intrepidsourcing
intrepidsourcing
Intrepid Sourcing and Services
396 posts
We provide manufacturing factory inspection, customized production and freight forwarding services.Google+Official Site
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intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
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Things to Avoid in Custom Clothing Packaging
Things to Avoid in Custom Clothing Packaging Let's first discuss the things to avoid with packaging which annoys customers and gives products a negative impression. Getting to know the following is important to solidify your idea of perfect clothing packaging from hereon. Read the full article
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intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
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OEM Electronics Manufacturing in 4 Basic Steps
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Electronics manufacturing is considered by many as high-tier level manufacturing challenge. The process of design, assembly, production and testing of electronic components along with PCBs are complex tasks not all electronics manufacturing companies can perform themselves. Using an OEM electronics company is the perfect example of a company who does not fully engage in the complex world of electronics yet end up with electronic products for them to sell or market. They simply let the OEM factories manufacture products on their behalf and all they have to do is introduce ideas and designs. Check here what an Original Equipment Manufacturer actually is. Private and white label electronics companies offer different advantages in the field of electronics manufacturing. You can't introduce your own ideas but have to work with what those companies offer. This is also the reason why OEM contract manufacturing companies in the electronics industry are prevalent. More creative designs are a clear trend in electronics manufacturing. Most electronics manufacturing companies create their electronic product designs then submit these to OEM electronics manufacturers for services such PCB assembly and testing. This way, they only pay for PCB assembly and testing and not pay for the entire electronics manufacturing development process. Aside from the basic services, OEM electronics manufacturers also offer additional services such as PCB etching, board tweaking and redesign etc. However, for private and white label electronics, things are much simpler since you just purchase ready-made electronic devices and brand them.
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Step 1: Electronics & Product Design
Product design involves open communication between the client and manufacturer. Most of the time, the manufacturer will ask the client/customer for a concept and they work off of it. A lot of back and forth with suggestions and specifications until the final design is created. This occurrence usually happens if the OEM electronics company do not have graphic design skills to create the layout design or 3D model of the product. Some OEM electronics manufacturing companies are usually staffed with graphic designers to take care of design tasks.
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Step 2: Prototyping
Once the design is ready, it now enters the product development stage with the main objective of having a product prototype at the end of the line. After noting down all of the details and specifications for the electronic product, the OEM electronics company will work on the project and complete it as conceived. Extensive research and brainstorming will be done before they integrate into actual manufacturing process to keep risks at a minimum and avoid wasting time and money. The product prototype should be a perfect replica of the design template including specs and details.
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Step 3: Product Testing
An electronic prototype which serves as the product replica is going to be the tested in its different facets in multiple times. The goal is to ensure the product meets safety precautions and quality standards with its full functionality. Most OEM electronics manufacturing companies have laboratories designed for product testing and failure investigation. The engineers who conduct these tests will also take advantage of these as a research and development process for future electronic designs related to the current model. Advanced testing procedures include optical inspection which automatically analyze the PCB for issues and defects on the computer. Broken traces, patches, etching issues and improper hole locations are easily detected through automated optical inspection. Another important type of testing process is environmental testing wherein the product is exposed to its intended environment and check if it reacts to the environment’s temperature, humidity, air pressure among other factors to test its durability and resistance. There are several more testing procedures such as functional testing, in-circuit testing, x-ray testing and a lot more depending on the nature of the product. All of these testing procedures will be performed on the product as part of the quality control program and ensure it is in its top form for mass production.
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Step 4: Mass Production
Electronic manufacturing is usually divided on to two major areas with mass production capabilities: PCB manufacturing and electronic product manufacturing. 1. PCB Manufacturing There are electronics manufacturing companies who specialize in ODM PCB manufacturing but are limited to this specialty alone and are no longer capable of creating the mold, packaging or case of the electronic product. PCB manufacturing is the task which involves the most electronic knowledge since the printed circuit board houses all of the electrical components, circuits and processors. Electronic manufacturing companies who specialize in ODM PCB manufacturing are most likely staffed with electrical engineers and electronics experts. On the other hand, OEM PCBs are mostly done by the companies themselves. 2. Electronics Product Manufacturing PCB manufacturing is a sub-process of the actual electronics product manufacturing. This is the part wherein the case of the product which houses the PCB itself is created along with other aspects of the product such as aesthetics and functionality. If there are electronics manufacturing companies who specialize in ODM PCB manufacturing alone, there are also companies who only specialize in this area of electronic manufacturing as well. If you notice in OEM electronics these days, none of them have complete departments to deal with the entirety of the electronic manufacturing process. For startups and mid-sized electronics manufacturers, some aspects of the electronic manufacturing are outsourced to other companies to delegate time and expenses unlike with private label electronic manufacturers who simply purchase ready-made electronic designs. Specialty Production Specialized electronics manufacturers can also provide specialty production techniques such as quick turn production, PCB assembly and cabling services. Quick turn production is an instant approach to production aspects like OEM PCB assembly wherein they can assemble the board in 2-3 days upon receiving all of the required electrical components. Cabling services is a special service which focuses exclusively on wires and circuitry.
Conclusion
Electronics manufacturing follows the same manufacturing process such as other product types like garments, plastics and chemicals. The biggest difference are the sub-processes involved in each step which further complicates the entire process due to its specific expertise and knowledge needed for the tasks. The market trend for consumer electronics is still great in the near future. In the aspect of mass production, PCB manufacturing and the actual electronic product manufacturing are both fields which require different skill sets and expertise. The wide range of skills needed within the OEM and ODM electronic manufacturing line is what makes this industry much more complex compared to the others. Hiring employees who are skilled in all of these departments will be tough to find in a very competitive industry and market. Read the full article
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intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
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Ready to start your dream business? Sharing some tips in sourcing manufacturers on your venture
Ready to start your dream business? Sharing some tips in sourcing manufacturers on your venture Read the full article
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intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
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How to Test Low Quality or High Quality Plastic Products?
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Plastic products can display different mechanical properties and these variations from components are most of the time caused by the production process they have undergone. In other words, these quality plastic products were perfectly designed in such ways. However, deviations are sometimes inevitable which could lead to defects and flaws in plastic product manufacturing. This is where quality in plastic products are tested and why the manufacturing process play a huge role to it. A good number of plastic manufacturers produce top quality plastic products in the market today. Sad to say, there are also a few who are able to manufacture low quality plastic products despite having the right knowledge and technology. There are a lot of factors which can be attributed to the latter and these include inconsistent heating temperature, molding issues and poor quality control checks for injection molding just to name a few. Resolving low quality issues among plastic products is not easy and it requires close monitoring of manufacturing parameters which is a vital process in plastic quality control. Each stage of product fabrication has to be monitored meticulously to make sure each plastic product comes out of the production line in the right standards and quality. In this article, we will discover the different factors affecting plastic products’ quality and help you distinguish the following. There are many more very specific plastics tests, but we have to limit this list to the most common ones.
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Methods to Verify Quality of Plastic Products
1. Plastic Resin Variety Assuring the quality of raw plastics and its integrity within a plastic product requires extensive evaluation and inspection methods. The chemical and physical properties of the plastic material should be further examined to identify whether such plastic resin is feasible for manufacturing or passable for the material requirements of a plastic product. Raw plastics normally undergoes testing to see whether they are capable of viability and post-production quality control in plastic industry ensures the materials used for the plastic product are as good as they were intended to be for the plastic product design. Anything less further means the plastic variety is not viable for such plastic product. 2. Raw Material Inspection Raw plastic materials are always expected while they are still in the form of a resin or fiber. When it comes to resins, the plastic quality control factors to check has to be its viscosity, shade and moisture levels while fibers are always being examined for its seam strength. Raw material inspection requires advanced technology such as infrared or nuclear magnetic spectroscopy to further identify chemical structures of the components along with its contamination levels. Some other plastic quality control methods involve liquid chemical analysis which exposes the acid or epoxide groups within a plastic compound. Others also take advantage of gel or liquid chromatography which helps determine the average molecular weight distributed among resin or fiber molecules. Gel or liquid chromatography is extremely useful in assuring plastic products’ quality because molecular weight and its distribution is instrumental to the material’s viscosity and eventually its mechanical properties. For example, with polyester, low molecular weight results to high viscosity levels which means a slow thickening rate. This will make the plastic material hard to handle and time consuming to thicken for its desired state. Raw materials’ moisture levels are also factor to its thickening rate. 3. Ultrasonic Inspection Ultrasonic inspection is an advanced technological method to test plastic materials’ quality. It employs the use of ultra-high frequency sound waves to expose internal flaws on a plastic material such as hollow spaces and rifts. An electric transducer is used to release these sound waves through a medium such as water being applied to the plastic material. As the sound waves moves across the plastic material, the consistency of the energy levels change whenever they encounter defects and flaws to the plastic material. The electric transducer also assesses the sound waves and displays them on a screen monitor to make it easier for the plastic quality control manager to visualize the results. The same results will be used to define the characteristics of the plastic material and the most common flaws exposed through this quality control method are voids, collection of small voids, gaps or rifts and presence of foreign materials or contaminants. Inappropriate industrial design of the product can contribute to internal flaws as well. 4. Radiographic Testing Radiographic testing is a quality control process which involves exposing a plastic material to a beam of radiation while recording and measuring the radiation’s intensity as it passes the material through the opposite end. The initial and final intensity of the radiation beam will serve as a determinant to flaws and defects within the plastic material. This procedure is a standard quality control injection molding process for big plastic manufacturing companies prior to entering the mass production stage. The radiographic testing method employs x-rays which are then materialized as visual images on photographic film. When it comes to plastic materials with a certain degree of thickness, gamma rays are used for further intensity. Flaws and defects such as voids, translaminar fractures, inconsistent fibers, presence of foreign materials or contaminants and uneven fiber distribution to the material can be seen as dark spots on the photographic film. 5. Acoustic Inspection Much like ultrasonic inspection, acoustic inspection also employs the use of sound waves to detect defects and flaws to the plastic material. But instead of exposing the material to intense sound waves, this method relies on sound emissions from areas to the plastic material with defects and flaws. A certain amount of pressure and force applied into the material will result to acoustic emissions exposing the defects and flaws of the plastic material. Common flaws and defects detected through this plastic quality control method are microscopic cracks, fiber inconsistencies, broken fiber bonds, breakage and local delamination. Acoustic inspection can be pulled off by placing sensitive transducers at certain areas on the plastic material’s surface. Once surface disturbances are detected, the transducers record these as data for the quality control team to assess later on. The following processes mentioned above are standard plastic quality control methods in determining whether plastic materials are of low or high quality. If they pass these plastic quality control tests, then it can be assured that the plastic product is of top quality based on its material and components. Also check out the ISO publications for testing details. Read the full article
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intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
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8 Top Tips for Successful New Product Development Developing a product to gain market traction and has an ability to commercialize is a much harder proposition than some might think. Here are a few tips for successful new product development.
8 Top Tips for Successful New Product Development Developing a product to gain market traction and has an ability to commercialize is a much harder proposition than some might think. Here are a few tips for successful new product development.
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intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
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6 Critical Processes for Quality Control in Electronic Manufacturing
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Quality control in electronics manufacturing is an integral part of the production process. It always belong as a top level priority for most electronic manufacturers since QC electronics heavily dictates the outcome of the product hence the name of the process: quality assurance. Also big companies can struggle with proper testing as Samsung's problems with exploding batteries and braking folding displays illustrates. Quality assurance in electronics manufacturing does not only serve as a determinant for the electronic products but also fulfills the electronic company’s reputation and business success. All electronics manufacturers acknowledge this fact which is why they tend to focus on implementing a proper electronic quality control plan. Here are six critical processes need to be implemented for quality control in electronic manufacturing.
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1. Hiring the Right Quality Engineer
The success of an electronic quality control plan can only be attributed to the quality engineer behind it. Engineering is a vital factor for quality control in electronic manufacturing and having a bad quality engineer in place will expect terrible results along the way. Hiring the right quality engineer is crucial to the project and you have to make sure you hire the right person for the job. This quality engineer must be equipped with the right knowledge, skills and experience suitable to your electronics quality control needs. You can also shop for quality engineers by checking out other electronic manufacturing companies. Most of these quality engineers are willing to work with multiple companies whether they’d be doing PCB quality control for a certain company and facilitate the entire quality assurance electronics for a different company. Picking professional quality engineers are perfect for your QC electronics needs since they are the ones who possess the right skill set and experience for the job position.
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2. Risk Management
The risk management process keeps costs at a minimum by avoiding setbacks and losses. It also covers meeting deadlines and make sure everything gets delivered or achieved on time. Mitigating risks is imperative for any electronics manufacturing company to keep liabilities at a minimum and discover potential issues then resolve them before they impact the entire manufacturing process and cause a setback. A risk management plan should be included in all quality control plans and not only in electronics. Risk management detects problems before they even occur and become detrimental to the manufacturing process. Here is a good example on how the risk management process plays its role. When ordering for electrical components for the PCB, the risk management plan makes sure the parts arrive on time and everything works according to the lead time expected. The risk management plan will further assure all of the financial risks are evaluated in case mishaps occur and a fall back plan is in place to avoid serious issues down the manufacturing process. Technical details can be found here.
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3. IPC Inspection
The IPC is a trade association who aims to standardize electronic manufacturing and serves as an initial level of quality assurance in electronics manufacturing. This association is the official group which determines the Acceptance Quality Level (AQL) of any electronic component. The AQL is the determining number whether an electronic component has a number of defective units which could merit rejection. Substandard products are classified as Class 2 IPC which means dedicated service electronic products while Class 3 IPC products are critical when it comes to standards.
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4. TTC System
The TTC system is an advanced technology method being implemented by most electronics manufacturing companies these days as a part of their electronics quality control process. This is a traceability system which regulates manufacturing processes and stabilizes factors in human-critical working environments to make sure products are all safe and reliable. TTC system oversees components, collects data and record human operated activities as statistics to reduce errors and possible issues.
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5. First Article Approval
Electronic manufacturers check the first product off the production line and let it go undergo a thorough electronics quality control before the rest of the batch is a given a go for massive production. The First Article Approval does not focus on the manufacturing process but aims to match the end product expected out of the batch. As long as the end product is passes all quality standards regardless of lead time and any other factors, then the First Article Approval will be released. The First Article Approval is critical for the production line. It is a prerequisite document which approves mass production. Regardless if there are mistakes along the way within the manufacturing process, the First Article Approval signifies approval for mass production and is a huge leap for the QC electronics process  since it approves the end product is as expected despite all of the problems/issues suffered within the manufacturing process if there are any.
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6. Quality Certifications
Quality certifications are added bonuses to any quality assurance in electronic manufacturing. These certifications could cover equipment, workers’ skills and working space sometimes overlooked with traditional quality control in electronics manufacturing. Having these factors credited goes a long way in which further establishes your company as a certified electronics manufacturing company. There are clients and customers who are enticed with quality certifications as they speak so much for your electronics manufacturing company and acts as a service guarantee.
Conclusion
All of these critical processes for quality control in manufacturing serves as prerequisites to have a stable QC electronics process. If a quality engineer misses to have one of these in place, then there is a possibility wherein the QC electronics process could be flawed resulting to products of substandard qualities. Failure in the quality control department could result to waste of resources, poor products, human errors and failed product specifications which are nightmares for all electronics product manufacturers. Read the full article
0 notes
intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
Text
6 Critical Processes for Quality Control in Electronic Manufacturing
Tumblr media
Quality control in electronics manufacturing is an integral part of the production process. It always belong as a top level priority for most electronic manufacturers since QC electronics heavily dictates the outcome of the product hence the name of the process: quality assurance. Also big companies can struggle with proper testing as Samsung's problems with exploding batteries and braking folding displays illustrates. Quality assurance in electronics manufacturing does not only serve as a determinant for the electronic products but also fulfills the electronic company’s reputation and business success. All electronics manufacturers acknowledge this fact which is why they tend to focus on implementing a proper electronic quality control plan. Here are six critical processes need to be implemented for quality control in electronic manufacturing.
Tumblr media
1. Hiring the Right Quality Engineer
The success of an electronic quality control plan can only be attributed to the quality engineer behind it. Engineering is a vital factor for quality control in electronic manufacturing and having a bad quality engineer in place will expect terrible results along the way. Hiring the right quality engineer is crucial to the project and you have to make sure you hire the right person for the job. This quality engineer must be equipped with the right knowledge, skills and experience suitable to your electronics quality control needs. You can also shop for quality engineers by checking out other electronic manufacturing companies. Most of these quality engineers are willing to work with multiple companies whether they’d be doing PCB quality control for a certain company and facilitate the entire quality assurance electronics for a different company. Picking professional quality engineers are perfect for your QC electronics needs since they are the ones who possess the right skill set and experience for the job position.
Tumblr media
2. Risk Management
The risk management process keeps costs at a minimum by avoiding setbacks and losses. It also covers meeting deadlines and make sure everything gets delivered or achieved on time. Mitigating risks is imperative for any electronics manufacturing company to keep liabilities at a minimum and discover potential issues then resolve them before they impact the entire manufacturing process and cause a setback. A risk management plan should be included in all quality control plans and not only in electronics. Risk management detects problems before they even occur and become detrimental to the manufacturing process. Here is a good example on how the risk management process plays its role. When ordering for electrical components for the PCB, the risk management plan makes sure the parts arrive on time and everything works according to the lead time expected. The risk management plan will further assure all of the financial risks are evaluated in case mishaps occur and a fall back plan is in place to avoid serious issues down the manufacturing process. Technical details can be found here.
Tumblr media
3. IPC Inspection
The IPC is a trade association who aims to standardize electronic manufacturing and serves as an initial level of quality assurance in electronics manufacturing. This association is the official group which determines the Acceptance Quality Level (AQL) of any electronic component. The AQL is the determining number whether an electronic component has a number of defective units which could merit rejection. Substandard products are classified as Class 2 IPC which means dedicated service electronic products while Class 3 IPC products are critical when it comes to standards.
Tumblr media
4. TTC System
The TTC system is an advanced technology method being implemented by most electronics manufacturing companies these days as a part of their electronics quality control process. This is a traceability system which regulates manufacturing processes and stabilizes factors in human-critical working environments to make sure products are all safe and reliable. TTC system oversees components, collects data and record human operated activities as statistics to reduce errors and possible issues.
Tumblr media
5. First Article Approval
Electronic manufacturers check the first product off the production line and let it go undergo a thorough electronics quality control before the rest of the batch is a given a go for massive production. The First Article Approval does not focus on the manufacturing process but aims to match the end product expected out of the batch. As long as the end product is passes all quality standards regardless of lead time and any other factors, then the First Article Approval will be released. The First Article Approval is critical for the production line. It is a prerequisite document which approves mass production. Regardless if there are mistakes along the way within the manufacturing process, the First Article Approval signifies approval for mass production and is a huge leap for the QC electronics process  since it approves the end product is as expected despite all of the problems/issues suffered within the manufacturing process if there are any.
Tumblr media
6. Quality Certifications
Quality certifications are added bonuses to any quality assurance in electronic manufacturing. These certifications could cover equipment, workers’ skills and working space sometimes overlooked with traditional quality control in electronics manufacturing. Having these factors credited goes a long way in which further establishes your company as a certified electronics manufacturing company. There are clients and customers who are enticed with quality certifications as they speak so much for your electronics manufacturing company and acts as a service guarantee.
Conclusion
All of these critical processes for quality control in manufacturing serves as prerequisites to have a stable QC electronics process. If a quality engineer misses to have one of these in place, then there is a possibility wherein the QC electronics process could be flawed resulting to products of substandard qualities. Failure in the quality control department could result to waste of resources, poor products, human errors and failed product specifications which are nightmares for all electronics product manufacturers. Read the full article
0 notes
intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
Text
6 Critical Processes for Quality Control in Electronic Manufacturing
Tumblr media
Quality control in electronics manufacturing is an integral part of the production process. It always belong as a top level priority for most electronic manufacturers since QC electronics heavily dictates the outcome of the product hence the name of the process: quality assurance. Also big companies can struggle with proper testing as Samsung's problems with exploding batteries and braking folding displays illustrates. Quality assurance in electronics manufacturing does not only serve as a determinant for the electronic products but also fulfills the electronic company’s reputation and business success. All electronics manufacturers acknowledge this fact which is why they tend to focus on implementing a proper electronic quality control plan. Here are six critical processes need to be implemented for quality control in electronic manufacturing.
Tumblr media
1. Hiring the Right Quality Engineer
The success of an electronic quality control plan can only be attributed to the quality engineer behind it. Engineering is a vital factor for quality control in electronic manufacturing and having a bad quality engineer in place will expect terrible results along the way. Hiring the right quality engineer is crucial to the project and you have to make sure you hire the right person for the job. This quality engineer must be equipped with the right knowledge, skills and experience suitable to your electronics quality control needs. You can also shop for quality engineers by checking out other electronic manufacturing companies. Most of these quality engineers are willing to work with multiple companies whether they’d be doing PCB quality control for a certain company and facilitate the entire quality assurance electronics for a different company. Picking professional quality engineers are perfect for your QC electronics needs since they are the ones who possess the right skill set and experience for the job position.
Tumblr media
2. Risk Management
The risk management process keeps costs at a minimum by avoiding setbacks and losses. It also covers meeting deadlines and make sure everything gets delivered or achieved on time. Mitigating risks is imperative for any electronics manufacturing company to keep liabilities at a minimum and discover potential issues then resolve them before they impact the entire manufacturing process and cause a setback. A risk management plan should be included in all quality control plans and not only in electronics. Risk management detects problems before they even occur and become detrimental to the manufacturing process. Here is a good example on how the risk management process plays its role. When ordering for electrical components for the PCB, the risk management plan makes sure the parts arrive on time and everything works according to the lead time expected. The risk management plan will further assure all of the financial risks are evaluated in case mishaps occur and a fall back plan is in place to avoid serious issues down the manufacturing process. Technical details can be found here.
Tumblr media
3. IPC Inspection
The IPC is a trade association who aims to standardize electronic manufacturing and serves as an initial level of quality assurance in electronics manufacturing. This association is the official group which determines the Acceptance Quality Level (AQL) of any electronic component. The AQL is the determining number whether an electronic component has a number of defective units which could merit rejection. Substandard products are classified as Class 2 IPC which means dedicated service electronic products while Class 3 IPC products are critical when it comes to standards.
Tumblr media
4. TTC System
The TTC system is an advanced technology method being implemented by most electronics manufacturing companies these days as a part of their electronics quality control process. This is a traceability system which regulates manufacturing processes and stabilizes factors in human-critical working environments to make sure products are all safe and reliable. TTC system oversees components, collects data and record human operated activities as statistics to reduce errors and possible issues.
Tumblr media
5. First Article Approval
Electronic manufacturers check the first product off the production line and let it go undergo a thorough electronics quality control before the rest of the batch is a given a go for massive production. The First Article Approval does not focus on the manufacturing process but aims to match the end product expected out of the batch. As long as the end product is passes all quality standards regardless of lead time and any other factors, then the First Article Approval will be released. The First Article Approval is critical for the production line. It is a prerequisite document which approves mass production. Regardless if there are mistakes along the way within the manufacturing process, the First Article Approval signifies approval for mass production and is a huge leap for the QC electronics process  since it approves the end product is as expected despite all of the problems/issues suffered within the manufacturing process if there are any.
Tumblr media
6. Quality Certifications
Quality certifications are added bonuses to any quality assurance in electronic manufacturing. These certifications could cover equipment, workers’ skills and working space sometimes overlooked with traditional quality control in electronics manufacturing. Having these factors credited goes a long way in which further establishes your company as a certified electronics manufacturing company. There are clients and customers who are enticed with quality certifications as they speak so much for your electronics manufacturing company and acts as a service guarantee.
Conclusion
All of these critical processes for quality control in manufacturing serves as prerequisites to have a stable QC electronics process. If a quality engineer misses to have one of these in place, then there is a possibility wherein the QC electronics process could be flawed resulting to products of substandard qualities. Failure in the quality control department could result to waste of resources, poor products, human errors and failed product specifications which are nightmares for all electronics product manufacturers. Read the full article
0 notes
intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
Text
6 Critical Processes for Quality Control in Electronic Manufacturing
Tumblr media
Quality control in electronics manufacturing is an integral part of the production process. It always belong as a top level priority for most electronic manufacturers since QC electronics heavily dictates the outcome of the product hence the name of the process: quality assurance. Also big companies can struggle with proper testing as Samsung's problems with exploding batteries and braking folding displays illustrates. Quality assurance in electronics manufacturing does not only serve as a determinant for the electronic products but also fulfills the electronic company’s reputation and business success. All electronics manufacturers acknowledge this fact which is why they tend to focus on implementing a proper electronic quality control plan. Here are six critical processes need to be implemented for quality control in electronic manufacturing.
Tumblr media
1. Hiring the Right Quality Engineer
The success of an electronic quality control plan can only be attributed to the quality engineer behind it. Engineering is a vital factor for quality control in electronic manufacturing and having a bad quality engineer in place will expect terrible results along the way. Hiring the right quality engineer is crucial to the project and you have to make sure you hire the right person for the job. This quality engineer must be equipped with the right knowledge, skills and experience suitable to your electronics quality control needs. You can also shop for quality engineers by checking out other electronic manufacturing companies. Most of these quality engineers are willing to work with multiple companies whether they’d be doing PCB quality control for a certain company and facilitate the entire quality assurance electronics for a different company. Picking professional quality engineers are perfect for your QC electronics needs since they are the ones who possess the right skill set and experience for the job position.
Tumblr media
2. Risk Management
The risk management process keeps costs at a minimum by avoiding setbacks and losses. It also covers meeting deadlines and make sure everything gets delivered or achieved on time. Mitigating risks is imperative for any electronics manufacturing company to keep liabilities at a minimum and discover potential issues then resolve them before they impact the entire manufacturing process and cause a setback. A risk management plan should be included in all quality control plans and not only in electronics. Risk management detects problems before they even occur and become detrimental to the manufacturing process. Here is a good example on how the risk management process plays its role. When ordering for electrical components for the PCB, the risk management plan makes sure the parts arrive on time and everything works according to the lead time expected. The risk management plan will further assure all of the financial risks are evaluated in case mishaps occur and a fall back plan is in place to avoid serious issues down the manufacturing process. Technical details can be found here.
Tumblr media
3. IPC Inspection
The IPC is a trade association who aims to standardize electronic manufacturing and serves as an initial level of quality assurance in electronics manufacturing. This association is the official group which determines the Acceptance Quality Level (AQL) of any electronic component. The AQL is the determining number whether an electronic component has a number of defective units which could merit rejection. Substandard products are classified as Class 2 IPC which means dedicated service electronic products while Class 3 IPC products are critical when it comes to standards.
Tumblr media
4. TTC System
The TTC system is an advanced technology method being implemented by most electronics manufacturing companies these days as a part of their electronics quality control process. This is a traceability system which regulates manufacturing processes and stabilizes factors in human-critical working environments to make sure products are all safe and reliable. TTC system oversees components, collects data and record human operated activities as statistics to reduce errors and possible issues.
Tumblr media
5. First Article Approval
Electronic manufacturers check the first product off the production line and let it go undergo a thorough electronics quality control before the rest of the batch is a given a go for massive production. The First Article Approval does not focus on the manufacturing process but aims to match the end product expected out of the batch. As long as the end product is passes all quality standards regardless of lead time and any other factors, then the First Article Approval will be released. The First Article Approval is critical for the production line. It is a prerequisite document which approves mass production. Regardless if there are mistakes along the way within the manufacturing process, the First Article Approval signifies approval for mass production and is a huge leap for the QC electronics process  since it approves the end product is as expected despite all of the problems/issues suffered within the manufacturing process if there are any.
Tumblr media
6. Quality Certifications
Quality certifications are added bonuses to any quality assurance in electronic manufacturing. These certifications could cover equipment, workers’ skills and working space sometimes overlooked with traditional quality control in electronics manufacturing. Having these factors credited goes a long way in which further establishes your company as a certified electronics manufacturing company. There are clients and customers who are enticed with quality certifications as they speak so much for your electronics manufacturing company and acts as a service guarantee.
Conclusion
All of these critical processes for quality control in manufacturing serves as prerequisites to have a stable QC electronics process. If a quality engineer misses to have one of these in place, then there is a possibility wherein the QC electronics process could be flawed resulting to products of substandard qualities. Failure in the quality control department could result to waste of resources, poor products, human errors and failed product specifications which are nightmares for all electronics product manufacturers. Read the full article
0 notes
intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
Text
Fitness & Sports Equipment Industry Report for China: An Overview | Intrepid Sourcing
Planning to start a sport and fitness equipment business? China’s top sporting goods and equipment manufacturers are some of the biggest suppliers in the global fitness industry. We could help you out! #sports #equipments #manufacturer #oem #entrepreneur Read the full article
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intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
Text
Fitness & Sports Equipment Industry Report for China: An Overview | Intrepid Sourcing
Planning to start a sport and fitness equipment business? China’s top sporting goods and equipment manufacturers are some of the biggest suppliers in the global fitness industry. We could help you out! #sports #equipments #manufacturer #oem #entrepreneur Read the full article
0 notes
intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
Text
Fitness & Sports Equipment Industry Report for China: An Overview | Intrepid Sourcing
Planning to start a sport and fitness equipment business? China’s top sporting goods and equipment manufacturers are some of the biggest suppliers in the global fitness industry. We could help you out! #sports #equipments #manufacturer #oem #entrepreneur Read the full article
0 notes
intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
Text
How to Implement Quality Control for Clothing
Your clothing products directly represent your company. Positive response out of your clothing products, garment and apparel will right away reflect towards your company while any negative comments and feedback will be detrimental to your reputation as well. This is why your quality control for clothing is instrumental to your operations apart from the goal of being able to manufacture your product in the right number and at the right time. In times of fast fashion, also big and well-known brands sometimes struggle with quality problems, such as Zara and H&M. Even outlet clothing of big designer brands are known to have issues. Quality control in garment manufacturing is an automatic task for clothing manufacturers. However, it is a much more complex process whenever the operations involve importing its products from abroad. Here is our wiki guide on how to manage quality control for clothing such as creating garment quality control procedures.
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3 Effective Ways of Garment Quality Control
1. Set your company’s clothing standards. It would be impossible to implement quality control in garment manufacturing if you do not set the bar of the quality type which you want to achieve. This process is the first major part in all quality control plans and not only in clothing. Establish quality standards by determining whether your clothing and garments are buyable or not. Ask yourself if the product fits its bill or if it is worth every penny spent for it. Customer satisfaction should be the main consideration for your quality standards. Fit and comfort are always the main concerns when it comes to garment quality. Set your quality standards around these parameters and keep it as a mark which all of your clothing products will pass in the future. These garment quality control standards will be the same standards in which your clothing manufacturing companies, custom packaging company and other third-party players will respect with your clothing products. When it comes to mass production, it would be easy to find discrepancies from one clothing product to another. It would be very difficult to maintain a uniform quality for each one of your products most especially if they are hand-sewn and not manufactured through machines. Your company’s garment quality control standards must be considerate of this and at least provide tolerance which gives manufacturers a small room for error. In this type of business, you need to understand not all clothing products are manufactured with the same level of quality but at least, your products should fall in a margin of quality control clothing standards which they could pass. 2. Implement on-site product testing before they are shipped out of the factory. Some clothing lines assume clothing products and garments no longer need to undergo on-site testing because as long as the product function much like the sample then it is good to go for shipping out of the factory. Little they know is the fact, on-site testing is actually necessary whether for clothing, garments or apparel. Garment quality control procedures include testing the fit and comfort of the garment post-production phase. This process will also further test if the product meets your quality expectations along with the right functionality and durability. Here are a few on-site test which you can do; a. Fitting test For this process, you can try on each size variation on specific mannequins and check for yourself if the clothing products were manufactured the right way and has passed your quality control for clothing. Doing it one by one will be time consuming but trying out a few end products will give you the general gist. b. Seam strength test Most especially for handwoven products, it is a must to test seam strength by checking all seams and edges. Try pulling apart the clothing product with regular force along its seams and look for cracks and loose thread to verify if the seams are properly sewn. Any form of irregularity in the seams and thread line means the product is sub-standard and has failed your quality control for clothing. c. Dry and wet crocking test The crocking test is applicable for any clothing or apparel with color/s on it. The test is done by rubbing the clothing or apparel to a plain white cloth and see if there were any bleeds or color transfer. The dry test involves using a dry white cloth while the wet crocking test uses a wet white cloth soaked in water beforehand. Multiple product samples are used for this test for a more exact conclusion. d. Fatigue tests This test focuses on the add-ons of each product such as fasteners like buttons and zippers. The fatigue test lets you repeat the function of such add-ons for at least twenty to fifty times and only affirm the product has passed your garment quality procedure if it is still functional after the final trial. If any of the fasteners, buttons or zippers fail the test, then you are bound to change supplier for these add-ons. e. Stretch test The fabric or material used for the garment or clothing is expected to show proper elasticity. The stretch test should determine whether the product passed your quality management in apparel industry if it does not expose any fiber material or broken stitches after the stretch test. Much like the seam strength test, this is done by giving the product a slight pull with average force. 3. Performing laboratory tests on products. Aside from basic physical tests you can perform for quality assurance in garment industry, you are also advised to take the scientific route and have your materials assessed for proper quality control. Scientific laboratories can further test your clothing material and its add-ons to make sure they are viable for your product’s purpose and design. Some accessories may not need lab testing because industry professionals can already be expert enough to test them manually. On the other hand, lab tests may be necessary when it comes to verifying materials for clothing labeling. Since you are obliged to comply to clothing labeling requirements when manufacturing clothing products, it is a vital part of the quality control clothing process to verify if the clothing materials you have used are legitimate according to what your clothing label says or not. Failure to comply clothing labeling could be punishable by law.
Summary
The three mentioned ways for garment quality control are standard for any clothing line in this industry. It would be up to you how to perform each process and up to certain lengths. A quality assurance specialist can help. The sole purpose is to make sure your products reach the end up of the production line passing your quality standards and be rightful to bear you brand. You are also free to add up other items in your garment quality control checklist, as long as the purpose remains the same and they do not relatively slow down the manufacturing process. Read the full article
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intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
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How to Find an Electronics Contract Manufacturing Company?
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Looking for an electronics manufacturing company on a contract basis seems like a challenge. There are a lot of electronics manufacturing companies out there and selecting the best one suitable or perfect for your needs could be a tough task to pull off. Your choice should depend on the electronics product category which you would like to manufacture. If you are still confused of what you are looking for in an electronics contract manufacturing company then this article should be perfect for you. Asian countries are common choice for multiple reasons and particularly China has built itself an advantage that it is likely to keep despite of tariffs and increasing labor cost. You may not know on how to narrow down your options for the available electronics manufacturing companies. This is why we’ve put together these 8 big factors you should consider on choosing the electronics contract manufacturing company you should be working with for your electronic device.
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8 Factors in Choosing an Electronics Contract Manufacturing Company
 1. Industry Longevity and Experience Hiring an electronics contract manufacturing company with an extensive history and experience in the industry is definitely an advantage for your start up or existing business. Famous manufacturers like Apple outsource all of their components to contract manufacturers. Working with a company which has an established reputation along with expertise can be expected to come up with top quality work which shares the glory of each product coming out of their production line. Your success can definitely be theirs and vice versa. You would not be afraid to risk your electronics manufacturing with them since their reputation goes along with you electronic product’s performance in the market. 2. Design Skills & Capabilities An electronics contract manufacturing company should not limit their services as a manufacturer but should also intervene with PCB design tweaks and modifications. Whether these comments and suggestions are welcome or not, they must be knowledgeable enough to give thoughts and feedbacks on the PCB design to give the client a different perspective or outlook which may be beneficial for the end product. A different review on the current specs is always a welcome notion for further assessment and correction to make the PCB design as efficient and effective as it may be. 3. Technology Advancement There is always a chance to utilize technology, tools, software and other advanced services to utilize the electronic product which you are manufacturing. It is in your best interest to take advantage of the latest technologies available to make sure your electronic product gets developed in the top tier manner which is expected of it to be. The high-end technology used to create this electronic product will serve as a determinant for its place in the market. 4. Industry Compliance You need to be constantly updated with industry standards and make sure the EMS manufacturing company you are working with complies with standards currently present in the industry. Aside from industry standards, the EMS manufacturing company should also be in compliance with your company’s standards and quality assurance protocol. 5. Environment Friendly Putting the environment as a concern goes to show your electronics company and the electronics manufacturing company you are working with are legit companies. Electronic products are known to produce toxic wastes which is why proper disposal shows a better image of your company and the companies you are working with. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) is in place to make sure you comply with rules and deliver a nature-friendly product. 6. Product Testing As a part of the quality assurance program, product testing should be done to make sure all of the products or PCB boards satisfy the expectations of consumers. Product testing is a constant task which assures all designs pass quality standards and nothing passes of subpar quality. Product testing will also testify whether the electronics manufacturing company have underperformed to check the product design for flaws and issues which could become an issue later on with mass production. Even many products sold on Amazon don't have sufficient certifications, which is particularly critical for electronics. 7. Production Line Management The electronics contract manufacturing company you are working with must be equipped with the right connection in the industry to make sure all aspects of production gets covered. Factors such as supplies, electrical components and commodities must be all covered by the electronics contract manufacturing company wherein you’d be left focused on production and design for your electronic device. 8. Post-Production Services There are a lot of electronics contract manufacturing companies whose services are only limited until the product is out of the production line. It would be advantageous to hire electronics manufacturing companies who will continuously assist you during the post-production phase. This may include marketing and other fulfillment services such as free troubleshooting for faulty PCBs. Any form of post-production service is a welcome notion for startup electronics manufacturing companies out there.
It’s a Wrap
Finding an electronics contract manufacturing company perfect for your needs is not really a tough task. The process of assessment is the lengthy and difficult part. However, the entire process all boils down to picking an electronics manufacturing company who has the right skill set, experience and character to develop your product. Their availability is a non-issue but the selection process goes a long way. Read the full article
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intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
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How to Find a Clothing Manufacturer and What to Look for
Finding a clothing manufacturer could be the make or break for your clothing company. They play a crucial role to your company since your products’ quality and availability hugely rely on them. How to find a clothing manufacturer should not be a problem since there are a lot out there but finding a clothing manufacturer who is perfect for your company is another issue. Here are a few things to consider in what to look for in a clothing manufacturer.
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Things to Look for in a Clothing Manufacturer
1. Are they capable of manufacturing the product? This is obviously the most important thing to consider for how to find a clothing manufacturer. They must have the ability to manufacture the product with all your specifications including all intricacies to the product if there are any. There are a lot of companies which can be considered as clothing manufacturers but are not capable of creating specific clothing types due to specialties. Experience and knowledge are the most important factors in here. For example, if you are trying to create athletic wear, then make sure you hire a custom clothing manufacturer who has experience in creating athletic wear or has perfect knowledge and skills in doing so. 2. Are they located in your area or overseas? Choosing to work with a local or overseas clothing manufacturer has their own sets of pros and cons. You need to weigh these factors and choose the best option for your clothing company. Here are the advantages and disadvantages you can consider for your choice. Picking a local clothing manufacturer clearly has the benefits of being able to meet personally, inspect their factory and eliminate the problem of cultural differences and language barrier. Also, if the product is locally-made, then you can also use this as a selling point for marketing purposes. Quality depends on the materials used and skills of the manufacturers and the results cannot be determined whether you are hiring a local or overseas custom clothing manufacturer. With all the advantages going domestic manufacturers’ way, what are the advantages left for overseas clothing manufacturers? The biggest catch for hiring overseas clothing manufacturers is the cost most especially if you are on to large-scale production. Also, you can realize affordable small-scale production that is impossible in Western countries. Countries such as China are known as manufacturing giants and charge the cheapest cost when it comes to manufacturing any type of products. Even if you are only looking for clothing manufacturers for small orders, picking China is still a good choice due to the huge cost disparity. Lastly, the large variety of options for clothing manufacturers for small businesses is a huge plus which means you can always end up choosing the perfect custom clothing manufacturer for your company. 3. What is their Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)? As a small clothing business, you are always conscious of costs. You need to be aware of the minimum order quantity when finding a clothing manufacturer to make sure your company fit to their standards. You would not want to push orders beyond your budget or limit until you start earning from the first batch of orders. Make sure the MOQ is fitting for your business. 4. Do they accept product sampling? It is not smart to mass produce an item without seeing the sample product or prototype. Make sure your potential custom clothing manufacturer accepts sampling orders so you can test their ability of manufacturing the product according to your preferences and standards. Looking into how to get a prototype made should be one of the first things to do. It is advisable to stick with the same factory when it comes to sampling and mass production instead of having separate manufacturers. Having a single custom clothing manufacturer would have a smoother transition with no possible alterations to the product. 5. Get to know their fees and shipping costs. Shipping costs would be a non-issue if you have chosen a local clothing manufacturer for small businesses. However, this is a big factor with overseas clothing manufacturers. Make sure their shipping fees fit your budget and they are charged the right way. On the other hand, you need to know all of their fees aside from their service charge. This is necessary so you would not get surprised of any fees accumulated during the manufacturing process. Transparency in all of the fees is an important quality with custom clothing manufacturers. 6. What are their quality standards? Any factory you can talk to when finding a manufacturer would always say they have high regard when it comes to standards. However, you cannot simply trust their word for it. You need to see first-hand by visiting their factory and witness their production process then observe the production line efficiency and end products. The quality of your garments are determinants of your reputation in the industry. You would not want to risk quality assurance simply because you were lenient in this aspect. 7. Who are their past/current clients? Your custom clothing manufacturer can be tested based on their current and past clients. You can check these brands’ products and see for yourself if you are satisfied of their quality since your products will be belonging under the same factory. Do a little research and see whether these brands are achieving success and if customers are happy with their products. A big part of their success can be attributed to the custom clothing manufacturer they are working with.
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Where to Find Clothing Manufacturers?
The traditional way of finding a clothing manufacturer is by attending trade shows or trade fairs. These are events where manufacturers showcase their products to advertise their services, such as product design consultancy, to potential clients. It is not only an event where you can meet manufacturers but also a great way to look for innovative, up and coming products in the market today. Aside from trade fairs, you can also take advantage of the internet as a way how to find a clothing manufacturer. Most of these present day custom clothing manufacturers already have their own websites making it more convenient for clothing lines to contact them via the internet. Some countries have government pages that give advice, such as here for Australia. Some are also active with their social media channels and you can also take advantage of these portals to get to them. Figuring out how to find a clothing manufacturer and get in touch with them (even when they are located on the other side of the world) has never been easier than today. Read the full article
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intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
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Essential Files Necessary for Plastic Injection Molding
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People who are new to the plastic manufacturing business often do not fully understand the entire product development process for plastics. They would assume if they already have a perfect design then they can right away move on to plastic injection molding to get their product done. Unfortunately, there are a lot of prerequisites to the process which include production files needed by the plastics manufacturer. Plastic manufacturing is a complex process. There are a lot of things that goes into the entire process aside from concept/design and plastic injection molding. In this wiki article, we will focus on pre-production files needed before moving on to plastic injection molding. These essential files are all needed before the manufacturers can jumpstart on production. Here are the essential files necessary for plastic injection molding.
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Requirements for Plastic Injection Molding
1. CAD software file A computer-generated file created through a CAD software is needed by plastic manufacturers. With the help of design experts, your potential product will be fully visualized through CAD plastic designs. CAD drawing services can take regular sketches and concepts into a full 3D model through the CAD software file and eventually turn this into a physical prototype. Make sure that you consider the differences for the file formats. STL files are common and useful for 3D prints, but you should ideally have STP or STEP files for making molds. You can check out and practise with files that other people created, like the example designs here. 2. Injection mold tool The injection mold tool also called by industry experts as novel prototype bottle is designed to fully manifest the CAD plastic design. Injection mold tools vary depending on the manufacturing stage that you are in. Most of the time, pre-production injection mold tools are made out of aluminum and this is advisable for low quantity manufacturers since it cost-effective. On the other hand, mass-production plastic manufacturers use pre-production injection mold tools made out of steel most especially for solidworks plastics. Most plastic manufacturing companies these days take advantage of the MUD (Master Unit Die) mold tool to further simplify this complex process. The MUD tool is a metal insert used in casting plastic parts instead of using solid block tools. The concept of using aluminum, steel and MUD tools in plastics production will be discussed in a separate article but for now let us simply brush the surface. 3. Injection molding machine The injection molding machine is the apparatus responsible for the plastic injection molding process and depending on its size and specifications, it can produce molds and casting plastic parts quickly and in large amounts. All of these casting plastic parts and assemblies have to be verified for product testing processes and be presented as sales samples to show clients and customers of how they expect your product to be.
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Lead Time for Plastic Injection Molding
With an injection molding machine, production for plastic parts or products can be extremely fast wherein casting plastic parts can be manufactured at a rate of up to fifty plastic parts per minute. You can further increase production line efficiency by combining different plastic parts out of a single mold tool. It is much like hitting multiple birds out of a stone. Multiple cavities can be maximized by simplifying the geometry aspect of the product and utilizing technologies such as the hot runner. With these advanced technologies and techniques, one can produce thousands of casting plastic parts in days out of plastic injection molding. The only time consuming aspects of the process is parts assembly, project coordination and sometimes design conception because there can be a lot of back and forth for revisions most especially if there are a lot of brains involved in design creation. It's get a bit more complicated if you have very small quantities. You should look into 3D printing then, that you can even do for missing IKEA plastic parts.
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How Long does it Take to Finish a Plastic Injection Molding Project
Summarizing production lead time for plastic manufacturing would depend whether you are pertaining to pre-production plastics or mass manufactured solidworks plastics. On average, most plastic manufacturers can produce pre-production prototypes in a 2-3 weeks. Pre-production plastics consist of 500-1000 casting plastic parts and the number could be altered for the final product material. When it comes to mass manufactured plastics, it takes months to finish them since it usually involves the creation of molds and thousands of cycles of casting plastic parts. Assembly in mass manufactured plastics tends to consume the most amount of time in the custom manufacturing process. Even if there is an injection molding machine which can help speed up the process, there are still work involved which can only be done manually such as assembly. It is best advised that you design your plastic parts in a way it will be easy to assemble. This tip will help you save time in the production process which translates to business money in the end. Before spending a large amount of money on a multiple cavity mold and for plastic injection molding, make sure the design and engineering are already perfect and that the product has already been tested for its final production material. Pre-production prototyping is necessary in all of manufacturing and not only in plastics.
Conclusion
Plastic injection molding is a complicated process and newbies in the plastics business may need to take some time before they fully grasp this concept. Aside from the complexities, the length of time to finish the molding process simply adds up to the complication. However, this means the concept cannot be understood. It just takes time to do research and actual experience before you fully understand the concept. If in doubt, print your design first to test. The pre-production files mentioned above are the prerequisites to plastic injection molding and plastic molding simulation. These are the requirements you need to secure before you move into the actual molding process. Without these pre-production files, it would be impossible to start working with any plastic injection molding company. Read the full article
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intrepidsourcing · 5 years ago
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What PCB Files are Necessary before Production?
Creating a PCB layout design is a tall order. It takes time, electronics knowledge and patience to get it all done. But when you already have the PCB layout ready, there are still files you need to have before you can submit the PCB layout design for printed circuit board manufacturing. For turnkey orders, the files needed are BOM (bill of materials), centroid data and the PCB layout in either Gerber or ODB++ format. Aside from these regular files, it would be helpful if there are additional files such as assembly sketches, fabrication procedures and any other instructions or specifications to the PCB layout design. The only problem is most electronic manufacturers particularly newbies do not know of these files and how to secure them. Fortunately, there are companies like us who are willing to help them on this problem. In this wiki article, we will take a closer look on the following printed circuit board manufacturing files and why they are necessary for production.
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Gerber or ODB++ Files
Gerber and ODB++ are different file formats being run through a software or program in the computer. These set of files contain extensive information about the different layers of the PCB. All these info come in handy for the production team. The most commonly used programs to run these files are either KiCad or Eagle. There are other applications who can read these files as well but the two mentioned are the most heavily used by electronic manufacturers. Also the largest companies in this growing industry use these files. Aside from the Gerber or ODB++ files, you also have to include drill files and a detailed board outline file. The drill file contains info on the exact location where the manufacturer will put drill holes including the size of these drill holes. The detailed board outline file may cover details such as blind and buried visas which the manufacturer also needs. Make sure you include these files along with the Gerber or ODB++ files. Last but not the least, you should also include mechanical files in the file set. This is not necessarily a separate file but simply a clear distinction of the board outline file wherein the dimensions of the board are verified. Cut-outs and internal routing can also be specified on each layers for this file. Gerber or ODB++ files can be submitted as an archive which includes all of the aforementioned files together. Any of these are acceptable by electronic manufacturers as part of the PCB layout guidelines.
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Centroid Files
The Centroid file which is also known as the “XY coordinate” or “Pick & Place” file contains info about where each electrical component are placed on the board. It is presented in an x-y coordinate format with different perspectives in terms of rotation, layers and reference designator. The value/package of these electrical components are also presented accordingly.
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Bill of Materials
Bill of materials or simply known as BOM is a lengthy list of all the parts, electrical components and materials included to fill up the electrical circuit diagram. DNI (do not install) components may also be included in this list to make it thorough for all of the components included on the list. Environmental and recycling aspects should be considered when the components and materials are chosen.
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Special and Additional Requirements
There are times wherein a PCB layout design includes impedance control, unique stack up & thickness, gold fingers and blind/buried vias etc. These notes can be added as “ReadMe” files or additional PDF files for formality. You need to highlight these specifications on the special/additional requirements files so the PCB manufacturer can note this as a part of the production plan.
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Assembly Drawings
Assembly drawings may be necessary if there is no enough space for all of the reference designators on the PCB outline file. Assembly drawings are normally presented as PDF files as a step by step guideline on how to assemble the PCB layout design.
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Preliminary Files
There are times when clients have unfinished PCB layouts due to various reasons and the PCB manufacturer is left being responsible for its completion. This situation is where companies like us or the PCB manufacturers themselves step in and create a preliminary quote based on the existing PCB files necessary for production. As a part of the PCB layout guidelines, any other design updates will help us modify the quote accordingly.
Conclusion
All of the PCB files mentioned above are needed by PCB manufacturers before they can jumpstart printed circuit board manufacturing. There are times when a client is not able to recover all of these files most especially with newbies. However, PCB manufacturers can also assist when it comes to missing PCB files. They are knowledgeable enough to identify and secure it for you as soon as you finalize a contract or deal. Read the full article
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