Finding a manufacturer that can offer you quick turn PCB assembly can be a hectic task as the advantages of finding one can be a huge boon to your company. However, not all manufacturers can live up to the promise of providing you with a finished quality PCB since some either fall short of expectations or don’t have the right certifications to do so.
Do not fret, for in this article – we’ll explore the ways to choose the right quick turn PCB assembly provider that can assist you in your project – whether it is a PCB design or using the circuit board for a device prototype.
What is Quick Turn PCB and What are the Perks of Using it?
To begin our discussion, let’s first understand what a quick turn PCB is. So, a quick-turn PCB is a printed circuit board designed, manufactured, and tested within a short time frame. Depending on the manufacturer – the typical time the clients receive their quick-turn PCBs averages 24 hours to a week.
Now that we’re oriented on what is a quick-turn PCB; let’s take a look at the advantages that it can offer to you:
1. Quickened Production of Electronic Goods
The first advantage you will reap from securing the ideal quick turn PCB assembly partner is that your ideas or concepts are brought to life faster. Thus, it enables quicker exploration of the design’s ideas and functionalities – for instance, you can discover that you can create variations from the main design.
2. Quick Transitioning from Factory to Market
Unlike traditionally-manufactured PCBs, quick-turn PCBs have a significantly smaller time-to-market transition. This means that quick-turn printed circuit boards; since they are faster to test and manufacture, will likely end up in the marketplace or the hands of the client faster than most PCB types.
3. Rapid Testing and PCB Iterations
Aside from faster discovery of the design’s ideas and functionalities, quick-turn PCB also opens the door for quick rounds of tests and revisions of the design. Designers are most likely to optimize their designs better through quick tests – the more tests conducted, the more valid the product’s functionality becomes.
4. Offers the Most Efficient Way to Detect Design Flaws
The best perk you’ll reap from partnering with the right quick turn PCB assembly partner is the easy and efficient detection of design flaws. Due to the rapid testing we’ve covered earlier, design flaws and errors are detected quickly as well – as a result, the design flaws are addressed immediately.
In turn, detecting design flaws early prevents the risk of encountering critical problems when the PCB enters mass production. As a result, quick-turn PCBs will save you time and money.
Factors to find the Ideal Quick Turn PCB Assembly Partner
Since we are now familiar with what is a quick turn PCB and discovered the advantages that it can bring to the table, let’s move to our main discussion which are the factors you’ll need to consider in finding the right quick turn PCB assembly partner. Keep in mind that securing the ideal partner for your project can quicken the process of completing it; and eventually turning it into a marketable electronic product.
With that said, here are the factors you’ll need to consider when searching for a manufacturer that can provide quick-turn PCB assembly services:
1. Specialization and Niches Served
The first factor that plays into your decision to settle with a quick turn PCB assembly partner is the manufacturer’s selection of products and the niches they serve. Check whether the manufacturer can work with specialized PCBs for specific devices and the industries that they primarily serve to see whether they are compatible with you.
2. Product Quality and Price
The second determining factor in selecting the right quick turn PCB assembly partner is to see whether the quality and price are worth the investment. Check with your potential assembly partners whether they can disclose quality control processes to you; for instance – inquire about their standard operating procedures and what they do in response to design flaws.
As for pricing, don’t hesitate to ask how much their services will cost you. Ask them the breakdown of costs to know how much you could potentially incur if you seek out their services. However, make sure that if you’re securing a deal, the price doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your PCB’s quality.
3. Industry Experience and Certificates
The next pair of criteria that can help you find the right quick turn PCB assembly partner is to check their experience and certifications. For the former – ideally, you’d want to work with a manufacturer that has been working in PCB production for a long time as they will likely know the ins and outs of the industry; and may have worked with a large variety of clients.
In the case of the latter, you’d want to check your manufacturer if they are certified to see if they are authorized to operate and have products that adhere to industry standards. For example, you’d want to ask your manufacturer if they have an ISO-9001 certificate to see if they provide products or PCBs that meet the set standards for quality.
4. Manufacturing Capabilities and Error Detection
The next determining factor in finding the ideal PCB assembly company in China is to check their manufacturing capabilities. Make sure that the manufacturer has access to high-tech assembly lines that can facilitate quick production of PCBs for your project.Tying into this factor, you should also inquire whether the manufacturer has dedicated testing facilities where they can conduct tests to validate the functionality of the PCB or to detect errors early.
5. Expected Time of Finishing Projects
The last determining factor that you’ll need to consider in selecting a quick-turn PCB manufacturer to partner with is the speed of their quick-turn process. When inquiring about information on their quick-turn PCB assembly services, make sure to ask about their average time of finishing a project. Use the 24 hours to a week as the standard to see whether the manufacturing is a perfect fit for your electronics project or not.
Utilizing the Factors Can Make the Selection Process Easier
To summarize what we’ve covered – finding the right quick turn PCB assembly partner allows you to harness its advantages to your projects. In order to make that process easier – utilizing the factors we’ve covered earlier will allow you to make informed decisions on which manufacturing companies you will benefit the most from. There’s a possibility that securing a good deal could turn them into a long-term partner.
