We are living in a world where we simply can’t imagine our lives without computers and mobiles, right? But, have you ever wondered, what is the basic component that makes them so perfect for our needs and cater to all our needs? If yes, then you must know that PCB (Printed Circuit Board) is the answer.

Almost all electronic devices work on PCBs. Therefore, if your business has any kind of product that needs PCBs to work, then this blog is just the thing that you need to read. PCB production is an art, and you simply can’t rely on anyone to make PCBs for your product. Therefore, it is very critical that you select the right PCB manufacturing company if you want to make sure that your product stands out in the fierce competition in the market.

In this blog, I’ve narrowed down some of the most important things that you need to know before you pick a PCB manufacturer for your business.

So, without any further ado, let’s dig in and find you the best PCB manufacturer out there:

Ask them if they are Following Proper Guidelines

The first and the most important thing that you need to ask from the manufacturer is their method of following the guidelines. It means that you have to make sure that they are following the guidelines of each order effectively. Otherwise, it is going to ruin the whole production batch, and you may end up a lot of money.

So, if you are going to partner with a PCB manufacturer, you must search on their method of following the set of guidelines for your product. It’ll give you an idea about how they are going to handle your order.

Keep Type, Quality, and Quantity of Machines in Mind

The machines that a company is using play a very important role when it comes to producing fine quality PCBs. Therefore, you must do your research about the type of machine that you need for the manufacturing of your product.

Feel free to ask the company about the kind of machines they are using. If you want a really huge order, then you have to make sure that you are choosing a company that has a reasonable number of machines to handle your order.

Learn About their Quality Inspection Method

There is no denying that the quality of the PCB depends a lot on the method and the machinery that is used in manufacturing. However, the inspection of the final product is also extremely important. If the company is not checking each and every PCB individually, then you must take your clue and start looking for a company that ensures proper quality inspection methods. Make sure that it checks both manually and automatically to minimize any chance of error that can ruin the quality of your board.

How Many Production Lines do they have?

If you want to make sure that your order is not delayed, no matter how big it is, then you have to make sure that you are picking a company that has more than one production line. The greater the number of production lines is, the sooner you’ll be able to receive your order.

So, if you want to place a bulky order and want to make sure that you get it delivered on time, then don’t forget to check the number of production lines they have. It’ll give you a proper idea of much time the manufacturer is going to take to produce your order.

Ask Them About Their Stock of Basic Components

You must ask the assembler about their stocks of basic supplies of capacitors, diodes, resistors, etc. It is important because the assembler has a remarkable stock of the basic supplies; it’ll ease the burden of managing the stocks.

So, you have to make sure that the assembler has a reasonable stock of these things. It’ll help you in getting the order in time. Above all, you’ll have peace of mind because now you have to do nothing to manage your stocks.

Check Their Order Size and Time Limit

It is perhaps the most important thing to know about the capacity of the assembler to cater to your order. It means that if you want to make sure that your product manufacturing is not delayed, then you have to make sure that you have the PCBs well before in time. It’ll help you to release your product on time in the market.

On the other hand, if you are taking the order taking the capacity and time limit of the assembler into account, then it means that you may not be able to bring your product in the market on time. So, don’t forget to figure out the timeline with the company that you are going to pick for the production of PCB.

Learn about the Application Method of Solder Paste

Application of solder paste on the PCB is the most important thing when it comes to the overall quality of the circuit. If the application method of solder paste is manual, then the chances of human error to occur increases by many folds. However, if the solder paste is applied on the circuit boards by the automatic machines, then the chances of any kind of error are reduced significantly.

So, it is advised to select a company that offers semi-automatic or automatic application of solder paste. Remember, the slightest in the application of solder paste can be a risk as it can be a cause of a circuit break.

Education and Qualification of Their Employees

You may think that as long as the quality of the PCB is up to the mark, the qualification of the people making those circuits doesn’t matter. But, it is exactly where you are wrong. If you want to get a really fine product, then you have to make sure that the employees working in the manufacturing unit are qualified enough to handle the printing circuit boards.

Do they Separate Lead and Non-Lead Production Lines?

Depending on the type of product, manufacturing units make both lead and non-lead PCBs. However, most of these companies use the same machinery for the production of both these types. It is something that you must take into account if you want to make sure that you get a mixed product.

So, make sure that you are picking a company that ensures that they use a separate machine for both lead and non-lead PCBs.

Make Sure That They Have Proper Storage

Most of the PCB assembly and manufacturing units are in China. The temperature of china is relatively humid. It means that if the print circuit boards are not handled with care, they may get rusty or spoiled. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you make sure the storage mechanism is foolproof, and you’ll get a fully working batch of the PCBs.

Make sure that your order is fully packed in a vacuum packing a reasonable amount of silica gel in it to absorb the moisture in it. If the quality of the packing of the PCBs is not satisfactory, then take it a clue and start looking for someone better.