Anyone who works in any part of the manufacturing sector knows about the need for trained workers to fill the millions of open manufacturing positions. The availability of a skilled and stable workforce in the industry has become increasingly more important as technology advances, but the number of individuals who can fill these roles has significantly decreased over the past decades. 

An aging workforce hasn’t helped the industry either. As skilled workers age out of manufacturing and retire, there are fewer and fewer people to take their places, meaning that there’s fewer opportunities for these experts to pass on their knowledge. Across the manufacturing industry, there is a pressing need for workers with the skills or the aptitude for learning necessary to be proficient in these jobs. 

How Cypress Technologies is supporting workforce development in Austin, TX

Cypress Technologies, one of the Austin manufacturing companies based right here in Texas, has been putting a high emphasis on internal training of basic manufacturing skills in order to take advantage of the next generation’s potential. Over the past years, we’ve had a great deal of success with our internal workforce development programs, allowing us to hire entry level, unskilled candidates with a strong interest in the manufacturing world and training them to become what we call “master builders”. These are specialists, artists that have been trained in multiple facets of production from soldering, to mechanical assembly. This investment in our workforce allows us to thrive in a high mix, evolving environment, and is key to synchronizing production across our facility. 

Another skill that Cypress has been investing in is communication, a critical skill in such a high mix environment. One of our core values is agility, which requires collaboration–and communication plays a key role in that. Because of this, we are always looking for new ways to obtain feedback, collect data, perform assessments, conduct regular huddles and meetings, and ultimately enhance our team’s communication skills. 

In all of this, our goal is to create an environment that not only allows our team members to continuously improve their communication and participation, but also provides a welcoming and engaging environment for new team members as well. Cypress and it’s leadership has grown up in manufacturing, so this has been a huge shift in mentality–and we’re excited to be a part of this shift. 

Looking for an electronics manufacturer?

Cypress Technologies is an Austin-based manufacturing company with decades of experience in electronics manufacturing and PCB assembly dating back to 1982. If you’re interested in our services, check out our website today.

Printed circuit boards or PCBs play a key role in most electronics. If you take apart any advanced device, you’re likely to see the small chip with its characteristic green color and copper lines. Because of how widespread they are, PCB assembly has become a common, but vital service of electronic contract manufacturers. In this article, we’ll go over the basics of the PCB assembly process, including the major components of a printed circuit board assembly and the steps involved in the process.

What is a PCB and what is a PCB assembly?

Printed circuit boards are small green chips made of fiberglass and copper (or another metal) lines that provide connections between the components on the board. The whole board is held together by an epoxy and insulated with a solder mask, which gives it the characteristic green color. 

PCB assembly is the process of mounting small components onto the circuit board in order to ensure that it functions a certain way. Typically, PCBAs are used for more advanced applications or for electronics that will serve a very specific purpose. PCB assembly can be automated or manual, though these days, automated assembly is much more common thanks to advancements in robotics technology. However, there are still certain steps that are typically manual, especially depending on the type of PCB being crafted. 

The typical parts of a printed circuit board assembly

The base of a PCB consists of several key components that are largely the same across all boards. The substrate, which can be rigid, flexible, or metal, is what gives the board its rigidity (or flexibility). Rigid substrates are the most common, typically consisting of fiberglass, but flexible boards like Kapton plastic are popular for applications that require more bendable and temperature resistant boards. Another alternative is the metal core PCB, which tends to spread heat more efficiently and protect components on the board that are more heat sensitive. 

The next layer is the copper foil, which can adhere to either or both sides of the substrate. After the copper is added, a solder mask covers the entire board, keeps everything in place, and provides places of attachment for any components added. The final layer is a silkscreen, which typically consists of labels that indicate the function of each component on the board.

The technology of PCB assembly

There are two basic types of equipment used in PCB assembly processes. The main one is surface mount technology (SMT) which places sensitive and typically very small components such as resistors or diodes. This is almost always automated these days for more efficient and effective assembly. 

The other basic type of equipment used in PCB assembly is Through-Hole Insertion Technology (THT), which is excellent for larger components with leads or wires that have to be plugged through holes. It’s usually used for components like capacitors and coils, and can be either manually done or automatic. 

The basic steps of PCB Assembly

1. Solder Paste Stencil
   • The solder mask is applied to the PCB where the components will eventually sit. This paste is important for ensuring adherence on the finished board. 
2. Pick & Place
   • Once the solder paste has been applied, the boards are sent on a conveyor belt to robotic pick and place equipment, which add surface mount components to the board.
3. Reflow Soldering
   • Once all of the surface mounted components have been added, the PCBs are transferred to a conveyor that takes them through a reflow oven to melt the solder. The boards are allowed to cool and solidify in a controlled environment after that to ensure that everything will remain in place. 
4. Inspection & Quality Control
   • After the PCBs have cooled, they are tested for functionality. This step also ensures that there are no misplaced components or improper connections on the board. 
5. Through-Hole Insertion
   • This step is not always necessary, depending on the components that need to be added to the board. Any plated through-hole components are added during this step, and specialized soldering is completed for them as well. The soldering can be manual or automated (which is also known as wave soldering). 
6. Final Inspection & Cleaning
   • All final quality checks are completed, and any residue from the assembly process is cleaned off in preparation for the delivery of the finished PCBs. 

Looking for a supplier of PCB assembly services?

Cypress Technologies has been providing proven, hassle-free electronic manufacturing services to our customers since 1987, offering everything from prototype to production. Check out our website to learn more about how we can take your electronics to the next level. 

One of the most common practices in electronics manufacturing is the outsourcing of printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies to third party manufacturers. This service saves OEMs a great deal of time and money, as PCB assembly typically requires specialized equipment and experienced staff. By outsourcing the assembly, the OEM won’t need to invest in acquiring that equipment or hiring extra staff. Instead, the electronic contract manufacturer, who already has all of those resources in place, can perform the operations for them.

Outsourcing PCB assembly has many other benefits as well. Typically, electronic manufacturers have a supply chain in place that the OEM can take advantage of, getting better pricing for components and materials that might have cost extra otherwise. Also, the OEM doesn’t have to designate any manufacturing space in their own facility to install the equipment necessary for PCB assembly. The space that would have been needed can instead be used for their own operations.

Another benefit of outsourcing PCB assembly is the ability to get a product with a much higher level of quality. Electronic manufacturers specialize in these types of services, and they have the experience to identify and correct potential issues in design or production, as well as the necessary equipment to produce PCBs efficiently. They will also be well versed in the quality standards that these components have to meet, and will have the capability to build them to those standards.

In addition, electronic contract manufacturers are set up to produce these assemblies with better efficiency compared to the OEM. They have the staff, the equipment, and the system in place to manufacture and assemble PCBs with quick turnaround times. Not only that, but they’ll have the experience necessary as well to monitor the production process and identify and correct issues if they arise.

Looking for a supplier of PCB assembly services?

Cypress Technologies has been a leader in PCBA and other electronics manufacturing services since 1987. We have a solid network of vendors that helps us provide a flexible approach to manufacturing, while keeping our prices competitive. For more information, check out our website.

One of the most important parts of electronic contract manufacturing services is the level of quality control and assurance that the manufacturer offers. Good contract manufacturers should have well-documented quality control procedures, as well as any necessary certifications for their field, such as the general ISO 9001 certification for quality management. 

The importance of quality management 

Quality is a vital part of electronic manufacturing–and any type of product manufacturing. Good quality management not only leads to better product quality and performance, but can also lead to improved production costs in the long run, as well as improved safety.

Understanding the difference between quality control and quality assurance

Quality management includes elements of both quality control and quality assurance processes. These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually different things altogether. 

Quality Assurance is a series of activities done to confirm that the product meets predetermined quality standards. This is a pre-planned process that sets out standards for the product throughout its development to ensure that it meets the requirements. This is a proactive approach to quality, focusing on the production process itself in order to prevent defects.

Quality Control is a series of operational techniques and tasks that are required to meet the product’s quality standards. These methods help to ensure that the final product is safe and performs effectively after production is complete. This is a reactive approach to quality that focuses on the product itself, identifying and correcting potential defects. 

From inspection to detection

Inspection and detection are two important aspects of a quality management system that also tend to be used interchangeably. Inspection is a manual or automated process, a preventive measure that ensures all products or production techniques are meeting quality standards. Detection is the process of identifying errors or defects that have already occurred in order to correct them and minimize the potential for future errors.

Compliance vs. Certification

Compliance and certification are quite different but excellent ways to confirm that an electronics manufacturer has a good quality management system. Compliance is usually a self-claim and doesn’t always guarantee that the company is following the standards they claim. Certification is awarded after extensive processes and often requires regular, on-site audits. Companies that go through certification are provided with a document proving their compliance with the standards indicated.

Quality Control and Assurance at Cypress Technologies

Cypress Technologies takes quality management seriously. We have been ISO 9001:2015 certified since 1999 through BSI auditing, and all of our work is inspected to IPC-610C and 620C standards. One of the ways that we incorporate quality into our facility is by empowering our employees with the training, knowledge, and equipment they need to judge their work. We have a dedicated trainer to help aid operators in quality assurance and control skills. We also have refined our data acquisition and problem solving (5 Why & 8-D) process for more efficient and cost effective production processes. 

If you’re looking for quality electronic contract manufacturing services, check out our website today!

Electronic contract manufacturing is a specialized field of manufacturing for PCB design and assembly, complete electronic assemblies, electronic component sourcing and procurement, system integration, and electronic product quality testing. They play a vital role in many different industries today, with the exponential growth of integrated electronics in systems across the board. 

The right electronic CM has much to offer your project, from faster time-to-market to improved quality assurance, and even the ability to scale production up or down, accommodating fluctuations in market demand. When you’re looking for a new CM for your electronics products or components, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Expertise and Specialization

Most electronic manufacturers are experienced in a set group of industries or applications, specializing in particular components or services. Make sure to match your product’s needs to the manufacturer’s specialization and examine their expertise as well. They should know the quality standards your product will need to meet and have the certifications and manufacturing capabilities to make that product. 

A good electronic contract manufacturer can also use their expertise to offer design assistance at the very least, finding ways to improve your product’s performance and the project’s overall costs. They’ll have a good understanding not just of the ways a design can improve manufacturability, but also the supply chain needed to build the product. 

Another important factor to consider is how long the company has been in business and how much experience they have in the industry. A company that has been around for several decades has proven its staying power, being able to navigate economic fluctuations and supply chain disruptions. A long-standing company also is more likely to have a more experienced and well-rounded workforce to offer, and more insight into their industry specializations. 

Capabilities and Collaboration

Another key thing to consider when you’re looking into electronic contract manufacturing is the capabilities of the company. They should have a well-maintained and well-equipped facility with the technology necessary to meet your standards of quality, as well as the ability to scale production up or down as needs require. 

A good partner should also collaborate with your team and communicate with transparency throughout the manufacturing process. They should be willing to work with you to find the best possible design and be responsive to your feedback and your standards as well. A good way to examine a company’s capabilities and collaboration is to see if they have any testimonies from previous or current customers–the company’s history is often found on their website or other resources–or contact others that have worked with them in the past and see what that company’s reputation is like.

Looking for a supplier of electronic contract manufacturing services?

Cypress Technologies has been a leader in electronic contract manufacturing since 1987, with a history of integrity, long-term relationships, and superior manufacturing. Check out our website to learn more about how we can serve you.