Levison Enterprises Blog | Design For Manufacturability

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.