Lead Time of PCB Assembly

Before a new electronic product can get accepted on the market, there are many things need to do. First of all, you should have a new correct design. How to know whether your design is correct and perfect without any problem? Be careful on the below steps, you’re probably going to need them in the near future.

To verify your PCB design, engineers usually will find some companies to make some PCB prototypes. For example, if you PCB is a double-sided PCB, it will spend about 5-7 days for a real PCB manufacturer. But you just get a bare PCB, without any components on it. So how could it verify the design? The answer is not. It can’t check the problems in your design. You need to have a complete board with all necessary parts on it.

You may think, offer you the bill of materials, the manufacturer can buy them for you. Yes, it usually works if they do have a professional purchase department. If not, you are going to buy all the components by yourself. It sounds crazy trouble. Yes it is. So usually the designer wants PCB and components assembly. It takes long time to have all the components, because some integrated circuits will need import from overseas. It does need a lot of time, usually 3 weeks. So the lead time of PCB assembly will be probably the lead time of all components? Nope, you should never forget the time for assembly. It won’t last one week if the BOM list it not so complicated.

Now you’ll know the whole lead time for PCB assembly. It really depends on the components source of your purchase department. They fast, lead time short. Otherwise, they slow, lead time long.

So if you are considering making a PCB prototype and assembly, think about the lead time. Prepare enough time in your time schedule for it, figure out a testing method for it when you have it. Most important thing is that it may need several times for prototyping. You will find problems in your design from each prototype. It takes money. Now go getting all the potential costs approved by your accounts in advance.

When it is time for finding a manufacturer, consider manufacturers in Shenzhen, China. They have done offering these kinds of services professionally for years. You want some good companies to be recommended? WONDERFUL PCB LIMITED is not a bad choice.

If you need expert PCB assembly service, feel free to contact wonderful02@wonderfulpcb.com.