Considerations when choosing a custom PCB assembly supplier
Price competitiveness
Cost plays an important role in the decision-making of supplier procurement teams. A customized PCB assembly manufacturer that can provide low prices will have an advantage in being selected from the potential candidate list. Despite unique requirements, custom PCB assembly suppliers should be able to provide competitive price advantages in order to be selected as custom PCB assembly services. More quantity often helps to reduce costs. A detailed quotation will help you understand the cost of each material and custom PCB assembly process, and provide you with tips on how to further reduce costs and negotiate with custom PCB assembly manufacturers. Various factors can affect the price of customized PCBs, such as the number of layers, material selection, PCB size, and design complexity. In this way, Chinese custom PCB assembly manufacturers have a significant advantage over custom PCB assembly manufacturers in European countries.
Delivery time and logistics considerations
Customized PCB assembly suppliers that can provide fast turnaround time will have an advantage in the supplier selection process. The turnover time is highly dependent on the complexity and required quantity of customized PCB design. The entire customized PCB assembly service from PCB manufacturing to assembly should be considered to understand delivery time and logistics considerations. If the delivery time is not met, a penalty must be agreed upon. There should be a flexible option to accelerate delivery speed and shorten delivery time. All these terms and conditions should be clearly defined in the quotation. Most of the time, Chinese custom PCB assembly suppliers do a great job in terms of delivery time and logistics.
quality requirement
Custom PCB assembly manufacturers typically provide a checklist that they need to fill out and respond to regarding their quality and regulatory compliance requirements. ISO9001 certification is usually the primary requirement for shortlisted custom PCB assembly suppliers. ISO has a set of standards that define the requirements for a quality management system. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is also an independent product safety testing organization responsible for certifying electronic products. All components, even the smallest ones, should comply with UL requirements to ensure safety, quality, and performance. Custom PCB assembly service providers should also conduct quality control on their production lines to immediately detect defects and easily correct any issues during the custom PCB assembly process. Electrical testing of the PCB before shipment is a prerequisite, so that only qualified circuit boards can be sent to customers. All of these quality controls must be demonstrated through documentation.
Technical capabilities
Due to the high technical and professional machinery required for printed circuit board assembly, custom PCB assembly manufacturers should have available resources and capabilities to support custom PCB assembly services. Due to frequent communication and discussions between custom PCB designers and custom PCB assembly suppliers regarding requirements, limitations, and risks, the preferred custom PCB assembly supplier should possess professional knowledge and technical expertise in design rules, equipment capabilities, and potential issues that may arise. If the requirements are misunderstood in the initial stage of a customized PCB project, problems and delays may arise. On site visits will also greatly assist in conducting practical and first-hand evaluations of customized PCB assembly service providers. During the visit, PCB assembly lines and controls can be evaluated and audited to understand whether the manufacturing site can produce high-quality PCBs.
Low minimum order quantity
Unlike mass production of PCB assembly, small batch customized PCB assembly requires more time and effort, and the output is relatively low. Therefore, many PCB suppliers have little interest in small batch customized PCB assembly services. This has led to a reduction in the number of custom PCB assembly manufacturers, which can only meet the needs of medium or small batch production. Due to technical limitations and other factors, some custom PCB assembly manufacturers have minimum order quantities. Therefore, it is advisable for customers to discuss with custom PCB assembly service providers in advance to manage costs and related issues. If you plan to cut expenses, it is recommended to contact a Chinese custom PCB assembly manufacturer.
Due to its various advantages, the large-scale production of customized PCBs is becoming increasingly popular. Customized design for specific applications may be the best choice, especially when standard PCBs cannot meet the required performance. Design development and prototype design should be carried out in the initial stage to determine whether the customized PCB can operate according to requirements. If the design and testing are not complete, a series of designs, builds, and tests are required, which means the project requires additional costs and time.
Therefore, finding a suitable custom PCB assembly service provider is crucial for achieving simplified communication and requirement understanding throughout the entire product lifecycle. If you are looking for any possible custom PCB assembly supplier, then Chinese custom PCB assembly supplier Haibo is your best choice.
Your trusted partner and one-stop supplier for FPC/PCB manufacturing, component procurement, FPC/PCB assembly, and electronic manufacturing. With over 16 years of experience, we have been providing high-quality FPC/PCB at competitive prices to over 1000 customers worldwide. Our company has passed ISO9001:2015 certification and UL certification, and all of our products have undergone 100% electronic testing and passed AOI and X-RAY inspections to meet the highest industry standards. Therefore, please obtain an immediate quote from our sales team as we will handle the remaining matters.
Haibo is an expert in the field of FPC/PCB manufacturing and surface mount assembly in China. Since our establishment in 2017, we have been providing high-quality PCBs to over 1000 customers worldwide. Our factory has passed ISO14001, ISO9001:2015, TS16949, and ISO13485:2016 certifications. We are one of the most trusted small and medium-sized FPC/PCB manufacturers in China.
