A Local PCB Manufacturer

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Working with a new, faraway PCB contract manufacturer (CM) without in-person reassurance can present challenges that only become apparent once production is at its apex. With a local CM, it’s easier to collaborate to improve production schedules, quality, and cost. For a new product introduction (NPI), a local CM can also steer first-time products or even designers through the manufacturing process to encourage innovation in prototyping. As with all engineering, there’s always a trade-off, but design teams may be pleased to learn of the many advantages of a local PCB manufacturer.

A Local PCB Manufacturer vs. Overseas
Local Overseas
  • Easy to investigate the CM facility and get a better sense of partnership.
  • Same time zones make it easy to coordinate meetings and communications.
  • Delivery times are shorter, and ground shipping is far more cost-effective.
  • Touring production facilities are logistically or financially challenging.
  • Time zone differences may limit communication to email or virtual correspondence.
  • Delivery times can be extensive, and it has to contend with additional cargo shipping costs or expensive airfreight.

Establishing Partnerships Is Best Achieved Face-to-Face

Commencing production is a significant milestone for any design; teams will want to investigate the CM’s quality and performance before engaging them to avoid delays or costly budget overruns. Furthermore, designers must be confident that their CM can accurately convey design intent in the final product – this research is easily obtainable from a domestic PCB manufacturing facility. Selecting a local partner allows designers to manage decisions more efficiently because there are more readily available avenues to assess CM performance objectively:

Designers can contact industry peers or trade organizations familiar with a CM’s production history, market segments, strengths and weaknesses, and reputation.

Process engineers can tour local facilities to observe the CM’s operations and management style.

The CM’s production staff can schedule a visit to meet design engineers.

Working With a Local PCB Manufacturer: NPI Designs

New products and processes are unproven by nature, and challenges arise more often than with a change to production volume throughput (there are a separate host of issues for transitioning to moderate-to-high volume production, but they are anticipable with a higher degree of confidence).

When overseas production slows due to design obstacles or PCBs fail quality tests, response time will be critical to correct issues and navigate timelines. Geographical distance can slow the resolution of these issues, whether due to time zone differences or international flights for in-person meetings. Even for the best overseas manufacturers, a process like discussion and approval of change orders may occur over days due to mismatches between working hours. These individual delays can snowball throughout manufacturing, placing production far behind schedule.

NPIs are beset with complexity by the sheer number of phases involved. Design engineering, component engineering, compliance, sourcing, manufacturing and testing, quality control teams, and suppliers must carefully coordinate efforts to ensure compatibility between departments and compliance with the end product. One of the most significant advantages of partnering with a local CM with ample industry experience is the ability to synchronize production faster and more efficiently.

Your Local PCB Manufacturer Can Aid in NPI Development And More

While the allure of per-board savings may disincentivize a local PCB manufacturer, design teams will want to carefully weigh whether their design is ready for the cost burden of mass production. The product’s quality, performance, and long-term reliability will improve with vetting of the initial design. For NPIs and low-volume runs especially, the optimum manufacturing scenario is a more guided oversight of PCB production during the prototyping through the design for manufacturing (DFM) revision phase. We at VSE are committed to building electronics for our customers, whether for NPIs at our San Jose facility or higher volume at our new Reno location. Alongside our valued manufacturing partners, we aim to deliver the highest quality for many life-saving and life-changing fields.

If you are looking for a CM that prides itself on its care and attention to detail to ensure that each PCB assembly is built to the highest standards, look no further than VSE. Contact us today to learn more about partnering with us for your next project.

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