The landscape of PCB manufacturing is shifting due to intensifying trade tariffs imposed upon China and other countries known for producing electronics. While this can be tricky for designers, your local PCB contract manufacturer (CM) is here to help navigate the new environment of PCB manufacturing onshoring. Experience the benefits of onshoring with VSE: learn how an experienced CM improves quality outcomes and exceeds customer expectations with nimble manufacturing that swiftly responds to market needs and changes.
Onshoring Supply Chains: Location, Location, Location
The central argument of onshoring revolves around proximity; while there are other realizable merits to onshoring, this one is central. The most immediate and realizable gain from local manufacturing is a net decrease in turnaround time. From the moment board files go to production, all manufacturing processes contribute to turnaround time, but overseas manufacturing also has to contend with expensive air freight or lengthier cargo shipment. Domestic shipment is not only cheaper, but also much faster, primarily when originating from strategically-located facilities. Put simply, the calculus of offshore versus onshore manufacturing cost must accurately account for the time lost in transit.
Benefits of Onshoring PCB Manufacturing
Historically, overseas PCB manufacturing has been attractive due to per-board costs. With the trade war lessening this advantage, the value of domestic PCB manufacturing is rising in prominence. Consider some of the advantages designers realize when working with local PCB manufacturers:
- Authenticity – Dealing with international manufacturing can be fraught with poor sourcing practices for materials and components. Not only can electronics’ performance and reliability suffer, but traceability can become a concern. Especially for medical products operating under ISO 13485 compliance, a lack of clear traceability for any materials or sub-products of an electronic assembly can result in significant delays and budget overruns to production (up to and including a complete resourcing and new production run).
- Putting the “quick” in quickturn – Local PCB manufacturers can accelerate turnaround times due to proximity. Shipping times are faster when production is where your design operates. Our San Jose facility has provided local PCB manufacturing to meet the various development needs (prototyping, new product introduction [NPI], etc.) in the Bay Area for over forty years. Our Reno facility has a more central location to ensure rapid shipping nationwide.
- Better responsiveness – Designs can change rapidly, and we at VSE partner with our customers to achieve project goals. Whether that’s a pre-production design review to identify possible manufacturing pain points or a last-minute engineering change order (ECO), VSE has the staff and expertise to maintain quality and production goals.
- IP Protection – Whether malicious or due to poor data security, exposing your design to IP thieves can result in untold losses. Dealing with a reputable US-based PCB manufacturer reduces risks and protects trade secrets that drive innovation.
The Soft Skills of a Local PCB Manufacturer
Unless ordering a repeat job, PCB manufacturing will never be a design process that goes to completion without some level of revision and touch-up. To that end, communication between firms is paramount to a successful final product delivered in the timeliest manner possible. Local PCB manufacturing has some advantages relative to offshore sites on this front. Consider what a local manufacturing shop can offer relative to an international one:
| Local | International | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Hours | Easier to get a hold of the firm when changes arise or questions need answering due to overlapping “schedules” | Desired point of contact(s) may be unavailable or have limited availability during U.S. working hours |
| Facility Walkthroughs | Prospective meetings for local businesses are trivial, and even those across the other side of the country only need to set aside a few days at most | While technology provides an alternate pathway, an in-person meeting is both a time and cost-restrictive process |
| Challenging or Intricate Designs | Consulting with a local manufacturing firm may provide more immediate feedback for prototyping or determining feasibility. | Potentially more challenging to find an operation willing to produce a risky design for minimal volume, especially with a likely backlog |
This evaluation uses broad strokes — there are great manufacturers abroad and nationally. However, as international manufacturers can have a cost advantage due to different labor regulations, national firms wield their inherent benefits.
A PCB Contract Manufacturer Can Simplify Your Onshoring
Onshoring supply chains for PCB manufacturing, something seen a few scant years ago as an unlikely pipedream, is rapidly gaining steam and serious financial backing. While the complete benefits of onshoring are unlikely to be realized for several years, an important tenet for any business is to be willing to go against the grain when conditions are right.
With offshore manufacturing’s mounting monetary and time costs, looking to a PCB contract manufacturer like VSE has never been a more fruitful moment to handle your board’s fabrication and assembly needs. At VSE, our priority is building electronics for customers by engineers. From schematic to finished assembly, VSE will work alongside you and our partners to deliver exceptional quality boards with technical care and expertise, overseeing every design step.
