Over 50% of PCB assembly solder joint defects can be traced back to improper or sub-optimal solder paste printing. While good solder paste printing practices are often sufficient in low volume, for higher volumes you should carefully consider solder paste inspection (SPI).
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) estimates that counterfeit PCB components cost manufacturers more than $7.5 billion annually, and warns that counterfeit components pose a significant safety risk due to the threat of counterfeit parts going into health care and military equipment.
Mid-size manufacturers hold a special and growing place in the electronics manufacturing industry. They combine high-complexity, customer-intimate models as well as ability for high volumes. Mid-size manufacturers might also make more sense based on your company's size and attention it deserves. In another of Optimum's blog posts we provided some rules for finding the right sized CM. Depending on your company's size and needs, the mid-size EMS providers listed below might fit perfectly into your company's business model.
Supplier Management starts with cultivating a relationship with your suppliers that will strengthen both businesses and create mutual profits. In 1 minute, here are 5 keys to consider for creating a prosperous business relationship between you and your suppliers.
Customer satisfaction surveys consistently point to quote turnaround time as one of the greatest frustrations of electronic manufacturing services buyers. Here's a few things you can do to help speed up the contract manufacturers quote process.
In today’s market, it can often feel like parts become obsolete the second after they are designed in. It is important to carefully analyze your Bill of Materials (BOM), and discover any obsolescence risks within your assembly, before it becomes a problem. Through this 5 step process, you can properly check your BOM and identify high risk components before they become a problem in your manufacturing.
Step 1: Break Down the Bill of Materials
The Harvard Business Review recently said that, “Companies that aim for ‘zero defections’ (keeping every customer they can profitably serve) make profits rise.” On average it costs manufacturers 6-7 times more to acquire a new customer than retain an old one, and 5% reduction in the customer defection can increase profits by up to 95%. Improved customer satisfaction is paramount to reducing customer defection, and by listening to the reasons why customers defect, managers know exactly where the company is falling short. Below are 3 keys which if appropriately utilized, can increase customer satisfaction.
Minimization of all solder joint defects should be the goal for any SMT manufacturer. Through understanding the defect, its root causes, as well as how to prevent it, you can greatly improve the quality of all assemblies you manufacture. According to industry statistics, the top 3 PCB assembly defects which account for 74% of all manufacturing defects are Opens, Solder bridging, and Component shift.
Purchasing extra components to keep surface mount technology (SMT) production lines running is the main focus of attrition. During SMT manufacturing some components will be lost. Attrition ensures that the contract manufacturer has enough usable components to complete the job without costly machine stoppages.
A "lean office" is the application of the "Lean" philosophy to front end processes. In the early 1990's, Toyota Manufacturing developed the concept of lean, identifying eight categories of process waste (or "muda"). They are: transportation, inventory, motion, waiting, over-processing, over-production, defects, and mnemonics. According to the pioneers of the concept, a manufacturer can actually add value to products by eliminating waste in these processes. This breakthrough pervades today's manufacturing and is now starting to be found in places off the factory floor: namely, the office.
