How to choose best PCB supplier

In the wake of Fourth Industrial Revolution the developments in the electronics products manufacturing sector has contributed to the growth of Printed Circuit Board (PCBs) manufacturing industry as well.

The rising demands for specialized PCBs also triggered the mushrooming circuit board manufacturers. With so many variables available in the market as manufacturers and suppliers of PCBs choosing the right one is a challenging task.

It’s important to choose the best PCB manufacturer who can serve as an effective partner. This partner should minimize turnaround time without sacrificing quality, and work as a valuable asset within the competitive space. 

Checklist while Choosing a PCB Manufacturer:

Quick Turn Time

Finding a printed circuit board manufacturing company that can provide quick turn services is the key in this capacity. Many PCB makers provide assembly checklists to guide the design process, and can provide hands-on assistance as needed. 

Checklist to verify quick turn PCB service includes:

1. Prior experience with quick turn PCB services
2.  Inquiring about the type of equipment used during the manufacturing process, and how this assists with quick turn PCB production.
3. Asking about specific mechanism to achieve quick turn approach.
4. choosing the right materials for a PCB
5. Time of fabrication process keeping PCB quality intact

Quality

The quality of products is the core of an enterprise’s development. PCB quality essentially means that the circuit board comes in as required and to drawing without any errors. 

1.  A best PCB manufacturer must have the well-controlled quality by professional engineers from order to package.
2. Quality monitoring and prevention system to ensure the stability of the products’ quality.
3. PCB Manufacturer should be enquired about circuit board manufacturing certifications like ISO9001, ISO14001, UL, CQC etc.
4. It may be possible to ask other, non-competing companies who may use them about the on-going quality.

Cost 

• PCB Assembly Cost is a factor of major importance. Reducing costs is part of making a product successful, however care must be taken to ensure the cost is not too low.
• The joy of low cost is forgotten long before the grief of poor quality has been overcome.
• Balancing cost and quality of PCBs is necessary to achieve the lowest price but for the required product.

Lead-time 

Most PCB assembly manufacturing companies require circuit boards by given deadlines. Ensuring these deadlines can be met is a major factor that should be considered when selecting a PCB manufacturer.

Whilst it is useful to be able to rely on a PCB manufacturer / supplier to meet arranged timescales, it is also useful to have the capability to supply boards with a fast turnaround. This is normally done at a premium on the cost, and also if the turnaround requested is too fast, it can sometimes lead to an increase in errors.

Customer Support Services

As PCBs are employed at operational environments it is mandatory to choose a supplier who have professional customer service team and engineering service team to provide 7*24hrs online service for you. Whatever questions you have, they will solve your problem at the first sight.

Drawbacks of Choosing Wrong PCB Supplier:

1. Layout issues such as missing traces, incorrect sizing of traces or pads, and noise generation. 
2. Schematic errors that result in performance issues or total functional failure.
3. PCB failures due to environmental issues.
4. A prototype board may pass initial testing for base functionality, but failures can occur when board moves into production and gets installed in the final product.
5. It’s not uncommon for manufacturers to come back to designers related to files that are not complete or which may not be labeled/named clearly for them to identify the files for fabrication. This results in faulty boards or manufacturing delays.
6. Lack of familiarity with manufacturing requirements resulting in manufacturing complexity that can increase costs or even alter the footprint of resulting boards.

Conclusion:

One should know that the PCB market is quite competitive. PCB manufacturing companies are now offering competitive rates. There should be no compromise on quality, precision, price or time. You need to have a clear understanding of any company regarding your due dates, manufacturing preference and cost rates.