Contract and Circuit Board Manufacturing Blog | Zentech

Don't Throw It Away, Use Electronics Repair Services Instead

Written by Laura Austin | Sat, Jun 22, 2013 @ 11:00 AM

Although it's unfortunate, we live in a very wasteful society. If something stops working, very few people take the time to fix it - the item is simply discarded and replaced. In the world of electronics manufacturing, however, this isn't always a possibility. After spending a great deal of time in the engineering design services phase and spending the money to manufacture a prototype or product, simply "junking" a malfunctioning device could result in the loss of thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars - and that doesn't include the amount of money lost on the potential sales of the product, had it been successful. 

So what should you do if your electronic device prototype or product isn't functioning as it should? Instead of trashing the idea and starting over, your best bet is to work with an electronics repair services. These professional operations are well-versed in creating, manufacturing, and fixing electronics that aren't working properly. Whether you need to fix an ailing component, rework your design strategy, or make modifications to your device, professional electronics repair services can help you to get the job done without losing money. Here's a quick guide to knowing when you need the help of electronics repair services, and how to tell if the repair service will be reliable.

Three Times When You Need an Electronics Repair Service

Not sure if hiring electronics repair services will be able to help fix your problem, or if you can handle the job in-house? Here are three scenarios where you would definitely benefit from working with a repair service:

  • #1 - You're not sure why a part failed - You know that a component within your device isn't working, yet after troubleshooting, you can't figure out why it's malfunctioning. An electronics repair expert will be able to analyze the original design schematics as well as the PCB in order to unveil the underlying cause. In most cases, the problem is simple enough to be fixed in a way that is far cheaper than re-building the board.

  • #2 - Your design plans aren't working - Perhaps your original designs call for a specific computer chip that is incompatible with a PCB or a capacitor isn't able to hold the charge that it needs to function properly, but you can't figure out what the issue is or how to fix it. Sometimes a designer is just too close to the plans to be able to find a solution to the problem. Fortunately, electronics repair services, including PCB repair services, are able to review the original specs, compare them to the device, pinpoint the trouble spot, and help you to find suitable replacements that won't detract from the integrity of the original design.

  • #3 - Your device isn't what you hoped it would be - Sometimes you may find that although your PCB functions, it just isn't up to snuff. Maybe the unit isn't meeting a certain requirement, or just isn't as compact or fast as you would like it to be. An electronics repair expert will be able to analyze your design and help you to find areas that could be improved so that your device will operate as you desire. 

Choosing the Best Electronics Repair Services

There are many electronics repair services, but they're not all reliable. Here's what to look for in the best:

  • Honesty - Did your repair service also help you to design or manufacture the product? A reputable company will offer post-fulfillment services like failure testing, troubleshooting and diagnostics, component replacements, and direct customer repair services.

  • Standards & Certifications - The IPC Association regulates standards for electronics work. Companies that are certified to repair and rework electronic devices can provide you with the peace of mind that the job will be done right. 

  • Testimonials - What do other customers have to say? The best electronics repair services will be happy to supply you with referrals from satisfied clients.

Are you ready to stop stressing and start saving through electronics repair services?