Article: Bestproto.net

Important Milestones In Prototype Pcb Assembly

When it comes to the question of when to build and when to buy or outsource prototype PCB, there are a number

of key points that a company is required to consider while identifying its suitable design service partner. Once you

have selected your prototype PCB assembly service provider and plan to move forward with a new design – here

are a few suggestions that might maximize your experience and ensure you the best quality results.

Master schedule – as one of the best project management tool, has been beneficial for both the PCB assembly

services and the clients. A master schedule is typically generated by the program manager of your design service

provider and should typically include all major development milestones like phase wise completion, review and

acceptance of design document, schematic design and printed circuit board layouts, ordering the prototype,

firmware completion, bringing up and integration of hardware and firmware, system validation and finally

delivering the manufacturing process.

Though the list of things to be included in the master schedule that we have compiled here cannot be considered

as an exhaustive one but almost all common phases of the development process are covered in it. Design

documenting is unquestionably one of the most important milestones in the prototype PCB assembly process and

includes specific description of the product that is going to be built and also the purpose that it is intended to

serve. This actually serves as the basis for all subsequent product reviews and validations and precisely defines

that the final design fully complies with the actual requirements. If the process is outsourced, inputs from the

clients play a crucial role in this design documentation and also serve as a mode of communication between the

client and the service provider.

After the review and approval of the design document schematic design of the product is prepared. The primary

goal of schematically designing a PCB is to ensure that at the start of each milestone all required information is

made available for avoiding any false start or extra work. If both, you as the client and the service provider are

satisfied with the schematic design of the prototype PCB then the PCB layout is started and once again there are a

number of different items that are required to be considered here.

For PCB fabrication and prototype PCB assembly, most service providers depend upon third party vendors and

proper communication and coordination plays important roles in this phase. After the completion of

hardware/firmware integration and system validation the manufacturing package is delivered to the client. In

reality there is no magic formula for successfully designing and manufacturing prototype printed circuit boards

but there are a few key ideas like proper planning and communication, early identification of possible changes

and quick response can be instrumental behind success. Outsourcing projects and using external designing

resources add more flexibility to the engineering process and no wonder that third party circuit card assembly

services are enjoying good business nowadays.