How to Lower Contract Manufacturing Costs While Improving Reliability

Everyone loves a “win-win” 

This is especially true when it comes to highly complex electronic assemblies with high- tech/high-reliability products such as Defense, Space, Medical, RF and Microwave applications. It makes sense, since many of these products preserve or protect lives and enable critical communications. The goals of customers in these industries is always the same:  Control costs while keeping reliability high and, ultimately, making a reasonable profit. It’s not rocket science. (Well...okay, sometimes it is!) Based on your company’s experience, you may be surprised to hear that, for most EMS companies, our goals are exactly the same. After all, when we help you succeed, we succeed. Win-win. So why do these seemingly simple objectives seem so elusive at times?

Complexity that Complicates

Managing the complexities of the full spectrum of an electronic assembly’s supply chain is daunting. It spans from concept to schematic design, board layout, board fabrication, documentation, supplier qualification, materials acquisition (that can involve dozens of suppliers and distributors), parts kitting, SMT and thru-hole assembly then, at last, to shipping logistics…and this is the short list! Your completed circuit card or sub-system assemblies may also include plastic molding, metal fabrication, potting, conformal coating, mechanical assembly, FPGA programming, customized test, environmental test, lifecycle tests and perhaps many other steps along the way. Every step must be completed with pristine accuracy—on time, within budget, and result in impeccable reliability. This is an interconnected puzzle in which each step impacts the other, and it often requires a partner who can offer full integration that will help control quality and cost throughout. Here are a number of ways Zentech strives to meet our customer’s needs (beyond our core circuit card assembly services) by helping them keep their costs low and their reliability high:

Engineering and Design Services:

We have in-house engineers to help support your engineering team in regards to meeting performance goals as well as addressing Design for Manufacturing (DFM) concerns that will impact the form, function, cost and reliability of the final product. We also have top PCB design professionals to help navigate complex layout issues, or to take on the entire layout and documentation portion of our customers projects. These individuals are highly skilled to watch for DFM issues relative to board fabrication, assembly and beyond.

PCB Fabrication

We have worked with the best PCB Fabricators in the country for many years. In most cases, we have already developed a close working relationship with the fabricator of your choice. Additionally, we have qualified an elite network of PCB suppliers that have been evaluated according to our very stringent standards and criteria. Due to the higher volume of our total board usage, our purchasing power helps us negotiate competitive pricing and helps ensure excellent responsiveness on your behalf.