Frequently Asked Questions About Turnkey PCB Assembly
What is turnkey PCB assembly?
Turnkey PCB assembly is a manufacturing model in which one manufacturing partner coordinates PCB fabrication, component sourcing, SMT/THT assembly, inspection, programming, testing, and other agreed production requirements.
The exact scope depends on the product and customer requirements.
What information is required for a turnkey PCB assembly quotation?
Typical quotation files include a BOM with manufacturer part numbers, Gerber files, Pick & Place data, assembly drawings, required quantities, and applicable programming or testing requirements.
PCB specifications and special manufacturing requirements should also be provided where applicable.
Do you support turnkey, partial-turnkey, and consigned PCB assembly?
Yes. We support all three sourcing models.
For turnkey projects, we manage the agreed PCB and component procurement requirements. For partial-turnkey projects, the customer may provide selected materials. For consigned projects, the customer supplies some or all production materials.
Can you support prototype, NPI, and production?
Yes. We support prototype and engineering builds, NPI, pilot-run, and low-to-medium volume production.
Manufacturing planning is adjusted according to the product stage, order quantity, component availability, and testing requirements.
What happens if some BOM components are unavailable?
Our sourcing and engineering teams can review component availability, lead time, lifecycle status, and potential alternative components.
If an alternative is proposed, compatibility and manufacturing impact are reviewed before implementation.
Can you help identify alternative components to reduce BOM cost?
Yes. We can review the BOM and identify potential alternative components or second-source options to help reduce component cost and improve sourcing flexibility.
For standard passive components such as resistors and capacitors, equivalent alternatives may provide opportunities to reduce BOM cost while maintaining the required specifications.
For ICs, power devices, connectors, and other design-sensitive components, additional engineering review may be required.
Alternative components are not substituted without customer review and approval.
Can you support PCB layout changes if an alternative component is not pin-to-pin compatible?
Depending on the project and available design files, yes.
If a suitable replacement is not pin-to-pin compatible, the change may require a new footprint, routing changes, placement adjustments, surrounding component changes, or other PCB layout modifications.
For ICs and other function-critical components, schematic, electrical, thermal, firmware, and mechanical requirements may also need to be reviewed.
The required engineering work is evaluated before changes are made.
Do you provide programming and functional testing?
Yes. Depending on project requirements, support can include IC/MCU programming, firmware loading, power-on verification, ICT, functional testing, customer test fixtures, and customer-defined test procedures.
Can you design and build test fixtures based on our test requirements?
Yes. Depending on the project, we can design and build test fixtures based on customer-provided test procedures, product specifications, and pass/fail criteria.
Before fixture development, our engineering team reviews the available test requirements, including:
Test procedure and test points
Input power and operating conditions
Required measurements
Communication interfaces
Programming requirements
Pass/fail criteria
Connector and mechanical interface requirements
Expected production quantity and test cycle requirements
Test fixtures can be developed for functional testing, programming, power-on verification, and other product-specific production tests where applicable.
If the customer already has an established test procedure or existing fixture design, we can review the available documentation and evaluate how it can be implemented in our production process.
For new test requirements, fixture design, test equipment, software, and validation requirements are evaluated according to the actual product and test scope.
Test fixture requirements and any applicable NRE or development costs are reviewed with the customer before implementation.
What PCB manufacturing file formats do you accept?
Manufacturing data may include Gerber files, Pick & Place files, assembly drawings, BOMs, and related manufacturing documentation.
The required files depend on the manufacturing scope and product requirements.
Can you sign an NDA?
Yes. A mutual NDA can be executed before confidential project information is reviewed when required.
