Box Builds and PCB Assembly Services

Time: 2020-10-20　View: 1185

Let’s look at box builds in PCB assembly services. A box build can be anything from miniature custom power supply to a sophisticated system with multiple integrated boards, cable assembles, displays, switches, shields and more. Full box build service can include sourcing, supply chain management, prototypes, production, testing and packaging. Usually, but not always, the company that makes your printed circuit board assemblies can also offer box build services. We have been doing box builds since 2015, and have learned that there are three areas to focus on to give you the most value from this service.

First we focus on reducing labor. This not only eliminates a major portion of the cost but also gives you more consistent higher quality. Ways to reduce labor include use of robotic system. Use of specialized tools for manual operations- like torque limited air wrenches that prevent over or under tightening, and use of the assembly line concept for production which is not a new idea but you may be surprised at how many box build operations don’t use it.

Second we focus on our design engineering department to help you design, optimize and source enclosures and other components. This can really reduce manufacturing time and cost and also give you better quality through design for manufacturing, since our in-house design team is extremely familiar with production options. For example, designing a plastic enclosure that can be ultrasonically welded rather than glued.

Third we focus on delivering whatever you need and finding unexpected ways to reduce costs or improve your redults. These three focus areas helps us maximize the core value of box builds, which is the efficiency of having everything taken care of in one place: printed circuit board design, SMT assembly production, enclosure sourcing, system integration and assembly, embedded software and programming, inspection and final testing of the completed product, and final packaging.