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Archive for September, 2010

A printed circuit board or PCB is a mechanical support that serves as an electrical connector to electronic components at the same time. It is also called by engineers as PWB or printed wired board. A PCB without components attached to it is called a raw PCB while a PCB with electronic components is called a PCB assembly. Many original equipment manufacturers rely on mechanical and electronic assembly service providers also known as electronic and mechanical manufacturing service providers to assemble PCBs and mechanical components which are used in making a finished product.

Most original equipment manufacturers or OEMs outsource labor and expertise for electronic and mechanical assembly tasks. This could be as simple as assembling boards and shipping them back to the OEM after passing the tests, or as extensive as providing multiple manufacturing support for different components and greater assembly tasks. The so-called full turn-key assembly on the other hand, refers to the process wherein the customer or client, relies on the EMS or electronic manufacturing service provider to do the whole manufacturing process; from the designs to the dispatch and everything in between. This enables the EMS to exercise full power in purchasing components, performing testing processes, making documentations and conducting their own existing parts inventory where applicable in order to provide all the needed materials for the OEMs particular project.

Before engaging in a transaction with an electronic manufacturing service provider, it is essential that one must first determine the extensiveness of work they will require from the EMS provider. It should be clear when a full turn-key assembly is required or just the workforce and expertise of the EMS provider.