When it comes to engineering, there are a lot of complexities and customization that vary from project to project. Many enterprises look for outsourcing engineering services, mainly outsourcing PCB assembly services helps a great deal right from reducing operational costs to a whole host of things.
When should you consider outsourcing PCB assembly services?
Before going into the advantages let me list down when you should outsource PCB assembly,
- When you don’t have an in-house facility or team for PCB assembly
- When facing a surge in assembly needs that would require significant investment in tools and resources for a temporary project.
- When your in-house team lacks the specialized knowledge for PCB assembly and needs to focus on other priorities, such as new product development (NPD)
- When you require high-quality, compliant boards that must adhere to stringent quality guidelines and testing standards.
10 Benefits of outsourcing PCB assembly services:
Saving Operational Cost:
When considering outsourcing any service, the first thought that likely comes to mind is cost savings. In fact, motivation for cost savings may have driven you to decide to outsource. Research indicates that outsourcing can help you cut down labor costs by a whopping 90%.
Your PCB layout and assembly expert will have an edge over these:
- Expertise in schematic and layout design using CAD tools.
- Skills in Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Testability (DFT).
- Proficiency in testing and inspection, and knowledge of compliance standards.
- Ability to troubleshoot, ensure signal integrity, and manage thermal performance.
Diverse expertise:
Outsourcing lets you have access to skilled expertise. For instance, these companies will have highly skilled people in PCB assembly and layout. They will also have the latest tools in the market. Moreover, they also will have high-quality checks and industry standards. You can quickly tap these potentials by outsourcing PCB assembly services to these companies.
Investment cost:
PCB assembly requires investment in machinery, certifications to manufacture, etc. By outsourcing these services, you can cut down largely on these investments. Also, investing in new employees, their insurance and retention plan will not be a burden for you, if you choose to outsource. In short, you can,
- Eliminate equipment purchase: No need to invest in expensive assembly machinery.
- Reduce labor costs: Access to skilled technicians at lower labor costs.
- Avoid facility costs: No need to maintain a dedicated assembly facility.
- Avoid bulk component purchasing: Assembly providers can procure components at reduced rates due to bulk buying.
Improve time to market:
Outsourcing provides faster turnaround time. You can speed up the PCB assembly process with the outsourced company as they will have streamlined processes. This will help you accelerate your product’s journey to market. You can quickly scale up your in-house production.
Specialized resources:
By outsourcing, you can tap the potential of experts in that field. By outsourcing PCB services, you can get specialized resources like,
- Advanced equipment for precision assembly and testing.
- Skilled technicians with hands-on expertise in PCB assembly processes.
- Quality Control Tools: Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), X-ray inspection, and other advanced testing equipment.
- Established relationships with component suppliers and efficient logistics systems.
- With expertise in lead time management and issues.
Scalability:
Whether you need a small volume or a high volume of PCBs to be made. You can easily get it done from a vendor, who can match your output requirement. You don’t need to get into the nitty-gritty of managing these scalability issues like idling equipment or maintaining labor force.
Focus on product development:
By outsourcing PCB assembly, you can concentrate on your core competencies instead of being bogged down by ancillary tasks that consume time and resources. This allows you to focus on critical areas such as research and development for new product development (NPD), ultimately accelerating your time to market.
After-market services and obsolescence management:
Your PCB vendor can become a valuable partner in addressing board failures and service requests. They will manage the necessary resources and deliver quick solutions to any failures or critical issues, ensuring seamless after-market support.
Moreover, your PCB vendor can help you with, proactive component sourcing. Regularly evaluate and source alternative components to replace obsolete parts. This ensures continuity in production and minimizing disruptions. This will be easier for the PCB vendor, as they maintain strong relationships with multiple suppliers and stay updated on market trends and component life cycles.
Increase capacity:
With outsourced PCB services, you can easily expand the capacity of the team. The PCB vendor can be your extended team. You don’t have to invest your time and money on internal machinery and manpower. You can easily increase or decrease the capacity depending on your needs without any hassle. This will help you allocate more resources to your core needs.
Compliance and risk mitigation:
With outsourcing, you don’t have to worry about compliance to standards and risk mitigation. Your PCB vendor will have expertise in,
- Regulatory Standards: Adhering to industry regulations such as IPC, RoHS, and UL.
- Quality Certifications: Meeting certification requirements for product safety and performance.
- Environmental Compliance: Ensuring products meet environmental regulations like lead-free soldering.
- Documentation: Maintaining accurate records and documentation to prove compliance.
- Risk Identification: Proactively identifying and addressing potential risks in design and manufacturing processes.
In short, PCB assembly outsourcing provides many advantages, including cost savings, access to specialized expertise, and efficient handling of increased volumes. It allows you to focus on core activities and new product development while ensuring high-quality, compliant products. This strategic approach can enhance overall operational efficiency and accelerate time to market.
AUTHOR
Savitha Sampath
Senior Marketing Manager, Srushty Global Solutions
As a marketing professional with a wealth of experience in digital marketing, content marketing, and branding. She specialized in creating and executing successful marketing campaigns, demonstrating notable growth. Her expertise encompasses both B2B and B2C content marketing, with a strong emphasis on inbound marketing and demand generation. She has mastered the intricacies of digital marketing, from SEO and content creation to social media strategy and PPC campaigns.