When you are screening your PCB fabrication company, you should know what you need to look for and how to find the best manufacturers in the industry. Here are the list of important qualities that you should look for or when you find the following qualities in a PCB manufacturer you should know that you have found the right match for your needs. You should understand something very clearly, there could be many good manufacturers but not all good manufacturers would be the best fit for your needs. While screening, your main focus should be to find the best matches for your needs.
The PCB manufacturing capabilities will determine whether the PCB manufacturer is the right fit or not. For example if you have a 32 layer PCB manufactured, will your manufacturer be able to handle such a complex requirement? Have they done anything in the past that matches the same level of complexity? Find out before finalizing your manufacturer.
Will your manufacturer be able to work with you on PCB prototype building? This is a crucial step in the PCB manufacturing process. You should find a company that is ready to handle single piece PCB prototype manufacturing need.
In case you need to scale up your requirements, does the manufacturer have adequate bandwidth to increase their production capacity regardless of the complexity level of the PCBs that you need manufactured? Scaling up capabilities are important so that you are not forced to look for a new manufacturer when your requirements increase. This would prove to be disadvantageous to you because you would have already settled with your manufacturer and the manufacturer too would have understood your requirements well. At this stage if you were to find a new manufacturer then all the prepping efforts with your previous manufacturer would only go wasted. As a result, you should find a reliable PCB manufacturer that is capable of handling your current requirements as well as your future requirements.
Does the manufacturer make use of premium quality supplies in the manufacturing process? The quality of the PCBs and in turn your final product will depend greatly on the quality of the PCBs delivered to you. Therefore, it is vital that your manufacturer uses good quality supplies and components.
Fast turnaround time and prompt delivery are also key characteristics of a good PCB manufacturer. You should not be made to wait anxiously in the last minute for the delivery of your PCBs. The orders should be processed professionally and delivered as per the agreed time. You should check the credibility of the company when you are screening your manufacturers. What are the customers that have used the services of the company saying about their turnaround time and about their promptness of delivery?
Above all, you should be able to get your PCBs manufactured at the right prices. If your manufacturer is capable of delivering the best quality PCBs at the most nominal rates in a timely fashion then you should establish long-term association with such a manufacturer.
ChinaPCBOne Technology LTD. is the author of this article on PCB fabrication. Find more information, about PCB prototype.