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After spending a lot of time and effort into the project, you’re ready to choose a reliable printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer. This is an important step in the design process. Since you’re outsourcing the work, you need to be sure that their quality matches your high expectations. This article will show how to choose the best PCB assembly company for your electronic design.
1. Timelines And Experience
First of all, when choosing a PCB assembly company, you should consider timescales. This includes the time it takes to choose the PCB company and how long they will take to create the product.
If you end up rushing your decision, you may end up having to repeat the entire manufacturing process, costing you valuable time and money. Understand what the company can do for you before coming to an agreement.
If a manufacturing company is being slow to respond or they aren’t providing enough detail, stay away from them and keep asking around. However, do take into consideration the size f the business. Larger organizations may take longer to respond but if you contact a small business owner and they aren’t prompt at getting back to you, this is a bad sign.
Most of all, they should be able to meet your requirements and deadlines. You need assurances that they can do the job well but also moving at the right pace. You have your own timelines to stick to so find a business you can trust to keep to yours.
2. Quality Assessment
Your PCB assembly partner must also be able to provide high-quality products. While it may difficult to assess the quality without having the product in your hands, there are a couple of methods to ensure that you are getting what you pay for.
Firstly, you could ask the PCB manufacturer to produce a prototype model or a small batch order. If you’re happy with the results, you can proceed to make a larger order and continue your relationship
You could also browse their website and look for any awards or credentials they have received from industry bodies. Only worth businesses are given awards so you can be sure they will have had to meet certain requirements to earn them.
Also, search review websites to get feedback from previous customers. While the manufacturer’s website will only display the best reviews, review sites can give you the whole picture. You could even contact their existing clients for their experience working with the manufacturer.
The more you know about the quality of their work, the better.
3. Costs Of Production And Shipping
This is probably one of the first things that come to mind when making any business decision. While you want to keep an eye on how you’re paying a PCB assembly manufacturer, there are a few things to consider when evaluating the cost of the job.
For example, the size of the order. The larger the order, the more expensive it will be. However, some manufacturers will offer discounts when buying in bulk.
The service you need will also have an impact on the cost of a PCB assembly manufacturer. The more technical the job, the higher the cost. If the design needs extra testing, this will also increase the costs.
Don’t forget shipping. The cost of shipping will depend on the order size and the size of the products themselves. These costs can sometimes be hidden away until it’s too late so be sure to ask if you’re unsure with how the manufacturer charges.
Even with all this in mind, don’t think that cheaper means better. To get high-quality, sometimes you need to pay top dollar. While it must be within budget, there’s nothing wrong spending that little bit more for a product you can trust.
4. Testing Procedures
The next thing to look out for when choosing a reliable PCB assembly manufacturer for your electronic design is their testing options. Quality testing is crucial. If your product goes to market without it and there’s a failure, not only will you lose money but your brand’s public image and reputation will be tarnished.
You should partner with a PCB manufacturing company that has thorough quality testing and control practices. The best businesses will cover everything from how it looks to how precise a hole is drilled. It shouldn’t matter if these processes are automated or completed by people.
Certifications also play a role here. If you can see that a business has their systems are regularly checked by governing bodies, they should be high on your list.
If you have any specific testing procedures you want to be carried out, contact a representative to create a customized plan. That way, you’ll have that extra piece of mind knowing they’re testing exactly what they are supposed to.
5. Things To Look Out For
While it’s important to know the good things about a PCB assembly manufacturer, it’s just as important to know how to avoid the unsuitable partners. If they aren’t ticking all the above boxes and the following, they are not the one for you.
Look out for speed and ease of communication. If they seem like they are playing hardball with information, it’s best to move on and find someone else. There should not be any reasonable cause for holding back updates on your device.
Also, be aware of PCB assembly designers that will not work around you. If it’s ‘their way or the highway’, always choose the highway. You should work with an organization that understands your needs and wants to find a solution. At the end of the day, if they want the work, they’ll find ways to make it happen.
Conclusion
If you’re wondering how to choose a reliable PCB assembly manufacturer for your electronic design, consider their reviews and experience, their quality of work, how much it will cost to produce to produce and ship and how they test their products.Rayming have more than 10 years Pcb manufacturing and Pcb assembly experience,you can visit www.raypcb.com to know more online.
