Sourcing a printed circuit board might not sound like the most glamorous part of building a high-tech product, try discussing with anyone who has started a hardware venture or managed an electronics supply chain and you will discover this is the one which makes or breaks everything else. If your supplier isn’t good, they can cause a delay, cost you more or even worse, give you boards that fail in the field. A good one turns into a true competitive advantage.
But, where to find a reliable PCB supplier? Not to mention, which ones are the best to trust your most challenging projects to?
Start by Understanding What “Reliable” Really Means
Before you start browsing supplier directories or begin sending out RFQ e-mails, it’s helpful to be more specific in what reliability means to you.
Reliability typically includes several important factors for high-tech products:
- Uniform quality run to run.
- Ability to hold tight tolerances and stack-up requirements.
- Communication that is responsive when it goes wrong.
- Certification pertinent to your industry (such as IPC-A-600, ISO 9001 or UL listings).
If you know in advance what you’re looking for, you’ll have a much more limited search.
Industry Directories and Trade Platforms
One of the most convenient places to begin is an industry directory that’s been curated. Manufacturers with capability profiles are listed on platforms such as IPC’s supplier locator, Global Sources, and ThomasNet, and have been vetted. You can narrow down the options by layers, materials, certifications and geographical location which saves a lot of back and forth early in the process.
Businesses with more complicated needs can also discover suppliers they would never have found by doing a Google search with the aid of a regional trade database, particularly one related to an electronics manufacturing center in Asia. The strategy is to have more than one directory. Comparing suppliers in various platforms also helps you get an idea about the reputation and reach of the supplier.
Where Does the World’s PCB Supply Come From? Asia’s Manufacturing Hubs
When it comes to making PCBs, you can’t beat geography. The reason why is because East Asia is the leader of the world in producing them. This area has more raw material suppliers, specialized equipment, and trained engineering talent than anywhere else.
China seems to be in the spotlight when it comes to volume manufacturing, but it is not the only one to consider.
The Korean PCB Industry
The Korean PCB industry has quietly developed one of the most technically advanced PCB industries in the world. Korean manufacturers are known for their expertise in high-density interconnect (HDI) boards, flexible circuits, and advanced substrate materials. When dealing with cutting edge telecom components, automotive electronics or semiconductor packaging, working with a PCB Manufacturer in Korea can provide capabilities that few manufacturers elsewhere can match. Korean suppliers have a huge investment in automation and quality systems, thus ensuring tighter tolerances and consistent output.
The Japanese PCB Industry
The situation is similar in Japan, but different in nature. The reputation of Japanese PCB manufacturers in the realm of precision engineering and obsessive attention to quality control is longstanding. This makes them very appealing for industries where failure is unacceptable such as medical devices, defense, industrial controls and high reliability electronics. Although working as a PCB Manufacturer in Japan will increase the price of each circuit board, many engineers believe that this is worth it for projects that require high performance and durability.
Fast Prototyping and Production Online Platforms
If you are still in the development stage of your project, there are a number of online PCB companies that have made the process quite easy. OEMs such as PCBWay, JLCPCB and Eurocircuits allow you to upload your Gerber files, receive instant quotes and order small quantities with quick turn around.
These platforms are especially great for teams who wish to make rapid iterations. You can execute design validations, capture layout problems early, and tweak your designs before taking the plunge into a larger production order. They’re not necessarily the best choice for highly complex or certified applications, but they’re a very practical tool for many product development cycles.
Trade Shows and Industry Events
Never underestimate the importance of face-to-face meetings with suppliers. Productronica in Munich, electronica and Nepcon in Asia are just a few events that gather hundreds of PCB manufacturers under one roof. Just walking the floor is a good barometer of whether a company is investing in its technology or coasting.
More practically, the in-person engagement at trade shows can yield results in days, rather than months of cold calling. You can tell more about a supplier’s engineering prowess, view their quality papers and sometimes discuss terms that wouldn’t have been mentioned in an e-mail.
Referrals from Peers and Contract Manufacturers
A supplier recommendation, in some cases, is best advised by those who have already gone through the process. Reach out to your network to find out there are forums such as EEVblog, LinkedIn hardware groups, or industry associations such as IPC that might have active groups of engineers discussing their honest feedback about suppliers.
Contract manufacturers (CMs) can also serve as a helpful connector. If you’re using a CM for board assembly, he/she is likely to have already qualified board assembly contractors. You can save a lot of time in the due diligence process by using pre-established relationships.
Vetting a Supplier Before You Commit
Once you’ve found a supplier, the work is only half done. It is worthwhile to have a proper qualification process before making any significant order:
- Request capability statements and certifications.
- Request test coupons or qualification boards from your actual design files.
- Ask for a list of reference clients in similar industries, if available.
Notice their reaction to you in the quoting process; this is a good indication of how they’ll respond when issues arise during production. If a supplier doesn’t respond to a straightforward quote for a week, it is a warning sign.
Wrapping Up
It’s not as easy as searching online to find the right PCB supplier for your high-tech projects. It involves knowing your own needs inside and out, discovering your needs through various channels, and honestly assessing the local expertise and doing due diligence to support your shortlist.
The good news? The world is a deep PCB industry. You can find any partner you want in Korea, a more precise manufacturing partner in Japan or a rapid prototyping partner for early stage development; it’s just a matter of where and what questions.
Cultivate those relationships wisely and it will yield rewards for all future projects.
