Levison Enterprises Blog

Mitigate Parts Obsolescence in Medical Device Manufacturing with a DFM

Patients often rely on electronics to increase their longevity. Their lives depend on medical devices that have long lives of their own. However, parts obsolescence in medical device manufacturing can complicate this. Many electronic components have life cycles which are shorter than that of the medical device in which they are used. Obsolescence of electronic components is a common problem. Sometimes parts become obsolete before a product is even through production. Often the only chance manufacturers have to battle this is with forecasting and being proactive.

Your Guide to Ensuring Quality PCB Manufacturing and Assembly

Most people have no idea how their electronic devices work. It is an entirely different story for designers, engineers, and OEMs. They understand the ins and out of PCBs. That also means they know the importance of quality when it comes to printed circuit board assembly and manufacturing. Quality should always be the top priority for PCB manufacturing and assembly. Knowing what to look for in an ECM will lead to an informed decision so you can partner with the perfect company to make the highest quality components for your products.

PFMEA: Evaluate and Optimize Your Electronic Manufacturing Process

In electronic contract manufacturing, we like to think failure isn't an option-even though that’s easier said than done. This means manufacturers must go the extra mile to protect your products, and can be accomplished by employing a process referred to as a PFMEA, or Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis. What is PFMEA? Process Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (PFMEA) is a proactive tool used to identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential weakness or failure modes in any given system. From its early stages of development with NASA, the PFMEA has evolved into an industry accepted methodology used across a variety fields from pharmaceutical, to military, to automotive.

Benefits of Partnering with an Electronic Contract Manufacturer in the U.S.

There is a common misconception that you could save a lot of money by relying on foreign manufacturers for electronic contract manufacturing. Not only is this not true, but now more than ever before it's important to work with a domestic ECM partner. Working with a manufacturer in the U.S. supports our economy. It keeps domestic engineers and technicians employed. But, that's not all. Keeping your electronic manufacturing here at home comes with many benefits you will not easily or confidently find overseas.

What to Look for in a Rigid-Flex PCB Manufacturing Partner

Rigid-flex printed circuit board components represent the next evolution of standard printed circuit boards. Combining the best of both worlds, rigid-flex printed circuit boards deliver advantages in design, cost efficiency, and resiliency. Overall, they allow design to be function-first, giving your project the design freedom you need.

Does Your Project Need a Flexible PCB?

Though they only occupy a small percentage of total circuit boards produced worldwide, flexible printed circuit boards are on the verge of driving that percentage up. As product engineers and manufacturers push the boundaries of technology, the advantages that a flex PCB can deliver are becoming more and more apparent.

How to Manage Parts Obsolescence in Medical Device Manufacturing

Medical devices are much more complex than even just five years ago. Simply replacing just a part or two is not an option. That being said, reacting to parts obsolescence instead of planning for it is an inadequate process. Planning ahead is a must when it comes to managing parts obsolescence in medical device contract manufacturing. No matter how good your product is, there will come a point when a key component will become unavailable. However, a proactive approach will keep it rolling off the assembly line and into the hands of your customers. Here’s how.

Managing the Unmanageable: Parts Obsolescence in Electronic Manufacturing

Parts obsolescence is a problem that plagues the electronic industry. Life Cycles of products no longer fit together with life cycles of the components needed to manufacture them. More than 70% of the electronic components are obsolete before the system is even installed. This needs to be understood and planned for before a design comes off the drawing board. Reacting to parts obsolescence isn't going to cut it. The only way to succeed is to have a solid, proactive plan and impeccable supply chain management.

Quality Assurance Impacts Your PCB Assembly in More Ways Than One

PCBs are everywhere. They make up the vast majority of electronics people have incorporated into their daily lives, from cell phones to bluetooth speakers. As a result, an effective quality assurance program is imperative as PCB designs become increasingly more complex with smaller layouts. Quality assurance is defined as avoiding problems and preventing mistakes, defects, and flaws in manufactured products. To do this successfully, this quality assurance must be integrated throughout the entire printed circuit board assembly process. A lack of quality assurance exposes the company to serious mistakes, human error, manufacturing defects, wasted money, and unsafe products.

Successful ECMs Streamline with a Continuous Improvement Process

Remember the proverb "waste not, want not?" It means if you use a resource carefully and without extravagance, you will never be in need. Now, look at that philosophy from an electronic contract manufacturing standpoint. Could you trim some fat from your bottom line? There is nothing quite as frustrating as wasting time, money, and resources. This is especially true in electronic contract manufacturing. This is why top ECMs use a continuous improvement process. This approach to manufacturing identifies inefficient processes that lead to waste. Every member of the team works toward the common goal of reducing waste by identifying and correcting ineffective processes. Eventually, the savings will trickle down to you.

ECMs are Redesigning Medical Devices to Mitigate Parts Obsolescence

Medical devices diagnose diseases and prolong life. They have come a long way since they were first introduced more than a century ago. And while technology allows for a continuous push for smaller and more powerful medical electronics, the real issue for aging medical devices is component obsolescence. The current medical device regulatory landscape is extremely sensitive to this risk.

Best Practices for Designing Rigid Flex PCB

There is a big demand for electronics to get smaller while becoming more sophisticated. This has designers relying heavily on flexible PCB boards. Rigid flex PCBs often fit the bill. With a rigid flex PCB, you get the strength of the rigid board while enjoying some advantages of the flexibility and versatility found in flex PCBs. This allows you to occupy less space and use fewer wires, cables, plug-in connections, and solder joints compared to traditional boards. However, rigid flex PCBs do come with some challenges you’ll want to keep in mind when determining if rigid flex is the best choice for your printed circuit boards. Here are some guidelines you will need to follow: