Originally Published MPMN October 2009

OUTSOURCING OUTLOOK

Electronics Manufacturing

For engineers and purchasing directors, the task of selecting an electronics manufacturing service (EMS) provider for outsourcing projects is not easy. Most OEMs require on-time delivery, engineering design support, quick-turn prototyping services, capacity, and VIP attention.

The OEM’s first consideration should be product life cycle management (PLM), the most important component of which is design for manufacturability (DFM). In the electronics manufacturing sector, DFM is used for designing or redesigning such components as printed circuit boards (PCBs) and wire harnesses using best manufacturing practices.
For example, in the design stage, advice provided by EMS engineers on the use of either automated or semiautomated equipment to make such components as wire harnesses can affect production costs. And since many products have size, weight, and shape restrictions, EMS engineers can help ensure that designs for parts such as PCBs will adhere to end product housing specifications.
Once a design has been completed, the EMS supplier builds several prototypes for validation and research studies. Then, the OEM engineer performs tests for functionality, reliability, and durability. If design modifications are required, another round of DFM is performed, after which prototypes are made to validate the changes.
The second benefit of a PLM focus resides in the pilot stage. At this stage, the OEM tests the product’s acceptance in a defined marketplace. After a specified period, OEM product managers visit company technicians to gather feedback on the products’ performance and functionality. Data are relayed to the OEM’s engineers and to the EMS provider.
More than ever, OEMs require that EMS suppliers meet repeatability and sustainability criteria to achieve the proper level of quality, delivery, and service. When evaluating a new EMS supplier, these performance metrics do not fully reveal themselves. That’s why it is important to choose an EMS supplier that has the knowledge and experience to operate within the product life cycle stages—from concept and maturity to revisions and extensions.

Supplier Offers Turnkey Electronics Manufacturing Services
Specializing in electronics manufacturing services, a supplier offers customers turnkey production capabilities, including engineering design and testing, printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, electromechanical assembly, and cable design and fabrication. The company, which serves the low-volume, high-mix marketplace, also provides high-temperature and overmolding capabilities, full box-build and system integration, and full-service and repair depot services. It has produced PCBs for blood analyzers and manufactures safety-critical elements that demand repeatability and reliability.
TS3 LLC
Franklin, TN
www.ts3technology.com

Medical Electronics Offerings Include Prototyping and Production Services
A provider of contract electronic design, engineering, and manufacturing support offers prototyping and production services to medical device and instrumentation manufacturers. Certified to ISO 13485 standards for the design, development, production, and distribution of medical devices, the company makes specialized stock and custom test instrumentation, electronic equipment, and software. It also manufactures printed circuit board assemblies and electronically controlled medical devices.
Tricor Systems Inc.
Elgin, IL
www.tricor-systems.com

Vendor Fabricates Miniaturized Electronics for Medical Device Applications
Offering miniaturized medical electronics and complete product assembly, a manufacturer provides electronic design engineering, electronic and device assembly, testing, and supply-chain management services. Using pick-and-place machinery, flip-chip technology, and wire and gold-ball bonding equipment, the supplier specializes in the fabrication of components for products such as hearing aids, retinal implants, neurostimulation devices, electronic pills, and imaging equipment. Its technical capabilities include placing 01005 chip components and performing chip-on-board, 3-D chip-scale packaging, and multichip carrier module services.
Valtronic Technologies
Cleveland
www.valtronictechnologies.com

Contractor Provides Laser Digital Electronics Manufacturing
A service provider offers laser digital converting for the medical device industry, specializing in intricate micropatterning of electronic components. The company’s laser ablation services for circuit isolation on thin-film conductive technology can ablate various coatings, such as gold and indium tin oxide. Used for creating high-resolution patterns for products such as glucose test strips, the laser process is also used for high-tolerance singulation of zero-insertion-force connectors on flex-circuit technology. Providing prototyping through high-volume production runs, the company can also process and laminate layers for biosensor and microfluidic components.
LasX Industries Inc.
St. Paul, MN
www.lasx.com

Manufacturer Offers PCBs, Wire Harnesses, and Box-Build Assemblies
Specializing in low- and medium-volume assembly projects with a moderate to high degree of complexity, an electronics service provider manufactures printed circuit boards, wire and cable harnesses, and box-build assemblies. The company concentrates on design, layout, prototypes, programming, testing, reengineering, and burn-in services. It also offers revisions, material selection, ball-grid arrays, x-rays, and RoHS-compliant components, relying on design for manufacturing and design for test practices.
Electronic Technologies International Inc.
Fort Atkinson, WI
www.etimfg.com
For more information on such contract manufacturing services as electronics manufacturing, go to www.devicelink.com/mpmn/electronics
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