REDCOM Electronic Manufacturing Services

REDCOM is always looking for ways to optimize printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) manufacturability and to reduce total product costs. Preparing a design for manufacturability (DFM) report is one of the tools/guidelines we use to accomplish these objectives. Using DFM, which includes design for design guidelines, design for engineering guidelines, and design for test guidelines, we identify the numerous aspects of a PCBA that affect how complex it will be to manufacture. Then we determine where and how assembly costs and time can be reduced.

Creating a standard DFM template/report for a new PCBA is always an interesting process. By doing so, I get to see new technologies as they enter the industry and I can influence designs to help the customer save time and money. But as a member of the Atari generation, I have always thought that standard paper templates were somewhat impractical and burdensome. In today’s world, not only should we be paper-free, but the applications we use should be more dynamic and provide real-time feedback. Templates should be engaging.

For this reason, REDCOM has designed an interactive DFM template, the iDFM™, which can be used through REDCOM’s website. And iDFM is free.

The iDFM is secure; that is, REDCOM does not monitor or store any of your input. iDFM™ gives you real-time feedback as you assign a letter grade to your design with reference to optimal parametric values. Thus, there is no more waiting for your CM or in-house operation to provide the first reaction to your design, which means your company may be able to save days on its new product introduction schedule.

It should also be noted that iDFM works best with the latest versions of Firefox, Chrome, Safari and IE9 web browsers.

REDCOM is excited about launching iDFM™ and we are anxious to receive feedback from you (email ems@redcom.com) to help make it more useful and engaging. All comments and suggestions will be evaluated for inclusion in future revisions. Of course, we are always available to answer questions and/or review your design with you.

You are welcome to check out REDCOM’s iDFM at http://ems.redcom.com/idfm/

Enjoy. I think you will like it.

Posted in Compliance, Component Engineering, Engineering, Exports, Manufacturing, Mechanical, News, OEM-pathy, Product Design, Reliability, Uncategorized

Tales from the World of Component Engineering

You just finished evaluating the prototype PCBA—it passed all lab tests, met all design goals, and the production bare boards are on the way. You’re looking forward to your next project and helping your marketing team with some new product pages on the web site. First you check your emails and what is this? A message from the Purchasing Department stating that a specified component in your PCBA’s Bill of Materials is being discontinued.
Component manufacturers are sending out Product Discontinuation Notices (PDNs) more frequently than ever before, and if you are like most small OEMs, you deal with them only on a reactive basis. What’s behind the compression of component lifecycles?

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Posted in Component Engineering, Manufacturing

Let’s talk common sense.

• Would you ever purchase a new car without first test driving it?
• Would you ever purchase a used car without having a mechanic check it out?
• Would you ever buy a house without having an engineer give it a thorough inspection?

If your answer to any of the above questions is “Yes”, then you need not read any further. But if you are concerned about saving money and getting your product to market as soon as possible, read on.

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Posted in Compliance, Engineering, Manufacturing

If Electronics Manufacturing was a sport, IPC standards would be the equivalent of the Rule Books by which most of us play.   IPC Trainers and Master Trainers would probably be analogous to coaching staff.

It’s also probably a safe bet that if not all of your teammates know the rules, the game will be much harder to win; and, your team will never attain “World Class” status. This is why having a good coaching staff is essential to winning. Everyone wants to be in the World Series but only a team of highly-disciplined players with a thorough understanding of how to execute each of their jobs has a chance to make it that far.

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Posted in Compliance, Manufacturing, Reliability

REDCOM EMS will be among the companies exhibiting at the 2011 Business Expo and Matchmaker event to be held in Rochester, NY on August 23rd.  The venue will be the Rochester Plaza Hotel, 70 State Street. The Expo is presented by the Rochester Regional Veterans Business Council (RRVBC).  Co-sponsors are Monroe County and the Rochester Procurement Assistance Technical Center (PTAC).

The Business Expo is for all small businesses that work with other businesses–it’s a B2B event.  Since we are an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, our focus is completely on B2B and we anticipate making contact with several viable prospects for our services.  These prospects will be Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) who require Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBAs) and other electronic assembly and integration services.

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Posted in News

Electrical schematics used to be something I would do my best to avoid working with. Being a mechanical engineer, it seemed like I had a perfect excuse. Granted, I had taken an introductory circuits course in school, but I was still very much a novice in all things electrical. Yet I still found these schematics fascinating. Neatly organized lines connecting runic shapes…a language so foreign that I couldn’t help but read more.  I would be held captivated by these drawings like many are entranced by the Voynich Manuscript.

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Posted in Engineering, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Product Design

Thirty-seven runners from REDCOM will be participating in the Rochester, New York installment of the 2011 Chase Corporate Challenge® on Tuesday May 24th. The 3.5-mile run–or the walk for some of us–will be held entirely on the sprawling campus (it has to be sprawling!) of the Rochester Institute of Technology. Almost 9000 runners and walkers from over 400 companies in the Greater Rochester area are expected to take part. Good news: the weather looks like it will cooperate.

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Posted in News

The world is full of books about the best practices that one can apply to the operations of a company. I’ll avoid turning this post into a book review, but I will point out that there is one book I have found that delivers several epiphanies that anyone can instantly apply to their work environment, at any level. This book is The Goal by Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt, and it teaches the “Theory of Constraints” (TOC) in the form of a novel.

There are three key terms involved in the TOC that require clear understanding before one can successfully apply the theory. All three terms can be broken down into units of working capital (otherwise known as “cash”). These terms (or categories) are:

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Posted in Manufacturing

REDCOM uses Predictive Modeling to proactively improve design and manufacturing processes so we…

Don’t Gamble with Manufacturing Variation.

REDCOM performs Statistical Tolerance Analysis using a technique called Monte Carlo modeling to verify proper board to board connection, to ensure LEDs protrude the proper distance through sheet metal housings, and to design sheet metal housing openings.

What is Monte Carlo modeling and why is it important?

Despite component manufacturers’ and suppliers’ desire to create parts that are precisely the same, actual dimensions of randomly selected parts will vary. Monte Carlo modeling may be employed to simulate a random part selection process. A virtual assembly may then be created and interrogated to evaluate variation in functional characteristics of an assembly before actually building the physical assembly. Predicting assembly variation before production begins allows for the opportunity to proactively improve the design as well as the manufacturing processes.

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Posted in Engineering, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Product Design

Export Controls

The United States, like many countries, has export control laws. Depending on the product and the ultimate destination, a federal export license may be required to export the product. Knowing how the export control laws apply is important for two reasons:

One, because you or your customer may wish to export the product which means that you must consider whether and to what extent a license is required, and

Two, because, if “ITAR” export control laws apply, the manufacturer must be registered with the US Government, even if there is no intent to export. REDCOM EMS is registered and its registration allows REDCOM EMS to manufacture articles which are ITAR-controlled.

The “ITAR” and the “EAR”

There are two primary export control regimes in the United States. The first is the ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations). The second is the EAR (Export Administration Regulations.) Other regimes apply for items such as nuclear products.

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Posted in Compliance, Exports