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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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