Employee Spotlight: Pam Steele

Levison Enterprises enjoys a great reputation not only as a great electronic manufacturer that provides customers with quality services but also as a company that highly values its employees. Occasionally, we shine a spotlight on those who help us achieve our goals and high standards for customer service. That said, we would like to introduce you to Pam Steele, a relatively new but awesome, hardworking, and reliable member of our team.

The Value of Domestic ECM Standards and Regulations

Saving money is important to many companies, with managers making decisions in how and when to cut costs. When looking at electronic component manufacturing, some companies may look into partnerships with overseas ECM shops. Although not as drastic as they once were, the quoted costs may be lower. But these lowered costs come with a much higher risk in both safety and security. There is value in domestic ECM standards and regulations that should encourage many companies looking for an ECM partner to stay here in the USA for their manufacturing.

Turnkey Electronic Contract Manufacturing for Military Communication Devices

A turnkey facility is always a good choice for an ECM partnership. Turnkey facilities who can complete your entire project in-house will have the experts, the experience, and the machinery needed to complete any project successfully. When it comes to military based electronic projects, such as a military communications electronics board, a turnkey ECM becomes even more important, as having the entire project completed in-house ensures that the certifications, suppliers, and standards are all met.

Refining Military and Aerospace Electronic Contract Manufacturing

As technology advances, the Department of Defense has more need for an electronic contract manufacturer (ECM) to handle the challenge of building military and aerospace PCBs. Finding military electronic manufacturers can prove to be a challenge, as these particular ECM partners will need to show their experience, capabilities, and ability to meet the certification needs and standards of these precise electronics.

Is a Custom Designed Printed Circuit Board Right for Your Project?

Buying off the shelf electronic components can work for certain projects, but designing a custom printed circuit board (PCB) may be right for others. A custom PCB gives you the opportunity to take your project to the next level and ensure that it is the right fit for your product. Finding the right partner for outsourcing is the next step in the process.

Comparing Quotes from Electronic Engineering Design Firms

Finding the right engineering design firm to partner with can be a challenge. You may know that outsourcing your electronic PCB design and manufacturing is the right choice, but finding the right partner can present many questions. You want to find a company that is a good value, but you also want to ensure that you will end up with a quality product. Asking the right questions can help you when comparing quotes and offerings from various electronic engineering design firms.

Good Electronic Design – Beyond Nuts and Bolts

Good electronic design requires partnering with a strong engineering design group, not just an ECM well versed in assembly alone. The value of design capabilities is often overlooked but can be a crucial asset throughout the project. Goals need to be communicated clearly, drawings need to be detailed, and materials and specifications need to be accurate for a successful outcome. When the design phase doesn’t make it beyond the basic nuts and bolts, the product will often not meet the perceived expectations. Outsourcing to a strong ECM will take your electronic design from the basics to something great.

Finding The Best PCB Design Services Partner

Designing a printed circuit board (PCB) requires a high level of expertise. You may not have the resources and skills readily available to create the powerful PCB you need for your next big project. Sometimes you need help with printed circuit board designing. Partnering with an engineering design group is beneficial for many reasons. More and more electronics companies are outsourcing PCB design to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible. Outsourcing engineering design services gives you access to the knowledge, expertise, and equipment to best meet your PCB design needs. Your design services partner should offer the skills and solutions you can count on to create circuit boards that meet your needs. However, it is important to look before you leap.

Electronic Design and Electronic Redesign 101

Development of new electronic products is not an easy process. In fact, it can be downright daunting. It is crucial for a product design to be accurate in order for it to be manufactured error-free.

How PCB Design Can Affect the Cost of Your Build

There can be a big difference between cheap and low-cost. This is especially true when building printed circuit boards. While you don't want your PCB fabrication and assembly to break your budget, you don't want to cut corners so much that you compromise quality just to drive the cost down. Various factors can influence the price of a circuit board. Keeping these in mind as you develop your PCB can keep costs in check while maintaining the characteristics required of your board.

Save Money Without Sacrificing Quality on Your Next PCB Assembly

Cheap and high-quality are not typically easily interchangeable terms. This is especially true when it comes to PCB assembly. There are a lot of moving parts that must perfectly come together to create top-notch printed circuit boards. However, there are ways to cut costs without sacrificing the quality of your project. Many money-saving strategies come into play early on in the PCB development process. Choosing a smart design, along with a great manufacturing partner, can help you get more bang for your buck.

Benefits of an ECM with Redesigning Capabilities

An electronic contract manufacturer with redesigning capabilities just might be the ECM of your dreams. They can not only take a lot of work off your hands but can help take your project to the next level by upgrading and developing solutions to any flaws. From revamping a legacy product to replacing obsolete parts, an ECM with redesigning capabilities will prove invaluable to your PCB assembly.

The Importance of Quality Assurance in PCB Manufacturing

The quality of the finished product should always be your biggest concern when it comes to your PCB assembly and manufacturing. Undetected flaws during PCB manufacturing not only directly impact your boards, but could torpedo your entire project. You need to know the company you outsource your boards to takes quality seriously and follows strict PCB assembly quality control methods. You want an ECM with quality assurance measures already in place. This will ensure consistency and safety, as well as cut costs while earning you repeat business.

Avoid Counterfeit Electronic Components in Medical Device Manufacturing

Avoiding counterfeit electronic components is always important, but when these components are being used for medical device manufacturing, the need becomes even more crucial. If fake medical devices are on the market, it poses a danger to public health and patient safety.

How the Right EMS Partner Can Save You Money

Outsourcing is the right idea for many companies, especially when it comes to saving money. The right EMS partner can help your company throughout the lifecycle of your products and provide a distinct advantage when it comes to technology and engineering support.

Proactive Steps to Manage Parts Obsolescence

Parts obsolescence can be a problem in the PCB assembly industry. Obsolescence can be one of the greatest challenges for manufacturers. When an OCM decides to cease production of a component, that component is considered to be approaching obsolescence. This means that an OEM must decide whether to discontinue the product, find a new supplier, redesign the product, or put their obsolescence management system into action and negotiate with the supplier to complete the manufacture of their product.

Partnering with a Domestic ECM Saves Time

When trying to cut costs, you may consider partnering with an overseas electronic contract manufacturer. In truth, partnering with a domestic ECM can save you much more money in the long run. Instead of looking at the initial cost, consider all the advantages of partnering with a domestic ECM.

Advantages of Flex PCBA

Modern electronics require lightweight, yet durable, components. Heat, vibration, and moving parts will take its toll on traditional connections. Flexible printed circuit boards offer solutions to all these potential problems and more. Using flex PCBs are beneficial in many different applications and will work well in nearly every project. Before you outsource your next PCBA project, consider the advantages of incorporating flex circuits.

What Makes a Good Cable and Wire Harness Assembly Manufacturer?

Details matter when choosing the right cable and wire harness assembly manufacturer. The manufacturing equipment, the project team, and the capabilities the shop can provide all combine to make a successful product for your end user. A shop that doesn’t focus on the details can leave your design and assembly open to missteps.

Features of Experienced Electronic Medical Device Manufacturers

The medical device industry evolves at a rapid-fire pace. It must quickly adapt to new clinical needs, and, as part of that process, respond to fluctuating manufacturing demands. It is not an easy balance and as a result, more original equipment manufacturers are relying on partnerships with electronic medical device manufacturers. Med-Tech companies need their electronic medical device manufacturers to solve manufacturing problems they cannot solve on their own. This means manufacturing partners need to offer advanced medical manufacturing capabilities that only experienced ECM's can fulfill.

Benefits of Quality Control in Electronic Manufacturing Services

Quality control is always a top priority for electronic manufacturers. Having a process in place mitigates problems and prevents mistakes, defects, and flaws in manufactured products. It can also strongly influence an ECM’s reputation and overall business success. Top electronic contract manufacturing companies integrate quality control throughout the entire printed circuit board assembly process. ECM quality control matters when finding a partner to trust your manufacturing to. The right choice will not only use quality control to mitigate risk but will provide your company with several other benefits as a result of diligent management processes.

What is Your ECM’s Obsolescence Management Plan?

When a PCB ages, some components on the board may no longer be available for replacement if needed. Obsolescence is when your ECM or PCB has components that are past the point of repair or replacement, which can render an entire system dysfunctional. An obsolescence management plan will ensure that your product line is protected from this dysfunction, which will mitigate the need for a costly electronic redesign.

Not All Electronic Design and Manufacturing Services are the Same

Outsourcing electronic design and manufacturing services to an industry partner is a smart decision for many companies. Deciding who to partner with can be a more difficult decision. Not all electronic design and manufacturing services are the same. There are some companies to steer clear of, and some companies who will be excellent long-term partners for your business. Sorting out which is which can be challenging, but there are things you can look for to find the right partner for outsourcing your electronic design and manufacturing services to.

Benefits of Partnering with an EMS Provider

Outsourcing to an EMS provider may be one of the best decisions your company may make. There are many benefits to partnering with an EMS provider. Electronic manufacturing services (EMS) consist of companies that manufacture, test, distribute, and repair electronic components and assemblies for OEMs. Outsourcing is very popular today, and, when looking at all the benefits, it’s easy to see why.

Turnkey ECM for Successful Medical Device Development

Whether you are just breaking into medical device development or you are a long-standing company with an impeccable track record, sometimes you just need some extra hands to get a project off the ground. In these instances, working with a turnkey ECM could be the perfect solution. Turnkey electronic contract manufacturers can handle not only the manufacturing but also the design, engineering, and manufacturing for your cutting-edge medical device. A turnkey ECM can step in from initial concept or anywhere in the medical device development process and get it market-ready. Better yet, it is all done under one roof. Most electronic medical device companies that turn to turnkey solutions enjoy many advantages of the service, including saving valuable time and money.

Choose an ECM with Strong PCB Assembly Quality Control Standards

A top priority when choosing an ECM is quality control. When you choose an ECM with strong PCB assembly quality processes in place, you know you are choosing a partner who will help your company’s overall success.

7 Questions to Ask Printed Circuit Board Manufacturers Before Outsourcing

Outsourcing to the right printed circuit board manufacturer is important for product assembly. Choosing the right company to partner with can be challenging. The wrong partner can delay or even derail your project. When looking for a printed circuit board manufacturing partner, there are questions to ask to determine if the partner you’re considering is the right fit.

Trends in Outsourcing EMS Highlights Shift in Domestic Appeal

Over the last couple of years, an important trend in electronic contract manufacturing has emerged that bodes well for the United States. The movement is called "reshoring”, and it refers to companies here in the United States becoming much more interested in outsourcing EMS to a domestic partner. Looking overseas for manufacturing is no longer as viable as it has been in the recent past. There are a number of reasons for the shift, but the bottom line is that a combination of technological advances in automation, pro-business incentives, and workforce development are bringing home many of the jobs that were outsourced in the past.

Outsourcing Your Box Build Assembly to the Right ECM

Outsourcing box build assemblies is now a fairly common practice among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). But not all third party producers of printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA) are created equally. Finding just the right one for your outsourcing needs can make all the difference in your finished products. When selecting an electronic contract manufacturer (ECM), consider the reasons why you decided to outsource your PCBA project in the first place. Whether it was financial, lack of expertise, desire to integrate cutting-edge technology, or get help with the design, those should be the same reasons that guide you when it's time to pick a partner.

What to Expect from a Partnership in Electronic Manufacturing

Finding the right electronic manufacturing partner isn’t always easy. One of the biggest challenges is not knowing what you can expect from this partnership. What will a good electronic manufacturing partner offer you? What do you need from them? Looking for someone who fits you only for the short-term isn’t the best solution, so knowing what you are looking for in the long run and knowing what partners can provide can set you on the right path to finding someone who will fit your needs for years to come.

Key Factors in Choosing the Right Wire Harness Manufacturing Partner

A wire harness is a critical component in many types of electronic devices and finding the right wire harness manufacturing partner can make a big difference in the success of your project. If a wiring harness fails, the device it is in will either fail or be significantly degraded. Therefore, you must choose the right wire harness manufacturing partner. Finding the right partner for your build can be easier if you know what to look for.

Your Surface Mount Technology Questions Answered

When looking at Surface Mount Technology, or SMT, you may have questions about whether or not it is the right process for the job. If you are not sure which mount is right, looking at all the information about SMT may give you the answers you are looking for. What is Surface Mount Technology? Surface Mount Technology (SMT) helps reduce manufacturing costs and increase efficiency, making it possible to build highly complex electronic circuits in smaller assemblies with automated methods. SMT is an assembly and part packaging technology used to place and solder components to the surface directly.

Handling Parts Obsolescence with a Proactive Partner

Parts obsolescence is a huge issue that can quickly torpedo your printed circuit board assembly. Once a component needed for your build becomes difficult, or even impossible to find, your project can be plagued with problems. Obsolescence opens you up to: · Counterfeit components · Increased production costs · Shortened system life cycles · Costly redesigns Potential problems that can affect printed circuit board assemblies are why you need to be sure to partner with an ECM that tackles parts obsolescence proactively. It's not enough to react. Your ECM should have a solid obsolescence management plan from the start. This means there are obvious obsolescence mitigation strategies your ECM should already be aware of.

Outsourcing to an ECM is a Strategic Move

In today's manufacturing world, outsourcing is often a way of life for many companies. However, it is often viewed as a surrendering of sorts, like the admission that you need outside help to get the job done. In many instances, though, nothing could be further from the truth. For companies on the leading edge of technology and innovation, outsourcing is actually a strategic move that represents an advantage for the businesses that decide to pursue it. Far from admitting a weakness, outsourcing is a reinvestment in the strength of your company, and necessary to enabling growth.

Benefits of a Flexible Contract Manufacturing Partner

As recently as a decade ago, the outsourcing relationship between companies and their electronic contract manufacturer looked quite different. Instead of engaging in a symbiotic relationship, most were based on one holding an advantage over the other, usually in the areas of price. Both used costs as a way to drive their bottom line, instead of emphasizing the benefits each could offer each other. Relationships typically evolve over time, and today's outsourcing market looks very different. Fighting each other on pricing was nickel and diming both the OEM side and the ECM side to the bottom. In its stead, many companies have found new ways to work together that benefit both companies.

Expectations of a Robust ECM Supply Chain Management Process

A solid ECM will already have a counterfeit electronic component detection and avoidance plan in place. After all, a healthy supply chain is vital to your company's success, and your ECM knows that. You can't run the risk of any issues falling between the cracks. Meanwhile, counterfeit electronic components continue to be a big problem. This is why many are turning to electronic manufacturing partners for their expertise in supply chain management.

Understanding Parts Obsolescence in Avionics

As technology and innovation have advanced hand-in-hand, their speed has also increased. The old joke that your new computer was obsolete the moment you opened the box still stands decades after the personal computer industry began. Avionics has its own obsolescence issues, though the differences between the aerospace industry and your new laptop are obvious. While it’s easy to say they both include electronics, it’s feasible to run out and purchase a new laptop that takes advantage of new components and technology. That's not so easily done with a Boeing 737.

Debunking 7 Myths in Electronic Contract Manufacturing

Just like in any situation requiring teamwork, putting the right players around you can mean all the difference between success and failure. When it comes to choosing an electronic contract manufacturer (ECM), there are rarely shortcuts to finding the right company to partner with. That doesn't mean many haven't tried to distill the decision-making process down to some assumptions that either haven't been updated for today's world, or were just flat wrong to begin with. The bottom line is that finding the right ECM partner requires a good amount of research and thought.

OEMs Talk About Why They Outsource

Outsourcing makes a lot of sense in terms of efficiency, reduced costs, and perhaps most importantly, accessing specialized knowledge, abilities, and processes. While those that produce everything in-house like to hang their hat on it, there are a number of reasons why smart companies have opted to share production with specialized outside companies. In this age of innovation and technology, business moves at a speed never before seen in history. That has led to the proliferation of what some consider a dirty word - outsourcing. In today's marketplace, almost anything can be outsourced, from research and design to component manufacturing. These tasks can be handled by a trusted partner that offers certain benefits to your project.

Avoid Common Mistakes When Choosing an ECM Partner

The process of choosing an electronic contract manufacturer (ECM) can make or break your project depending on who you hire. The right manufacturing partner can be a dream come true. However, the wrong ECM can result in missed deadlines, faulty products, lots of frustrations, and worse - a tarnished reputation for you. When considering outsourcing, you want an ECM that makes your life easier and takes your project in the right direction. Here are some common mistakes in choosing a manufacturing partner and how you can avoid them.

Staying Ahead of Electronic Component Shortages

The biggest contributing factor behind the electronic component shortages is simply demand out-weighing supply. If you’ve found yourself stressed about the global electronic component shortage, you are not alone. The situation is becoming even harder to navigate. However, just because there’s a shortage doesn’t mean you can’t get ahead of the game. You need to know what factors are causing it and what the scope of the global effects are. It’s time to rethink your strategy. The process starts by working together with your electronic contract manufacturing partner.

Common Applications for Multilayer Printed Circuit Boards

More and more is expected from printed circuit boards as technology evolves. There is demand for smaller, lighter, and more powerful PCBs for a wide variety of applications. Enter multilayer printed circuit boards. Multilayer PCBs are a game changer for electronic manufacturers. These compact boards' dense design allow for electronics to pack a powerful punch in a tiny footprint.

Is Your Electronic Manufacturing Partner Ready For Your Project?

You have a lot of choices when it comes to partnering with an electronic contract manufacturer. So, how do you know the electronic contract manufacturer (ECM) you choose will be ready for the challenge of your project? The best way to avoid partnering with an ECM who isn’t capable of successfully managing and manufacturing your product is by looking for indicators that DO make them the right choice.

Partnering with a Domestic ECM Can Save You Money

There seems to be a common thought that partnering with an overseas electronic contract manufacturer can save you money. That misconception is just that...and far from the truth. In fact, partnering with a domestic ECM can save you much more money in the long run. There is a long list of reasons, all of which should have you looking here at home in the good old US of A for your next manufacturing partner.

Quality Assurance Matters When Partnering With an ECM

More and more companies are turning to outsourced manufacturing to save money and reduce time to market. But outsourcing to an electronic contract manufacturer should not equal compromising your commitment to quality. Quality control can be a big indicator of whether or not you have found the right company to trust your manufacturing to. After all, quality assurance matters when partnering with an ECM.

Understanding the "Why" Behind Parts Obsolescence in Medical Device Manufacturing

It is no secret that parts obsolescence is a major concern in the electronic industry. But the problem of obsolete and hard to find components seems to be compounded when it comes to medical device manufacturing. Medical device manufacturing comes with its own unique set of qualifications. The concern with parts obsolescence for electronic medical devices is equally as unique. But in order to begin to combat the problem, you must first fully understand it.

An ECM Should Focus on More Than Assembly

Electronics is one of the largest global industries in the world. Its continued growth has many original equipment providers (OEMs) turning to solution providers that offer industry expertise and experience. This allows them to focus on research and development while a contractor takes over manufacturing. Electronic Contract Manufacturers (ECMs) provide a wide range of value-added engineering and manufacturing outsourcing services to OEMs. They are a partner that can handle as much or as little of your project as you need them to. But the relationship needs to be more than just someone doing a job they are hired to do. You need an ECM that will anticipate your needs so manufacturing runs smoothly no matter what.

What to Expect from an Experienced ECM Project Manager

Sometimes it is tempting to tackle project management by committee in an attempt to save a few bucks. While it might seem like a good idea at the time, it may cost you missed deadlines, a blown budget, inferior products, and a lot of frustration in the long run. Solid project management is an investment that just makes sense. An experienced ECM project manager will work together with your company to learn about your requirements and understand the nuances of your product. They bridge manufacturing, design, and engineering services throughout the ECM process, and can mean the difference between a winning project and a big flop.

7 Questions to Ask When Choosing the Right ECM for Your Next Project

Finding the right electronic contract manufacturer (ECM) to partner with on your next project isn't always as easy as it sounds. You need someone you can trust to accurately and competitively manufacture your electronic device. So, how do you know which ECM is right for you? There are some key factors that need to be looked at to ensure success. Here are seven questions to ask when searching for an ECM for your next project:

Benefits of a Domestic Turnkey ECM for Your Rigid-Flex PCB

Turnkey manufacturing is the smart choice for printed circuit board development and manufacturing. And partnering with a domestic turnkey ECM for your rigid-flex PCB is a great way to go. Instead of outsourcing various stages of your PCBs to multiple locations - and possibly different countries - turnkey manufacturing is a one-stop-shop. This full-service manufacturing process provides everything you need when it comes to manufacturing and supply chain services. This includes design, fabrication, installation, aftermarket support, and technical support. Domestic turnkey manufacturing gives you the expertise and service of multiple contractors under one roof and comes with a multitude of benefits for your rigid-flex PCB project.

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:

The Importance of PFMEA in Electronic Contract Manufacturing

In any manufacturing process, there are bound to be issues. From design to prototype to manufacturing, problems can arise, and the failure to address them early can cost you in both time and money. To best mitigate issues like this, implement the Process Failure Mode Effects Analysis (PFMEA) to help streamline your approach.

Flex Circuit vs. Rigid Circuit: Which is Right for Your Project?

Gone are the days when a printed circuit board was only available as a rigid board that allowed for minimal design versatility. The introduction of flexible PCBs into electronic manufacturing has opened up limitless design possibilities. While using the cutting edge technology of a flex circuit seems extremely appealing, sometimes utilizing a traditional rigid board might be better. Which one you use for your project will vary based on a number of considerations, including the end application.

Obsolete Parts is the Great Vulnerability in a Supply Chain

Counterfeits are everywhere. The electronic industry is particularly vulnerable. Electronic technology is rapidly changing, and sometimes it is hard for companies to keep up. The need to regularly source parts or complete a rapid redesign due to parts obsolescence only increases the risk of fakes making their way into your product. It may seem like an uphill battle, but taking time to employ stricter counterfeit electronic component detection and avoidance methods could be the key to ensuring high-quality in your next project.

Management of Parts Obsolescence in the Medical Device Industry

Parts obsolescence is already a big problem in the electronic industry. The fast pace of medical device development only compounds the trouble of hard to source components. Technology--especially medical technology--moves forward rapidly. And, in some cases, parts become obsolete before the final product is even finished. Essential parts become impossible to source. However, this does not mean your cutting-edge medical device has reached a dead end. Finding the right medical device contract manufacturing partner can do a lot to mitigate the issue of parts obsolescence.

Your Guide to Flex PCB Types

The electronics industry is constantly evolving. There is a constant demand for products to do more in a much smaller package. Luckily, technology in the form of a flexible printed circuit board allows this to happen. Flexible PCBs are designed for saving room and allowing for a smaller and higher density mounting design. Because they can bend, fold, twist, and change in width, flexible circuit boards provide some major benefits over traditional rigid boards. This includes the ability to fit circuits into tight spaces with almost unlimited design freedom.

Parts Obsolescence Continues to Cause Headaches in Electronic Manufacturing

The electronic manufacturing industry has been battling the problem of parts obsolescence for decades. In an environment where the lifecycle of a component is shorter than the lifecycle of a product, part shortages lead to other headaches. Counterfeit electronic components entering the supply chain is one of the biggest issues resulting from hard-to-source parts. Manufacturers often find themselves scrambling to obtain parts, and when this happens it makes them particularly vulnerable. The key to combat this is by making sure steps are in place to minimize risks by practicing counterfeit electronic component detection and avoidance.

Benefits of a Flexible Printed Circuit Board Design

Rigid printed circuit boards are just fine for a number of applications, but depending on how you choose to utilize the PCBs, you may need to take it to the next level. That's when flexible PCBs enter the picture - they give you the ability to really custom-tailor your next PCB project, moving innovation and design forward.

The Impact of Counterfeit Parts in the Aerospace and Defense Industry

Government supply chains are constantly under siege by counterfeit parts. Over the last decade, even through vigilant efforts, there has been a marked increase in the number of counterfeit parts found in everything from aerospace to defense electronics. It's not that nothing was being done about the problem. Instead, counterfeit parts became harder to detect, as well as becoming more sophisticated. The danger they posed to government contractors and end-users became no less intense.

How to Choose the Right Cable Assembly Company for Your Project

The electronic industry comes with a lot of choices. Choosing the right manufacturer to partner with on a project shouldn't be a stressful situation. Sure, there is a wide variety of custom cable assemblies and cable assembly manufacturers to select from. You need a contractor that will not just meet your needs, but also considers quality, cost, production time, and reducing the chance of cable defects into the job. Here are some things to look for when choosing the right cable assembly company for your project.

Prevent Counterfeit Parts in Your Aerospace Supply Chain

When you think about counterfeits, naturally your mind turns to fake $100 bills or pirated DVDs. Counterfeit goods can be produced to replicate anything of value, however, and show up wherever there is money to be made in their trafficking. Counterfeit goods are always an imitation of the original, in all things but quality. When counterfeit parts make it into the supply chain, they lead to significant degradation of quality overall.

What are the Differences Between ISO9001 and AS9100?

Spend enough time around ECMs and you are sure to see terms like ISO9001 or AS9100 pop up. ECMs that have earned those certifications follow rigorous standards for quality, but you may have wondered what those certifications stand for, and why it matters.

Outsource Your Medical Device Manufacturing with Confidence

Over the last decade, the medical device industry has experienced exponential growth. However, as the market has grown, there have been a number of factors driving costs and expenses up as well. Staying on the cutting edge of the industry also means maintaining profitability. Increasingly, more and more companies are turning to outsourcing to stay flexible in an exploding field.

Exploring the Difference Between Cable Assemblies and Wire Harnesses

To the layperson, cable assemblies and wire harnesses sound like the same thing. The fact that the terms get thrown around interchangeably by those in the know contribute to the confusion. But while the two share many similarities, there is a difference. The basic differences between the two come down to what they are built for. One exists for purely organizational simplicity, while the other is designed to offer more protection from the environment. There are other more technical differences as well.

Benefits of Custom Cable Assembly

When a generic cable assembly isn’t fitting your needs perfectly, it may be time for you to consider stepping up to a custom cable assembly that is designed, engineered, and manufactured for your specific needs. There are a number of advantages to going the custom-design route, and all of them bring benefits to your project.

How Important is Functional Testing in PCB Manufacturing?

After all the designing, testing, simulating, and prototyping, there's one last step before PCBs go to assembly. In a field where error testing and stomping out defects is a never ending quest for perfection, functional testing represents the last opportunity to get things just right.

How Counterfeit Parts Affect Your Printed Circuit Boards

In our ever-evolving technological world, we put our lives in the hands of many different electronic components every day. Modes of transportation, our home electronics, and even our office and work spaces are often in the hands of all types of electronics. We may never give their performance a second thought, but would you feel different if you knew they contained counterfeit parts?

Benefits of Prototyping Your Government Cable Assembly

When dealing with government cable assembly manufacturing, there's no room for surprises. That's why our experienced design and engineering team at Levison Enterprises puts your assembly design through rigorous testing and prototyping. One of Levison's advantages as a one-stop-shop for all your custom cable assemblies is that we see the process through from beginning to end. There's no third party assembly or design team.

Benefits of Full-Service Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies

If you are in electronic manufacturing, you know how important the right components can be to your finished product. If the backbone of your manufactured goods aren't strong, your reputation is on the line. That's why having a cable and wire harness assembly partner you can trust is so important. Having a rock-solid partner to handle your ECM needs frees you to worry about other things more important of your time.

What to Look for in a Government Cable Assembly Manufacturing Partner

When you've got a government cable assembly project on the horizon, the pressure is on. Obviously, a job of that magnitude is not going to be handled by some cable off the rack at your local DIY home improvement store. Finding the right partner to help you design, prototype, and manufacture the cable assembly has to know what they are doing, with the proper certifications to back up their claims. It can be a tricky process, but it's easy to alleviate that stress when you know what to look for in a government cable assembly manufacturer.

The Importance of Quality Control for Your Government Cable Assembly

Cable and wire assemblies are the backbone of any electronic application. If you are outsourcing cable and wire harness assemblies for government applications, there can be no substitute for quality and reliability. Simply put, your electronic components have to be rock-solid and ready to go when needed. For that reason alone, it's important to find a manufacturer that understands supply-chain management, and why it's important. Your cable assembly and electrical component demand nothing less.

How to Find a Reliable ECM for Your Aerospace PCB

For those who didn't see it live on television, the moon landing feels like a long time ago. However, it's recent history as far as the technology surrounding electricity and the bending of it to our will is concerned. Since the 1950s, the aerospace industry has made leaps and bounds forward, and all those leaps have been powered by advances in printed circuit board technology.

Building Robust Cable Assemblies for Military and Aerospace Applications

Robust cables are the heart of all sophisticated military electronic systems. Without them, military aircraft and troops in the desert could not maintain stable communication required to make every mission a success. The military needs cable assemblies as tough as the troops. More robust materials, such as insulations and jackets, are required for military applications. Unfortunately, not all cable assembly manufacturers understand this.

Counterfeit Awareness in Military Cable Assembly and Manufacturing

Counterfeit parts continue to threaten the security of the military. As counterfeit electronic component detection and avoidance measures are increasingly tightened by electronic manufacturers, counterfeiters are developing new ways to work fake parts into the supply chain.

How On-Site Engineers Impact Your Military Electronic Assembly

Current estimates show about one-third of military defense spending is for electronics. This means companies that provide military grade electronic assemblies must be on top of their game if they are to provide reliable, long-lasting electronic assemblies that meet the standards of aerospace and military. You don't want to trust just any electronic contract manufacturer with your turnkey electronic assembly. You will know you are working with the right company if they have on-site engineers. When an ECM employs engineers who are in-house, it can mean a big difference between just a finished product and a robust product that is ready for battle.

What to Look for in a Government PCB Manufacturing Partner

A lot of time, energy, and resources go into the design and development of an electronic product for government, military, and aerospace applications. Say you've reached a critical phase in development and you need an ECM you can trust. You don't want to leave anything to chance. But who can you trust for your all-important PCB manufacturing? You want an electronic contract manufacturer (ECM) that will not only meet your expectations but exceed them. Here are some things to look for when choosing a PCB manufacturing partner for your government project.

How to Combat Counterfeit Parts in Your Government PCB Assembly

The world of counterfeit electronic parts is a multibillion-dollar industry that doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. It is a problem the Department of Defense has been battling for years. Counterfeit components put military personnel and missions at risk. In an effort to mitigate this risk, the DOD has strict regulations in place for government and military electronic suppliers. This means you must be vigilant when it comes to the assembly of your printed circuit boards. Luckily, with extra time and effort, and choosing the right contract manufacturer, you can combat counterfeit parts in your government PCB assembly.

Design Considerations for Military and Aerospace PCB Assembly

In today's technologically advanced world, almost everything is made better, smaller, and more durable through the use of printed circuit boards, or PCBs. You'll find them in televisions, computers, stereos, digital clocks, microwaves, and even cell phones.

Employee Spotlight Mark Visetchaisi

Here at Levison Enterprises, we consider ourselves lucky to have the staff we have. We owe a great part of our success to the hard work of everyone involved with our business. Our company just wouldn't be the same without employees like Mark Visetchaisi, who joined our family here at Levison Enterprises this year as a Quality Manager and has already contributed significantly to our efforts and to our culture.

Is Your ECM Capable of Military Grade Cable Assembly?

Cables aren't usually the first thing that comes to mind when you think of military electronics. However, defense devices are useless without a way to power them. Enter the cable assembly. They can be used or anything from military ground equipment and field communication links to remote weapons control links and marine and airborne systems.

What Makes PCB Assembly for Defense and Military Unique?

Not all assembly of printed circuit boards is created equal. Different markets need to be handled differently. Such is the case for military PCB assembly. The nature of war is changing and the tools soldiers use in the battlefield must keep up. The PCBs must be as rugged and durable as the military personnel who use them. This means there are a lot of considerations that must be kept in mind during the PCB assembly process for defense and military.

Fast Isn't Always Better - What's Really Important in PCB Manufacturing

Not all contractors are created equal when it comes to PCB manufacturing. Many electronic contract manufacturers will make big promises of quick turnaround and cost savings. But sometimes making good on these promises causes assembly and fabrication services to suffer. That could lead to more unnecessary costs, missed deadlines, and major frustration. You want to work with someone who will get it right the first time. Look at the big picture when considering an ECM to partner with for your PCB manufacturing. Keeping in mind what's most important will lead you to the right ECM for your project.

Avoid Delays in Your Military Cable Assembly Manufacturing Project

In this modern world, there are few guarantees. The high performance level of military-grade cable assemblies is one thing you have to be able to count on, as well as a company’s ability to deliver on time and on-spec for your cable assembly project.

Turnkey Aerospace Electronic Manufacturing Saves Time and Money

Sometimes you need a quick turnaround. Or, maybe you just want the convenience of sticking with one contractor for your aerospace electronic assembly. No matter the reason, turnkey electronic Assembly might be the right fit. Think of it as a one-stop-shop for circuit-board assembly. Your turnkey ECM takes care of the entire process, including obtaining components, continuous quality monitoring, and final assembly.

Employee Spotlight- Kay Seiple

At Levison Enterprises, we strongly believe that our success is driven by the hard work of our employees. It's why we like to take the time to give credit where credit is due. Today, we would like to shine a light on Kay Seiple, a production manager here at Levison Enterprises who has been with us since the very beginning.

5 Factors That Influence Military and Aerospace PCB Design

Aerospace and military grade printed circuit boards must be as tough and reliable are these who use them in the field. There is no room for error when you are counted on to be mission ready. This makes PCB assembly and manufacturing for military unique. Knowledge and understanding of what must be done to create circuit board with high reliability that contributes to the long service life of electronic products under extreme conditions is a must. Therefore, it's important to find an electronic contract manufacturer that has the quality standards, certifications, and experience to handle the demands of these kind of projects.

Does Your ECM Have the Technical Knowhow to Handle Your Project?

You're looking for an ECM with the ability to take your project from idea to consumer's hands. How do you know if an ECM will provide quality work on time? After all, your project’s success depends on it. An ECM with sub-par technical chops opens you up to defective and generally poor-quality products. You need an electronic contract manufacturer that can do it all - a turnkey PCB assembly. So, what sets a turnkey operation above the rest?

Is Your ECM Robust Enough to Build for the Military?

Tough, accurate, rugged, precise - these are all words that come to mind when talking about the military. But how do they translate to military grade electronic assemblies? Only the most tenacious ECM with a mastery of electronic assembly can live up to unique military standards and deliver a product with proven precision. Military grade electronic assemblies go into products that are put through their paces in demanding environments on land, in the air, and at sea. They need to have outstanding functionality. They must also be compatible with developing technology. Is your ECM ready for the challenge?

What is Supply Chain Management and Why is it Important to Your ECM?

Sometimes it's hard to fully understand and appreciate what goes on behind the scenes to get a PCB off the drawing board and into a product. Supply chain management is one such element of PCB development that can be easily overlooked. It's an essential part of manufacturing as a whole; one that directly impacts your project's success. Your supply chain is the foundation. PCB parts are required for your product. A strong supply chain will make or break the manufacturing process —and ultimately your bottom line. Supply chain management should be important to your ECM. If it's not, maybe you need a new ECM.

Benefits of a Domestic Medical Device Contract Manufacturing Partner

For years, medical device companies relied heavily on overseas manufacturers for production. There is a long-standing thought that you could save a lot of money by relying on foreign manufacturers for medical device contract manufacturing. However, that is not necessarily the case. With the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tightening regulatory standards and the US government's trade war with China, the med-tech industry is increasingly turning its eye to domestic electronic manufacturing services. Many companies are now finding that they are getting more than just manufacturing when hiring a domestic contractor. They are getting a true partner and all of the added benefits that come with that relationship.

Rely on Turnkey ECM for Quick Turn PCB Assembly

You have a killer concept for an amazing product. The printed circuit boards you need are the backbone of your project’s success. But mistakes along the PCB assembly process can quickly lead to its downfall. So why are you letting it bounce between multiple contractors? You've heard that too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the soup, right? The same thing can happen when using several different ECMs, and your quick-turn project becomes anything but quick. You just might spend more time fixing errors with too many hands on the project. Turnkey PCB assembly can help.

Avoid Delays in Your Next PCB Prototype

Mistakes happen. It’s a fact of life. But many are avoidable, especially when it comes to your PCB prototype. A simple oversight can delay your whole project. If you get behind while building a circuit board, the issue can quickly snowball, and your entire project timeline can become derailed. The problems can continue to compound. So, it’s best to stay on track from the get-go. To do this, you need to avoid the most common pitfalls that cause PCB prototype delays.

How Design Impacts PCB Manufacturing Process

PCB design is a complex process. Careful considerations, down to the tiniest detail, must be made. All of your design choices will affect one or more stages of the PCB manufacturing process. This includes everything from shape and size to what type of drill hole technology you use. Failing to pay attention to how your design will affect the PCB fabrication process can take weeks of work right down the drain as you go back to the drawing board for a redesign. To keep everything on track, it is important to truly understand the PCB manufacturing process from beginning to end so you make the best possible design choices right from the start.

Employee Spotlight: Mary Domonkos

Here at Levison Enterprises, we like to take time to focus on the people who help drive the success of our company -- our employees. Today, we would like to shine the spotlight on Mary Domonkos. Mary oversees our cable and wire harness assembly department as the department manager and is actively involved with the production area where she performs assembly for units and harnesses ordered by our customers.

Is Turnkey PCB Manufacturing Right for You?

The PCB manufacturing process can be pretty involved. At times, upwards of 11 physical prototypes could be required before moving forward with production. This means the traditional approach to PCB board manufacturing can be pretty slow because it wasn't designed for prototypes and small batch runs. It can also be expensive and prone to errors. Enter turnkey PCB manufacturing.

Are Electronic Assembly Certifications and Testing Really Necessary?

When you set out to create a product, you want it to be the best. You aim for quality, not just a passable product. So why settle for simply adequate when it comes to electronic assembly manufacturing? Certifications and testing are crucial to making sure your product delivers. Settling for less than that just won't do. You want an electronics manufacturing partner that will put your product through its paces.

4 Tips to Save You Money On Your Electronic Assembly

Advances in technology are driving up the demand for more efficient and accurate test and measurement capabilities. Some test and measurement suppliers need help keeping up. That's why they are outsourcing to sophisticated electronic assembly and manufacturing partners. Working with a contract manufacturer for electronics manufacturing services comes with an added bonus. It can save you money. Here is how:

Benefits of Reverse Engineering in Test and Measurement Contract

Manufacturing quality counts when it comes to test and measurement instruments. Technology is constantly evolving and improving, which allows for even more accurate products. Perhaps your devices need an upgrade. Or maybe you just need to increase the speed and accuracy of your instruments. If so, there is no need to go back to the drawing board.

An Electronics Manufacturing Service Can Save You Time and Money

Outsourcing has become the way of life for original equipment manufacturers. A third-party electronics manufacturing services partner (EMS) handles assembly of circuit boards and other electronic devices leaving you to focus on the big picture of your project. A manufacturing partner can streamline your production process and dramatically cut costs. Here are some examples of how you can save time and money with an electronics manufacturing services partner:

Electronics Manufacturing Services for the Food Industry

Quality and safety are of the utmost importance to the food manufacturing industry. Failure of process standards for contamination control could result in sickness for hundreds or thousands of people or even lead to someone's death. Needless to say, there are strict standards in place. And you should expect the same when it comes to electronics manufacturing services.

Finding the Right ECM for Your Digital Food Testing Device

Food-borne illness is a serious matter. Maintaining cleanliness, sanitization, and contamination control in a food processing plant is challenging even under perfect conditions. According to the CDC, food-borne illnesses and infections are a big public health problem in the United States. However, changes in food testing to detect harmful bacteria can curb that. Unfortunately, the modern way of testing isn't so modern. That is why more and more companies are turning to digital solutions, and allowing technology to lend a hand in food quality control and inspections.

Benefits of an EMS Manufacturing Partnership

Companies are always looking to get an edge on the competition and improve their bottom line. As technology evolves, you may not have the proper resources you need to competitively get a new product from concept to market. You may need to consider turning to an outside electronics manufacturer.

Food Safety Testing: How An Electronics Manufacturing Partner Can Help

There were 20.55 million food products recalled in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This has food processing companies struggling to battle food-borne illnesses. High-tech food safety testing is their best defense. The rapidly evolving world of electronics helps with the accuracy of detection and measuring devices needed to meet and maintain food quality standards.

Use an Engineering Consultant To Take Your Product To Next Level

You’re really good at what you do, you’ve got a sweet product that you are so close to taking to the next level, but you’re stuck. Stuck in design, stuck in function, STUCK. You need some new ideas to move your product forward. Consider using an electronics engineer to breathe new life into your design.

Electronics Troubleshooting Hacks With On-Site Engineers

In the world of Murphy’s Law, if it can go wrong, it will. If your mechanical assembly needs an electronic assembly inside, you really want an electronic contract manufacturer with engineering on staff to help with your electronics troubleshooting. On-site engineering means someone is ready to tackle your PCB repair challenge at a moment's notice. But, it goes beyond that. When your ECM has engineers standing by, there will be solutions to issues you didn't even realize could pose a problem.

Getting the Most Out of Box Build Assembly

It is common for electronic manufacturers to partner with multiple ECMs for a project. One may handle design, another for the printed circuit, and yet another ECM for the final assembly. However, sometimes it makes sense to keep your product all in one place from perfecting your design all the way through to a product being placed in the hands of a consumer. In some cases, a box build assembly can be the perfect solution for a company up against a deadline. A box build could increase quality, reliability, performance, productivity, and manufacturability by keeping a few key features in mind.

PCBA Optimization In 4 Simple Steps

When you outsource assembly of your printed circuit boards, you want the most bang for your buck. You want a high quality product done right, the first time. You want to be efficient, so your PCBs are completed in a timely fashion. And you want your product to go from your drawing board to your ECM's assembly line with as little headaches as possible. PCB assembly, or PCBA, done right is a seamless collaboration between you and your contract manufacturer. Steps taken early on can optimize the entire PCBA process.

5 Advantages To Using SMT

The old saying "bigger is better" just isn't accurate in the world of electronics. This is especially true when it comes to surface-mount technology (SMT.) SMT places components directly onto the surface of a printed circuit board in order to create a circuit. It has become a preferred method of creating circuits in the electronics industry. Both surface mount technology and through-hole can be used on the same PCB. However, in many cases, SMT versions of through-hole PCB designs can be produced. Surface mount technology can make a big impact on design and development. Here are some of the advantages of using SMT:

5 Warning Signs Design Engineers Should Look For in an ECM Partnership

The right electronic contract manufacturer with the right team and the right tools will successfully serve all of your needs from prototype to production. After all, electronic contract manufacturing plays an important role in industries around the world. However, the relationship with your ECM can be a lot like any other relationship. When it’s good, it’s good, but when it is bad it is really BAD. Here are some warning signs that will make you pull off those ECM rose-colored glasses.

7 Common Features of a Box Build Assembly

Many electronics manufacturers work with multiple vendors on projects. They source components from one company. Another ECM handles sub-assembly. Yet another partner tackles the final assembly. This can waste valuable time and money. Plus, little bits of your quality can fall between the cracks.

The Top 5 Reasons Mechanical Engineers Should Reconsider Their ECM

Sometimes we find the best quick fix, and then stay because we know it’s currently working. But what if there is something better out there for you? Working with the right electronic contract manufacturer can mean the difference between your project being a huge success or a big flop. While outsourcing is a way of life for electronic manufacturers, working with the wrong ECM is at the root of many problems. Here are some ideas to help you figure out if you’re really getting the best deal from your current ECM.

PCB Component Factors That Are Driving Up Your Electronic Assembly Quote

The cost of electronic assembly can vary as much as the design of a printed circuit board (PCB.) Most think the cost is driven by the availably of the multitude of components needed for PCB assembly. While that may be an influence, there are a whole host of other factors that comes into play too. Add them all together and your costs can skyrocket. Component shortages are real, but here are some other factors that may be driving up the cost of your PCB.

Employee Spotlight-Steve Bishop

Here at Levison Enterprises, we enjoy a reputation as not just a quality electronic manufacturer, but as a company that goes the extra mile to provide our customers with the service they deserve.

What Comes First in Your PCB Development

As you develop your printed circuit board, it is important to know the way PCB manufacturing works. You can waste a lot of time and run into trouble early in your PCB development process without a clear view of the PCB manufacturing industry. There is a lot of labor and machining that go together to take your board from design to a fully fabricated product.

Electronics Manufacturing Companies: What Services Do They Provide?

There is never any shame in asking for help. This is especially true in the manufacturing field. An expert hand guiding your electronics can give your product a leg up on your competitors. Electronic Manufacturing companies exist to assist original equipment manufacturers with designing, testing, building, and distributing electronic components.

Mechanical Engineering Firms Need an Electronics Manufacturing Partner

As a mechanical engineer, you create some pretty cool stuff. But does any of that stuff have electronic components? Have you just been winging it? Don't play DIY with your electronics manufacturing. You may have been lucky up to this point, but it could burn you if your electronics project goes boom.

Avoiding 3 Common Problems During PCB Manufacturing Process

PCB manufacturing isn’t rocket science, but it does take some attention to detail. The design and quality of printed circuit boards directly affect how well the boards work in the final product. Designing and manufacturing PCBs can be a complex process. There is a risk of PCB failure as a result of oversights while a project is prepped for production. Luckily, most issues can be avoided by being aware of the most common PCB manufacturing problems. Being aware of these issues and the best ways to prevent them can save you from a PCB catastrophe.

PCB Development: The 5 Step Process

Printed circuit boards have come a long way. PCB evolution has led to so much innovation that you can find boards in everything from the simplest electronics in children's toys to sleek, cutting edge smart phones. But the PCBs for these projects don't magically appear. There is an entire PCB development process that occurs before you can even start manufacturing the final product, and there could be lots of lag time in between.

Employee Spotlight - Dwindal Webb

Every once in a while, we like to shine a spotlight on the people that have helped to make Levison Enterprises so successful and who continue to help drive our company forward. Today, we want to introduce you to Dwindal Webb, who works for us as a buyer material planner. It's employees like Dwindal that help to maintain and build our reputation as a trustworthy, reliable, and high-quality electronic manufacturing partner.

6 Things That Might Be Missing From Your Medical Device Electronics Design

An effective medical device design addresses a medical need and offers a solution. It is also compliant with healthcare regulatory mandates and delivers functionalities that satisfy the end user’s needs. However, electronic medical devices are only as useful as their design dictates. Before the manufacturing of your medical device, it’s a good idea to have a Design for Manufacturability (DFM) analysis done on your electronic design to make sure it’s optimized for manufacturing.

Seamlessly Outsource Your PCB Design to a Box Build Manufacturer

Many electronics companies require a contract manufacturer for not only their printed circuit board assembly but also the final assembly of their innovative products. In some cases a box build assembly can be the perfect solution. A box build is a systems integration that includes all electromechanical assembly housed in an enclosure. They can be used in a wide array of applications, and can range from small and simple to large and complicated. A box build can be the perfect turnkey solution for all your outsourcing needs. Once you have decided this is the route for your next project, there are some simple steps to seamlessly transition your design to a box build manufacturer.

What Is A Box Build In Electronics Manufacturing?

Not all electronics projects are created equal. Neither should the assembly. Luckily, you have options. A box build is a fairly recent development in electronics manufacturing. For complete systems integration, a box build may be the right option for your next project.

Features Of A Partnership With An Electronics Manufacturer

When you are looking to partner up with an electronics manufacturer, you need more than someone to simply do a production run. You need someone you can trust to offer customized solutions to create a successful product. A production partner should be someone you can count on to be as dedicated to your assembly and manufacturing as you are. You and your CM must operate as a team. With that in mind, there are some characteristics you can count on to let you know if an electronics manufacturer is worthy of being considered as your project partner.

Find An Engineering Partner For Your Medical Device

You’re a chemical engineering or mechanical engineering firm and are tasked with creating the next big medical device. You’re already working on the design and interface, but there are electronics inside your design. Maybe you dabble. Maybe you know a guy. Maybe you took a few classes in school. But is that the knowledge you can trust to develop what could become the next big medical device breakthrough?

5 Reasons Why Your Engineering Firm Needs Electronic Manufacturing

It is hard to trust just anyone with a project you and your team have spent countless hours designing and developing. But outsourcing your electronic manufacturing could be a major advantage for your engineering firm. Here is one way to look at it. You wouldn't trust a dentist to diagnose you with a heart valve problem, right? A dentist and a cardiologist are both doctors. But they focus on different specialties. Electronic manufacturing should work the same way. Partnering with a great ECM allows you to focus on developing products. Let the ECM focus on production. And manufacturing is not just about keeping the line moving. There are a lot of reasons your engineering firm needs electronic manufacturing.

Optimize Your PCB Electronics With A Prototype

Prototyping is an important stage of PCB electronics design. Why leave it to chance? Your staff already has enough to do. They do not need to take on duties typically handled by an electronic engineer. Your product deserves better, too. Don't just dabble in prototyping. Retain the services on an ECM who has an engineering staff to support you and your product.

Keeping Production with the ECM Who Does Your Electronics Prototyping

The world of electronics, prototyping and manufacturing can be a complicated place. Some companies choose to have one ECM do a prototype and another do the production run. While some believe this is a smart move, there are many benefits associated with hiring a company that does everything under one roof. It is possible to save significant money and time by starting with an ECM who does prototypes in house and can also handle your production run. After all, you already trust their prototyping skills; why not also trust their assembly?

An Electronic Prototype Will Optimize Your Design

Prototyping is an important stage of product development. This useable representation of your design allows you to understand your product. The working model allows you to test various design features, verify design functionality and identify issues as early as possible within the development stage. Prototyping is often well worth the time, effort, and investment. If done well, the prototyping process will allow the design to be completely optimized before full production occurs. This will not only save you time and money, but guarantee you will deliver a dynamite product.

7 Ways To Reduce Your Labor Costs During PCBA Manufacturing

Labor cost can add up to the biggest part of your PCBA manufacturing budget. So how do you cut costs without sacrificing the quality of your project? It is actually easier than it seems. It all starts with finding the right electronic contract manufacturer to partner with in order to create your printed circuit boards on a budget.

Lost In Translation: Electronic Design For Manufacturing

PCBs can get lost in translation between the designer and the manufacturer. What may look like an amazing design on paper may be difficult, costly, or even impossible to actually make. It’s important that your design for manufacturing analysis (DFM) is taken into consideration.

5 Tips to Optimize Your PCB Design for Manufacturability

You and your team work hard to bring a product to market. However, overlooking one tiny detail can mean the difference between a printed circuit board’s success and sending your PCB back to the drawing board. A Design for Manufacturability (DFM) analysis will take the worry out of the process. Performing DFM before production starts is proven to save time and money by making sure your design meets the requirements of manufacturing processes to actually produce the PCB.

Medical Device Manufacturing: How To Stay Competitive

Industry demand has kept most medical device manufacturers engaged in a constant battle to stay on top of the growing medical device manufacturing market. However, the industry is splitting.

Reverse Engineering is Important To Your Legacy Electronic Assembly

Your legacy product has served you well. But is it time for an update? Bringing your legacy assembly up to speed with current and future technology doesn't mean going back to the drawing board. When the designs are no longer available, reverse engineering might be the solution you’re looking for. With reverse engineering you can have your ECM figure out exactly how your legacy components work and start looking for ways to update that technology for the future.

Top Traits for Your Next Medical Device Manufacturer

The medtech industry is constantly changing. Technology evolves at a rapid pace and companies are working hard to keep up. The pressure is on to bring new and improved medical devices to market to revolutionize healthcare and to better (or save) lives. At the same time, companies need to improve efficiency and keep costs low. That is why finding the right medical device contract manufacturing partner is so important. You want a medical device contract manufacturer who cares as much about your product as you do and can stick to your budget. So, it is important to consider several top traits of a CM while searching for your next partner.

3 Questions To Ask Before Outsourcing Your Medical Device Manufacturing

Rapid technology growth and evolution is revolutionizing the healthcare industry, and your company is leading the way to groundbreaking patient treatments. But you can't do it alone. When considering outsourcing production of your medical device, there is a lot you need to consider when talking to medical device contract manufacturers.

What Is Medical Device Contract Manufacturing?

As Baby Boomers age, and technology advances the ways in which consumers interact with medical care, medical device manufacturing is seeing new growth. Demand for new and improved medical devices continues to grow, meaning more demand for medical device manufacturers. When demand gets high and changes are happening quickly, contract manufacturing always has an important role to play. This will be and is true especially in medical device contract manufacturing.

Outsourcing Your Medical Device Prototype

Prototyping is a crucial part of designing a new medical device. Without it you will never know if your idea is viable. Of course, creating a prototype is easier said than done. Today most medical device companies prefer to hire another company to breathe life into their designs. Outsourcing your medical device prototype can bring many benefits along with it. Working with the right partner can speed up the medical device prototyping process and cut your time to market.

How Important is it for Your ECM to Invest in Technology?

Technology is often developed to solve a problem or meet an opportunity. The world of electronic contract manufacturing changes on a daily basis. So when it comes to outsourcing, you want a partner that has a forward-thinking approach and adapts with technology. Your electronic contact manufacturer (ECM) must be up on the latest advances and employ high tech know-how.

New Pick and Place Machine

If you’ve worked with Levison Enterprises in the past, you know that we are not ones to be satisfied with “good enough.” We are continually investing in the latest safety and quality standards, the best customer service experience, and ongoing education for our team members.

Benefits of Reverse Engineering

We are currently in a great time for the electronic products industry. The business is evolving at an unprecedented rate. However, this growth is putting pressure on companies to look more closely at efficiency, design, and manufacturing. As a result, reverse engineering has become a popular practice. It is a tool that is becoming easier to afford and use, and it can improve your bottom line in a highly competitive market.

Reverse Engineering in Electronic Assembly For A Better Product

As tech companies grow, so has the popularity of reverse engineering. Reverse engineering is the process of disassembling a product or component in order to study it to find out how and why it works. From exploring incomplete design data and understanding design flaws to sustaining competition, the advantages of reverse engineering are widespread.

Product Problems? Why Reverse Engineering is the Solution

You’ve got a product that just isn’t functioning quite right. Maybe it’s in production, but you’re not convinced it’s going to perform how you originally intended. Or, maybe it’s still in prototype and technically it’s meeting your needs, but already you can imagine some of the future issues that are going to crop up.

3 Reasons To Reverse Engineer For Parts Obsolescence

You know you have a great product, but as times change, perhaps the product needs to change a little too. A big issue in the tech industry is parts obsolescence. This means there is a continuous need to update successful product designs. Tweaking and troubleshooting a successful product does not equate to reinventing the wheel, and you don't need to rely on pre-made parts because you can fabricate the components you need. How, you ask? It is achieved with some simple reverse engineering.

How To Rebuild Your Legacy Product

Most companies adhere to the old adage “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” Unfortunately, that philosophy can be hard to stick to in the ever evolving world of electronics. Even with rapid pace electronic breakthroughs, older technologies are still extremely valuable in countless industry applications. These legacy systems, products, and components sometimes just need a little bit of attention to bring them up to date and keep them functional. If you have a great product and you want to keep it viable, you need to update it. Here is how to rebuild your legacy product.

Why Prototype: Advantages to Prototyping Before Production

In the world of electronic manufacturing, pre-production work, such as PCB prototyping, is vital to building a cost-efficient, quality product. In a marketplace that demands the latest technology yesterday, we often feel pressure to get right to production. Printed circuit boards are intricate and perform vital work in your product. Prototyping your PCB is always recommended, but particularly if your product is headed for the consumer market. There are many advantages to PCB prototyping.

2019 Resolutions For Your Electronic Assembly

Ah. It's the New Year, a time for resolutions and fresh starts. Get healthy, take that vacation, spend more time with the kids, but don’t forget professional resolutions in addition to your personal ones in the New Year. It is time to tackle the big things, like the product you’ve had on the back burner. 2019 is the year of the flux capacitor, after all. Now is the time to take your electronic assembly baby to production, and here is how you are going to do it.

New Year, New PCB Assembly ECM

It’s a new year! Time to start thinking about your relationship with your current PCB assembly ECM. Are they really working for you and your best interests? At the start of a fresh new year, we are inclined to think about where we’ve been and where we’re trying to go. What goals did we achieve last year? What do we hope to accomplish in the new year?

How to Start Your Reverse Engineering Project

There is no need to scrap a product that doesn't work properly or is obsolete. Give it new life with reverse engineering. Reverse engineering is a way to duplicate a product, subassembly, or component and find out what once made it tick. This is especially handy when you don't have documentation or original drawings for your PCB assembly.

6 Tips For PCB Design

It is sometimes said that PCB design is 90% placement and 10% routing. That may be the case, but both beginners and experienced designers can get caught off guard by simple oversight. It doesn't take much to turn a successful design of a printed circuit board into a high-tech disaster. It is best to know what to watch out for in order to avoid potential problems. Here are some tips to help you avoid function and reliability problems in your PCB design.

The 12 Benefits of Working with an ECM in 2019

You’ve worked hard all year, but there is no rest for the weary. No doubt you are already looking toward projects that need tackling in the new year. Give yourself a gift and find an electronic assembly and manufacturing partner to take some of the workload off your shoulders while still making your electronic project a success.

6 Budget Busters in PCB Assembly Quotes

PCB fabrication and assembly is a pretty straightforward process, however, there are factors early in the production process that could hold up your production and bust your budget before your printed circuit boards are even close to rolling off the assembly line. PCB designs and set ups can vary greatly, and so can the price to produce them.

5 Tips To Save You Time and Money On Your Next Electronic Assembly

Producing a printed circuit board is no easy feat and it’s also not an inexpensive one. When it comes to your electronic assembly you want to get the most bang for your buck without compromising your product.

Why Outsource Your PCB Prototype Assembly

As electronics evolve and technology becomes more complicated, companies no longer have the facilities or capabilities to assemble PCBs. This is especially true when it comes to prototyping. Turning to an electronic manufacturer to help with the prototyping process just makes sense. Electronic assembly manufacturers are experts in their field. There are a number of advantages to outsourcing your prototype to an electronic manufacturer.

Fast Does Not Equal A Quality Electronic Assembly

What do we want? Quality products! When do want them? Yesterday! Sound about right?

Cost Savings and Efficiency in An Electronic Assembly Product Redesign

Have you ever thought of a product redesign as a cost-saving process? Typically, we think of redesign as a way to fix a problem or improve a product’s functionality. With rapid advancements in technology and manufacturing processes, a redesign can also mean cost savings.

How to Select Components for PCBA Optimization

If you're using an electronic contract manufacturer for your PCB assembly, then you will need to provide a thoroughly defined set of instructions for your board fabrication and PCB assembly, including the selection of components to be used based on the equipment capabilities of your electronic contract manufacturer. Your choice of components will have an impact on the final quality of the assembly as well as the efficiency of the assembly. Keeping that in mind, the following are a few tips on how to select components for PCB assembly optimization:

Hand Soldering: Why It’s the Right Call For Your PCB Assembly

Through-hole assembly, once the most common electronic assembly technique, has become rare in a world where tiny components with many connectors are the norm. Through-hole assembly is an excellent choice for producing a high-quality PCB assembly, but it cannot perform well when small size is the top priority. In some instances, particularly in unpredictable or extreme environments where high reliability is important, through-hole assembly is still the best way to go.

Guide to Understanding the PCBA Process

The world of electronics is constantly changing. It’s an industry with a rapid pace evolution and shows no signs of slowing down, but the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) process is one standard among this swift progression.

What To Have Ready Before Your PCB Assembly Quote

Obtaining a quote from your electronic contract manufacturer (ECM) for printed circuit board assembly sounds simple. But don't let that impression fool you. Your quote is, perhaps, the most important factors in your PCB assembly project's success or failure.

Why Use a Domestic PCB Assembly Manufacturer

When it comes to selecting your PCB assembly manufacturer, what do you look for? Obviously, you’ll need a partner that can do the job, but what else is important to you and your product?

4 Ways In House Engineering Support Helps Your Electronic Assembly

When you’re choosing an electronics contract manufacturer (ECM), there are lots of options you need to weigh. Whether you’ve already got a concept for your project, or need design help to bring your idea into reality, an important factor to add to your list of considerations is whether or not the ECM has engineering support. While this may seem like just a “nice to have,” when it comes to quality electronics design and manufacturing, engineering support really should be on your “must have” list.

Multi-Layer Printed Circuit Boards: Advantages and Disadvantages

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are right in the center of the rapidly growing and changing world of electronics. The push for faster, lighter, and more robust electronics products has given birth to multiple ways to use PCBs in order to meet those demands. One way that printed circuit boards have been shown to help increase these capabilities is by use of the multi-layer printed circuit board.

Using A Flexible Circuit In Your Next Electronic Assembly

Flexible electronics. A generation ago, we thought that a flexible electronic meant you could hoist your boombox up on your shoulder and carry it around. Although this idea of flexibility produced the iconic look of the 1980s, it comes nowhere near what modern flexible electronics can do.

Tricks and Treats in Electronic Assembly Contracts

Whether it’s your first time contracting with an electronic contract manufacturer or your hundredth, there are things you want to land in your contract and things you want to avoid. By watching for a few key tells, you can be the kid with all the king-sized candy bars and none of the tricks after trick-or-treating.

Don't Be Scared to Hire an Electronics Manufacturer

It’s that time of year when there just might be a clown or a fright around every corner. But don’t let that stop you from hiring a quality electronic contract manufacturer.

Risk Mitigation in the New AS9100D

When ISO 9001:2015 rolled out, along with it came the complementary revisions to AS9100, called Revision D. The core concept of risk-based thinking has been placed at the center of both these important standards. As an industry, aerospace has always held risk management in high regard, given the risky nature of its work. This is why AS9100 takes risk-based thinking a few steps further than ISO 9001.

Changes Your ECM Will Make Transitioning From AS9100C To AS9100D

In order to participate in the aerospace or defense industry, nearly all manufacturers and suppliers must make themselves AS9100 compliant. This set of standards is followed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the United States Department of Defense (DoD), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as well as many large prime contractors in the aerospace industry.

New AS9100D Changes

With the recent changes to ISO 9001, AS9100 standard has also evolved to reflect those changes. AS9100 is the international quality management system specifically for the aerospace industry.

What Changes In The Latest Revision In ISO 9001:2015?

You may have heard that there are new standards in the electronics manufacturing world. Among those are changes to ISO 9001, which now some variations to note between ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 9001:2016.

5 Principles of Design for Manufacturing can Lead to 10 Levels of Savings

Design for Manufacturing or DFM is a process that aims to make parts, components, and products less expensive by easing their manufacturability. It’s how you avoid getting a very pretty part that cannot function properly. It’s how you avoid manufacturing an outdoor part for your Northern Michigan operation that cannot operate in freezing temperatures. It’s how you avoid a lot of avoidable headaches.

Electronics Manufacturing and Return Material Authorization

Even with the best designs, supply chain management, and manufacturing standards, mistakes sometimes happen. You don’t go into a project anticipating problems, but good project management means considering what might happen if your product has errors. You’ll want to know ahead of time how your electronics manufacturing service will handle troubleshooting and repair for your electronics manufacturing.

Levison Enterprises Celebrates 10 Years

Our commitment to our customers is at the core of everything Levison Enterprises does. The dedication to our high-quality certifications and standards, sets us apart as an electronic contract manufacturer and we know this is reflected in our partnerships with our customers.

Lead Free vs. Leaded Solder

Prior to 2006, most of the metallic components in electronic devices were created using tin or lead solder. These materials were reliable, easy to observe and understand and readily available. Assemblies were designed specifically for use with tin/lead solder, including the temperatures required to work with these materials.

Benefits of Surface Mount Technology

If you have held a TV remote control in your hand, punched a button on a microwave or adjusted a digital thermostat, you have interacted with surface mount technology, or SMT. Since the 1980s, nearly all mass-produced electronics are now manufactured using SMT.

Flexible Printed Circuit Boards and Rigid Circuit Boards

When you hear the term “PCB,” what do you think of? Most people probably imagine a rigid PCB (printed circuit board) with traditional copper pads and wiring harnesses. More and more, however, PCB can also refer to a flexible PCB, also known as a flexible printed circuit board. With the growth in small electronics, the possibilities for shaping, twisting, and folding a flexible PCB have increased its popularity.

Levison Enterprises Recommended for Certification to AS9100D

Since our beginning, Levison Enterprises has been about quality and partnerships with our customers. We set out to be an electronic assembly manufacturer that our customers could count on. We are proud to be an electronic contract manufacturer that works and trains our team to make the best quality products, on time and on budget, for every one of our customers. Today, we honor that commitment to quality in every project, piece, and part.

Principles and Considerations for Design For Manufacturing

When you’re manufacturing a product, there are usually three considerations you need to meet by the time it’s finished. The product needs to meet your desired level of quality, it needs to meet your performance standards, and it needs to be able to be priced competitively.

What is the difference between SMT and SMD?

SMT and SMD. These two little acronyms get mixed up a lot in the electronics manufacturing service world. On paper, they only vary by a single letter, but in practice, there’s a lot more separating SMTs and SMDs. Chiefly, one is a process and the other is a device.

Types and Purposes of Common Cable Testing

Much of what goes into the design and manufacture of quality electronic components revolve around testing – individual parts and the assembly itself, once completed. For the electrical connections that make up cables, harnesses, or any other wired assemblies, cable testing is performed to check for conformity to plans, quality, and functionality.

An Electronic Manufacturing Service Provides Solder Paste Printing

For an electronic device that requires any kind of reliability, the solder paste printing process is arguably the most important step in its assembly. Taking a close look at how an electronic manufacturing service does its solder paste printing is, a reliable way to separate a good electronic manufacturing service from one of lower quality.

Designing a Custom Cable Assembly

Electronic products from home electronics and appliances, to military and aerospace, to medical and industrial all rely upon one important kind of component: a custom designed cable assembly.

Continuous Improvement in your Electronic Manufacturing Service

Continuous improvement is a philosophy. It plays out in an organization’s culture as it drives progress and growth. It comes from culture because, ultimately, continuous improvement is about people.

Difference Between Through-Hole and Surface Mount Technology

Two assembly types are prevalent in electronics manufacturing: through-hole technology (THT) and surface mount technology (SMT). Selection of SMT or THT plays an important role in manufacturing efficiency and cost. This means it is important for customers to be aware of their definitions, differences, and applications.

Why Your ECM Needs to be ISO Certified

The electronics industry is extremely diversified. It includes manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, retailers, and many more. This sector has been growing at a rapid pace with the invention of innovative technologies. However, in an industry like electronics manufacturing that moves at a rapid pace, it is imperative that mistakes are kept to a minimum. Additionally, if and when errors occur, they must be corrected immediately in order to stop the trickle down effect that could cost customers valuable time and money.

IPC Standards and Why They Matter to Your Electrical Assembly Process

/p> When we talk about standards, we often think about processes. When we talk about IPC Standards, however, what we’re really talking about is the actual manufacture of your project. We aren’t talking about tools, we’re talking about the people, training, and background to make your highest-quality product. We’re talking about keeping those people trained so that your product stays top-of-the-line as technology and regulations change.

Four Characteristics of A Quality Electronics Manufacturing Service

The term Electronic Manufacturing Service took off in the early 1970s. Up until that point, most large-scale production was handled by in-house assembly. As manufacturing evolved, smaller electronic manufacturing services sprang up to deliver low-cost assemblies by taking advantage of economies of scale. Manufacturing, material procurement and the pooling of design and customer support services made this an attractive alternative to costly in-house operations.

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