Printed Circuit Design & Fab Online Magazine - Current Issue

Board Buying

Improper management of client info can result in financial or legal repercussions.

Prior to establishing any business relationship, most companies require signed nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) for all parties involved with the manufacture of their products. But an NDA is not a license to share everything about a customer’s product. OEMs, EMS companies and PCB manufacturers have an obligation to protect their customers’ intellectual property (IP).

Read more: One Errant Click and IP Protection is Gone

Greg Papandrew

Relying on a single source is a recipe for failure.

“Good, fast and cheap … pick two” is an old maxim that applies – to a degree, anyway – to the printed circuit board industry.

The implications, of course, are that if it’s fast and good, it’s going to be expensive; if it’s good and cheap, it will require lots of time; and if it’s cheap and fast, the quality will be poor.

PCB buyers should keep this in mind when choosing vendors and avoid relying too much on one supplier if they want good quality boards delivered on time and at a reasonable price.

Read more: Your PCB Vendor Basket Should Have More than One Egg

Greg Papandrew

The recognition and funds are good. But do they attack an underlying issue?

Reading Dr. Hayao Nakahara’s annual accounting of the printed circuit board market (which ran on this site last month), it’s hard to believe Taiwan was once dependent on Japan for PCB knowledge.

Years ago, however, it wasn’t Taiwan and China battling it out for market dominance; it was Japan and the US. Yet long before China emerged as a player, Taiwan had already identified PCBs as a key area for development.

Read more: What is the Real Key to Domestic PCB Industry Success?

Greg Papandrew

Shortsighted approaches lead to overspending.

Most air freight – including for printed circuit boards – is hauled in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft. While the number of available flights is slowly increasing as Covid restrictions lessen, the price is still high, and getting PCBs delivered on time and at a reasonable cost remains a significant challenge for buyers.

That’s why they should negotiate with suppliers for a “delivered” price.

PCB buyers often overlook fluctuating freight costs when considering total cost of ownership (TCO) of the offshore products they purchase.

Read more: Full Freight: PCB Buyers Should Demand a Delivered Price