. Generally, the X-ray inspection machines in SMT plant is 2D, which is suitable for quick inspection and vacancy;

  • AOI (automatic Optical Inspection);

  • ICT equipment (GenRad, TR5000, Agilent3070);

 

Component procurement

With regards to to the services provided by PCB assemblers, component procurement is in charge of a big part. Therefore, it is very important to study component procurement capability, including:

  • When they've a great relationship with the world's leading component associates;

  • Whether the components they purchased are qualified;

  • Whether they accept the components provided by customers;

  • Whether they have spare components for use on your future projects;

     

Service

After the customer completes the order, the Service is closely related to their true feelings. Compared with "products and functions", the project is difficult to implement. The services provided by PCB manufacturers mainly include the following aspects:

1. Delivery time

The delivery time of PCB can be studied through the following aspects: ? whether the PCB can be delivered in time.

Whether or not the delivery time of your company meets the requirements;

- tracking services;

Some manufacturers even offer you tracking services in order to know where your goods are going. Generally, famous PCB providers or assembly suppliers have very close cooperation with main Express services.

2. Reactivity

Response represents the company's response to customer needs, and you can study it simply from the following perspectives:

  • Can they respond quickly to new orders?

  • Can they reply to your email with detailed information within 24 hours?

  • Would they provide practical solutions in case of emergency?

  • Would they expand manufacturing capacity if urgent orders?

  • How fast do they respond when items are modified during production?

However, responsiveness isn't the same as response being. Understandably, sales people know little about the their manufacturing capabilities, particularly when you're asking for technical advice and confirmation. If you encounter a salesperson who informs you that she or he can't explain until she or he receives a clear reply from the company's technical personnel, you can directly ask to negotiate these problems with the technical personnel. It Saves time and helps you to avoid any unneeded errors during the transmission of messages.


In a word, the more detailed your survey information, the clearer the image of PCB manufacturer will be. According to the above discussion, you may download the survey list evaluated by PCB Supplier or Assembler to correctly select your long-term companion.

If you are seeking an ideal PCB manufacturer for the next project to fabricate circuit boards, consider using rocket PCB. Since 2002, We've been supplying quality assurance turnkey Printed circuit board Assembly services to customers all over the world. Our customer satisfaction is over 99%. Quotations are always welcome and free. Contact us to obtain your PCB quotation.

 


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