PCB Assembly Services
PCB Assembly PCB Manufacturing

PCB Assembly Services: How to Order and What to Consider

Let’s explore types of PCB assembly services and what criteria to consider while ordering for PCB assembly. To get the concept into the physical product, PCB manufacturing and assembling is mandatory. Assembling the complete PCB solutions is another critical task for the product. Individual PCB assembly setups are present in large-scale industries for their product development and final production.

But, for small or micro-scale enterprises, it is not feasible for them to establish the complete PCB manufacturing and assembly process due to monetary constraints. In the diverse market, many PCB manufacturers offer these kinds of solutions for the ease of clients.

PCB assembly service providers take all the data and information regarding the product requirements and deliver high-quality products accordingly. After the PCB design is completed, we need to learn how to order PCB assembly and get the perfect product from the supplier.

Types of PCB Assembly:

PCB assembly services depend upon numerous factors, like the volume of the products, configuration, class etc.

Types of PCB assembly services

Based on these factors, the PCB assembly services can be classified into the following categories: –

High Volume or Long-term Services

PCB assembly order services are mainly focused on long-run production or high-volume production. By taking such orders from clients, the overall profits are maximized. Also, quality control measures can be taken effectively for single-product production in the long run.

Low Volume or Short-term Services

For small-scale and micro-scale industries, the product sales count is usually lower. PCB assembly order services are also provided businesses to these small enterprises for business. Some products or versions are required in limited quantities. In these scenarios, the PCB assembly order services are also available with some high budget criteria.

Pilot Run Tasks or Prototyping

At some stage of the development of any product or PCB, sample arrangements are required to validate the layout and configuration. In PCB assembly, the method is in line with the product layout & format. For prototyping, there needs a new setup association for every task. After preliminary sample approval, a few quantities also are manufactured and assembled to ensure the efficient run of the product.

Class-based Production

Based on the quality standard and application, PCBs can be divided into 3 major categories – Class 1, Class 2 & Class 3. Class 1 are low-quality general-purpose products and Class 3 are high quality products for critical applications. The manufacturing plant and quality level depend upon the class of the PCB. According to the end application, quality level, standard & compliance requirements, the complete PCB manufacturing and assembly is carried out.

OEM Services

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is a unique concept in manufacturing industries. Some industries manufacture and assemble the PCB or entire product, and the products are further labeled and sold by different entities. The complete design and instructions are provided by the user and the process is observed and controlled by them. Due to this concept, the user does not have to take care of the manufacturing and assembly process completely and projects get done as desired.

Criteria for Ordering PCB Assembly Services

According to the product requirement and quantity, the types of PCB assembly is cleared.

Ordering PCB assembly service

For further PCB assembly order process, some important points come under consideration.

Capability Evaluation of PCB Assembly Service Provider

Manufacturing and assembly of the PCB is a technical and highly skilled task. Many entities claim to complete the project as required, but it needs complete and throughout evaluation before proceeding with anyone. The competency level of the PCB assembly order solution provider, setup range, output count, quality measures, industrial certifications & compliance and user feedback are some of the key points which need to be considered.

Defining the Project and Product Requirements

To order assembled PCBs, any project starts with the initial idea or requirements.  This data acts as a reference for further processes. Based on this information, the appropriate solution provider is evaluated and selected. Other factors such as budget, project timelines and terms & conditions are made clear at initial stages. A complete technical proposal about the product and PCB containing the type of PCB, BOM (Bill Of Materials), dimensions, end functionality and product compliance details are also shared with PCB assembly order solution providers.

Agreement Conditions for Business

A business between two parties or multiple parties comes under legal conditions. Before finalizing the requirements and collaborating with any seller, the legal and technical terms & conditions ought to be cleared and agreed on. This ensures a smooth business transition with the fascinated parties with no hurdles. This is an essential part of how to order PCB assembly.

Price Considerations

The ultimate goal for any business is to make sufficient profits by producing the products or by providing consultation or services. The price of the PCB depends upon many factors with a major dependency on market trends, component prices and process expenses. PCB assembly order solution providers should also do price comparison and analysis. A fair price is always the top priority for many clients. In the case of high-end applications or critical operations, price can be neglected for product quality.

Industrial Compliance and Quality Standards

With the development of various industrial & commercial units, a described set of standards and compliance were prepared to ensure performance in the manufacturing systems and reliability of the output. PCB manufacturing and assembly also have dedicated industrial standards and compliance necessities which need to be strictly accompanied. Before selecting any PCB assembly order solution provider, the modern compliance version and industry standard must be adopted and followed by them.

Timeline for the Entire Process

PCB manufacturing and assembly is a time-consuming process having particular stages and activities. From raw material sourcing to the final delivery of the product, the timelines play a critical role in product delivery. The timeline for PCB assembly must be planned properly and followed strictly. In case of failure at any stage, a backup plan should be there to meet the project timelines. These timelines and delivery ratios need to be checked and discussed with the PCB assembly order solution providers.

Help Support after Project Execution

PCB for any product and solution can be of hardware and automated kinds. In hardware solutions, the PCB works on defined criteria and works till the end of product life. The PCB can also fail under certain conditions and may go under guarantee or warranty activity. In an automated solution, the PCB works with network technology and calls for timely software or firmware updates. These after-sales services need to be supported by the PCB assembly order solution providers to ensure a healthy relationship with the client.

Documentation

End-to-end documentation to order assembled PCBs is an undeniable requirement during any project execution. Due to the criticality of the requirements and process, it is advisable to maintain data and records for PCB manufacturing and assembly. This data is useful in further data analysis for defect generation, fault resolution, process improvement and product & process cost calculations. The project data also helps in after-sales service, if any part gets damaged or needs to be replaced or upgraded. The PCB assembly order solution provider should have an adequate documentation system for useful purposes.

Conclusion

PCB assembly order is a widely oriented task for clients. By considering all the aspects of PCB assembly, an appropriate solution provider can be selected for the requirement and can be maintained for future reference. With non-stop innovation and advancement in electronics and automation and increasing demands for, high-tech and advanced solutions, we will always require highly efficient PCB assembly order solution providers.

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