Printed Circuit Design & Fab - December 2007 - (Page 37)

Determine how many suppliers are needed current QML system is based upon military certification of a supplier’s process. PCB manufacturers who have a greater understanding of their processes, a mature quality system and a Technical Review Board (TRB) follow the MIL-PRF-31032 document. The PRF stands for performance. MIL-PRF31032 allows the manufacturer greater flexibility to advance to more complex technology levels without having to wait for new specification revisions to be released. Determine if the location of the suppliers is important Determine what suppliers are capable of building the product required Request references or obtain recommendations from colleagues in the industry Provide a few designs for quote Narrow the list based on cost and quality credentials Audit the facilities Narrow the list based on audit findings Test suppliers’ products PASS Add supplier to Approved Supplier List FAIL Remove supplier from list of potentials Commercial PCB Standards “In the fall of 1957, six printed circuit board manufacturers came together to create the Institute for Printed Circuits. What did they have in common? A desire to promote the new technology of printed wiring boards and the need for industry standards to create common ground between themselves and their customers. From that day, IPC was dedicated to removing supply chain obstacles, creating industry standards, and supporting the advancement of the industry.” (Excerpt from IPC Review, Vol. 48, No. 1: January 2007, page 12.) Engineers in the field 50 years ago were in it from the beginning. They have seen PCB products evolve over the years. This group of individuals has knowledge that our new engineers lack -- where the PCB came from. Having a historical perspective allows one to understand the PCB board process and what attributes are acceptable and which are not. Due to the shift of founding members out of the industry and into retirement, less experienced engineers are given the position of supply chain manager and are given the responsibility of generating and maintaining an Approved Supplier List. Often, FIGURE 1. Outline of steps to qualify your suppliers. individuals promoted to this position within a small OEM lack the knowledge of how a PCB is made because their company specializes in assembly processes, not board design. There are a number of things that can be done to deter- http://www.wssi.com/pcdm http://www.wssi.com/pcdm

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Printed Circuit Design & Fab - December 2007

Printed Circuit Design & Fab - December 2007 Contents Our Line Market Watch Around the World Happenings ROI 2007 PCB Designer Salary Survey Interconnect Strategies Positive Plating RF Design Ad Index Noise Reduction Supply Chain DfM Off the Shelf Marketplace The Signal Doctor

Printed Circuit Design & Fab - December 2007

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