PCB Technical - Ways to speed up the important factors of PCB manufacturing

With electronic devices taking center stage in most aspects of our lives, printed circuit boards (PCBs) are becoming more and more common in today's world. In the manufacturing of PCBs, in view of the key role these components play in electronic products, maintaining top quality is essential. It is also important for PCB manufacturers to avoid delays in the assembly of final electronic products in the shortest possible time. In the business world, time is money. Rapid PCB manufacturing plays an important role in maintaining the competitive advantage of our business.

In this article, we will provide you with seven proven rapid PCB manufacturing techniques. Keep reading to learn more.

Labor cost

The geographic location where PCBs are actually produced leads to increased labor costs. The manufacture of printed circuit boards requires skilled manual operations and automated machinery, which increases labor costs. For this reason, manufacturing companies have an incentive to manufacture such panels where labor is relatively cheap.

For example, PCBs assembled in South Asia are several times cheaper than PCBs assembled in Western Europe or North America. Assuming a turnaround time of three days, the average assembly cost in North America is approximately US$1,100, while in China it is US$545. It should be noted that overseas manufacturing will push up costs due to processing, transportation, and communication delays.

But again, cheap production may bring unforeseen costs, and you must consider these costs before signing with overseas manufacturers.

Implement design for rapid manufacturing (DFM)

Design for PCB Manufacturing (DFM) aims to improve the manufacturability of PCBs in the design phase. Sometimes the PCB design you want is difficult or impossible to manufacture, so the manufacturer will send it to you for redesign. Sometimes, manufacturers will try to reorganize. This process will slow down the turnaround time.

The solution is to implement DFM. Consider your PCB manufacturer's capabilities and documentation requirements while you are still in the design phase to avoid potential redesigns. Consultation with the manufacturer at this stage plays an important role in ensuring manufacturability. Be sure to place fiducial marks to help automatically pick and place the machine.

Own source component

One of the main reasons for PCB delays is that important components are out of stock when the manufacturer needs them. Generally, this situation occurs between creating a bill of materials (BOM) and placing the manufacturing sequence. The best way to avoid this situation is to plan and purchase carefully. Try to avoid making last-minute changes in your supply chain, as this may result in longer delivery times.

Instead of relying on your PCB manufacturer to purchase components for you, consider doing it independently. Of course, a fast PCB manufacturer may have a good relationship with several PCB component distributors, but they are sometimes susceptible to parts shortages. You least want the manufacturer to redesign your circuit board because they don't have a specific area. You cannot guarantee that the redesigned PCB will accurately meet your requirements. If the product is defective, the turnaround time will inevitably increase.

Provide a complete documentation package

To be a fast and correct PCB service provider. Fortunately, there are various PCB manufacturing, PCB companies need a complete document, which includes the following:

Gerber File

Drill file

Total bill of materials

Netlist file

Your original CAD file

Centroid data

Assembly instructions

Assembly drawing

When you fail to send the center of mass data to your PCB manufacturer, the manufacturing process is likely to be delayed. This is because the data provides specific details on the direction of the component. The centroid data also links individual components to their reference numbers. Without these basic data, your manufacturer will have to try to figure out the key details on its own, which will slow down the whole process.

Simplify your design

Most modern circuit boards have multiple layers. Each layer of these boards requires many manufacturing steps, which takes a considerable amount of time. If you can reduce this number of layers, you will eliminate all unnecessary and time-consuming manufacturing steps and reduce PCB turnaround time.

The simplest PCB design involves two layers. Two-layer PCBs generally require fewer pressing, etching, electroplating, and covering steps. In order to reduce the number of layers, you need to remove vias and choose blind and buried vias.

You can decide to use layer stack design and routing to eliminate some layers. This will increase the plating steps, but you can reduce the manufacturing steps.

Adopt advanced technology and systematic process

Over the years, rapid innovation has emerged in the field of PCB manufacturing. With the advancement of technology, many aspects of the PCB manufacturing process have been greatly improved. These include:

1. Stronger responsiveness to customer needs

2. Reduce downtime and waste levels

3. Better product design and quality

4. Simplify the relationship between suppliers and customers

5. Enhanced customer service delivery

Each of the above improvements helps to speed up the turnaround time. Any company that invests in new technologies will usually gain better competition and development in today's market. When looking for fast PCB manufacturers, consider those who prioritize advanced technology in their processes.

Consider compliance

The most reliable PCB manufacturers ensure that they meet the highest industry standards. PCB manufacturers should be able to provide high quality at every step of the manufacturing process. Every stage or PCB production requires careful attention.

For example, find out whether your potential PCB manufacturer complies with all the standards of the Printed Circuit Association. Do they provide customers with PCBs that comply with RoHS, ISO and UL specifications?

Only PCB manufacturers that adhere to industry standards can guarantee the safety, reliability, and high performance of their products. Since compliance with industry standards and regulations can improve internal and external communication, the manufacturing process is usually much faster.

On the other hand, companies that do not comply with relevant regulations often experience production delays. That's because the final product often fails to meet the standards you expect, which requires redesign.

in conclusion

In short, time is a crucial factor when producing PCBs. When it comes to PCB manufacturing, you must develop activities that can help you save time. One of the best moves is to work with PCB manufacturers and they will do their best to ensure that you get the PCB on time. Such manufacturers usually execute the entire process of PCB manufacturing through a fast turnaround time frame.