Rapid development and changes in the electronics industry have resulted in a new service on the market: custom electronics assembly. It is a response to the rapidly changing needs of electronic equipment manufacturers. It is also an opportunity to reduce production costs significantly. The following article will look at what exactly is characterized by PCB Assembly outsourcing and why it is worth using it.
It might seem that performing all tasks related to the production of specialized electronic equipment is more economically viable than outsourcing such assembly to external companies. However, practice shows that it is precisely the opposite. This situation is analogous to many cases in everyday life. For example, we don’t buy an excavator, and we don’t learn how to operate it to make a small excavation on the plot. So when making a statement of costs and profits and looking for savings that will allow you to compete on the market in quality and price, the choice of outsourcing electronics assembly turns out to be the best.
PCB Assembly Outsourcing: Which industries use it the most?
The assembly of contract electronics is most often used by industries that, contrary to appearances, are not associated with electronics at all.
- The automotive industry: cars and motorbikes today are essentially electronics
- The construction industry: which uses electronics both at the stage of erecting and equipping buildings
- The medical industry: that practically does not exist today without electronic equipment. At the same time, in the medical industry, this equipment must be 100% reliable. That is why the assembly of OEM products is familiar to external companies, which offer the assembly itself and complete quality control.
Why should you outsource your PCB assembly to an EMS provider?
Outsourcing of business services has become the norm in business realities in the 21st century, as is the case with outsourcing production. As a result, more and more OEMs choose to work with EMS providers because they see the many benefits of such a partnership. Here are the top reasons to outsource PCB Assembly to an EMS supplier.
- You gain time that you can spend on sales and product development
When you outsource PCB assembly to an EMS supplier, you get the most practical business value – time. You can spend the time saved on other activities related to your business. By working with an EMS supplier, you are not directly involved in the production of PCBs. At the same time, you transfer much responsibility for the product to an external company, thanks to which you do not have to deal with any potential problems that may arise along the way.
- You guarantee the highest quality of PCB assembly
The PCB assembly process is a complicated combination of various steps leading to the final product. The fact that you have specialized machines may not be enough. For the final product to be of the highest quality, experienced experts should supervise the entire process. Otherwise, the final product will not meet the initial assumptions. Therefore, when cooperating with the EMS provider, please pay attention to whether the company has the appropriate ISO certificates, confirming that it meets the relevant standards and whether it meets the IPC standards. These elements show that the EMS provider provides the services offered at a high level and takes its obligations seriously.
- Full service
At first glance, the advantage of a one-stop-shop is apparent and lies in lowering operating costs. Other aspects of benefit arise when independent service providers fail to fulfill their obligations properly. For example, the delay of one of the suppliers automatically affects the following stages of the production process. Using a comprehensive service can reduce many inconveniences inherent in the separate purchase of PCBs and assemblies.
In addition to the previously outlined savings in operating costs (working with one entity), the ordered service’s minimized number of quality control points becomes a great help. In addition, companies that work with a comprehensive service provider and entrust him with implementing a complete subassembly have a reasonably straightforward situation in the event of quality problems. They will report the complaint to him. Regardless of the stage at which the issue appeared, a comprehensive supplier will look for a solution.
- Lower investment costs
As we have already mentioned, the appropriate infrastructure and machinery are insufficient to implement an effective PCB assembly. It also requires appropriately qualified personnel who will ensure the proper community and high quality of the PCB. EMS provider has a large group of experts who will watch over every stage of electronics assembly. Cooperation with EMS is also a developed optimal level of production management, which allows you to deal with such factors as a short product life cycle or sudden changes in material prices. In short, PCB Assembly outsourcing will enable you to avoid the ongoing costs of organizing and maintaining production, reducing the cost of manufacturing a product significantly.
- Get your product to market faster
The lead time of PCB assembly is critical to getting the product to market. However, EMS provider EMS has greater production capacity and resources (including personnel), thanks to which production can be planned in a much more dynamic and flexible way. At the same time, in a situation where suddenly increased demand for a given product occurs, EMS will have adequate reserves to ensure production growth.
Summarizing
Outsourcing PCB Assembly is a source of savings and ensures smooth production regardless of external factors. The OEM manufacturer does not have to commit its resources and time to make the assembly run smoothly. Does this mean that manufacturers using EMS providers do not face any cooperation risks? Of course not. However, you can avoid potential errors by working with a competent and experienced EMS provider. High timeliness of deliveries or monitoring and improvement of internal processes are the features of the supplier that will reduce the risk associated with cooperation. The more reliable a supplier handles as much of the production process as possible, the smaller the potential problems related to collaboration.
