Whether manufacturing for a large multinational tech company or a small electronics company, PCB assembly can be riddled with numerous challenges. Effective assembly requires smooth collaboration between designers, fabricators and manufacturers in order to deliver a high quality circuit board to the market. Mistakes made in design can hold grave consequences to the whole organization, especially where the design failures result in substandard products reaching the market.
Topics: pcb assembly, PCB, technical design, design review, flex cracking, ceramic chip capacitor, performance environment, inadequate communication, EMS provider, design back up
Evaluating Cost Of Ownership In Contract Electronics Manufacturing
The concept of total cost of ownership (TCO) is not new to the electronics industry. In essence, it is defined as the total direct and indirect cost and benefits associated with the purchase of any part, assembly, sub-assembly or product. There are many models, tools and techniques for evaluating TCO in different industries. The electronics industry has its own set of unique costs and economic realities. To evaluate TCO here, you need to understand the product in detail.
Topics: electronics manufacturing, contract electronics manufacturing, electronics industry, total cost of ownership, off shoring, out-sourcing, cost of ownership
Improving Quality of PCB Assembly Through Solder Ability Testing
All electronics, whether it be mobile smart phones or next generation computer systems have what is known as a printed circuit board. PCB for short, this is designed to support and connect electronic components inside the hardware. The conductive pathways found on the printed circuit board is wired together through the use of soldering. The soldering attaches metal, generally lead, gold or copper, between the different circuit boards in order to properly connect all equipment together inside the device. Inferior connections result in a loss of signal, poor circuit transfers and possible breakage. When it comes to PCB assembly, having impeccable soldering is essential, in order to establish and produce equipment with longevity.
Topics: pcb assembly, PCB, soldering, solder ability testing
Improving Quality in SMT Manufacturing Through Moisture Control
SMT manufacturers should be aware that there is a tendency for plastic-encapsulated components to hold in moisture. While various steps can be taken to limit the effects of moisture in the environment, it is inevitable that a semiconductor manufacturer or OEM may still experience some of the issues related to trapped moisture. When moisture is trapped in this way, it leads to rapid thermal expansion that can damage equipment and leave an SMT manufacturing task compromised.
Topics: product assembly, contract manufacturing, contract electronics manufacturing, smt manufacturing, moisture control, dry packaging
Demand for China Manufacturing Services Slows
According to HSBC, China's Purchase Manager's Index (PMI) fell to 50.1 in July signaling an unexpected contraction in manufacturing. Over the last few years, China's manufacturing services, especially for goods destined to the USA, has been on an upward trend. According to the PMI data released by HSBC, the decline in manufacturing in China in July 2012 was very close to an economic contraction. 50 points in the PMI is crossing point between an expansion and a contraction.
Topics: contract manufacturing, manufacturing services, contract electronics manufacturing, purchase manager index, domestic market
- Chinese labor costs are expected to rise at a rate of 13 percent per year through 2015;
- The cost of shipping products around the world is dramatically increasing;
- Distance is making it difficult to design and collaborate on products; and,
- It’s increasingly difficult (and expensive) to protect intellectual property in China.
- Create a more educated workforce that can fill skilled labor gaps and get Americans interested in manufacturing careers at all levels (e.g., assembly, engineering, management, etc.).
- Use automated assembly processes to limit the labor input of production more extensively.
- Help companies evaluate their true total cost of ownership (TCO) to help model the risks and costs of offshoring production.
Topics: electronics manufacturing, contract manufacturing, manufacturing services, contract electronics manufacturing, Zentech technologies, smt manufacturing, total cost of ownership, Reshoring, offshoring, made in america
Ensuring Solder Quality in Electronics Contract Manufacturing
In the past, post-assembly requirements for electronics contract manufacturing of boards were simpler compared to bare-board requirements. It was easy to purchase a board that didn’t have visible damage, but after investing money and time in the assembly, the product was no longer functioning well. Because of this, improvement in the quality standards of electronic products became inevitable.
Topics: electronics manufacturing, contract manufacturing, contract electronics manufacturing, electronics industry, Zentech technologies, soldering electronics, component lead times, electronic parts
Improving Reliability of Product Assembly through ESS Testing
There are many factors to consider when deciding on a contract manufacturer to build your electronics or perform your product assembly. The first factor to come to mind is usually price, but there are others that are equally important. You also have to factor in quality control, shipping costs and reliability of the finished product. Unless your manufacturer has thoroughly tested the design and helped to make appropriate modifications, you could end up losing money in warranty repairs or even recalls.
Topics: electronics manufacturing, product assembly, contract manufacturing, contract electronics manufacturing, electronics industry, technical design, ESS testing, reliability testing
Integrating Design and Electronics Manufacturing to Reduce Cost
Topics: electronics manufacturing, contract manufacturing, manufacturing services, electronic design and manufacture, contract electronics manufacturing, electronics industry, SMT Assembly, Zentech technologies, electronic parts, design review, electronic design, manufacturing, engineering design