PCBA contract manufacturing is a widespread and crucial service in the electronics industry. Nearly every type of electronic device depends on PCBs directly or indirectly–so ensuring quality throughout the production of PCBAs is a must. In this article, we’re taking a look at a few of the best practices for PCBA contract manufacturing, whether you’re looking to secure PCB manufacturing and assembly services, or you’re a supplier of those services like us here at SI Manufacturing!
Designing your PCBs to become a Reality
All manufacturing projects start with a design–and PCBAs are no different. If the design doesn’t take into consideration the actual manufacturing of the board, then problems are much more likely to occur later on in production. It’s important to perform a design rule check (DCR) to make sure that the design meets the constraints of the actual technology that will be used to make it. This includes not only size and dimensions, but also component alignment and spacing, PCB functionality and reliability, and overall possible production volume. Or in other words–can the design be produced using current equipment and at the necessary volumes, and when it’s finished, will it meet the functional requirements that it was initially designed for?
The DCR is a lot like a design for manufacturability (DFM) inspection, but aimed more at PCB manufacturing. The goal is to identify any design errors early on in order to avoid dealing with these issues later on in production, when they’ll be much more costly to correct.
Collaboration and Communication
Good contract manufacturers understand the importance of collaboration and good communication. You should have a clear line of communication with your manufacturing partner, and in turn they should take the time to fully understand the requirements for the form, fit, and functionality of the final PCB. Good communication can also make any necessary changes to the design a lot more efficient.
Another advantage of a good, collaborative electronic contract manufacturer is their experience. They’ll often be able to offer advice based on their own expertise on ways that the design or production process can be adjusted for improved lead times and cost efficiency, or even more reliable functionality.
Quality Control and Industry Certifications
Quality control and inspection methods are always crucial for ensuring the PCBA meets the functionality required of it. This can involve any number of inspections at any point in the process–from incoming material inspections to ensure everything matches the BOM to sample testing PCBs at different stages to ensure they’re meeting requirements. For example, SI Manufacturing will perform not only functional testing, but also environmental testing on request to ensure that the PCBs will perform well in certain environmental conditions.
Another important part of PCBA contract manufacturing, depending on the industry, is quality management system certifications, like ISO 9001 or AS9100. These certifications imply that the certified manufacturer has a quality management system in place that meets globally-accepted standards for quality control and inspection throughout their facility. They’re also occasionally required by certain industries, especially for system-critical PCBs that will have an impact on the health or safety of a person, or if the end-use device will encounter particularly harsh environmental conditions.
About SI Manufacturing
SI Manufacturing is an expert supplier of PCBA contract manufacturing services, maintaining ISO 9001 and AS9100 certifications for quality management and serving some of the most rigorous applications in Aerospace, Defense, and Industrial Electronics. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you!