Why SMT Assembly Cost May Rise?
Since the phenomenon of “lack of chips” still exists in 2022, the serious situation of rising transportation cost and high supply chain cost has spread to the entire PCBA contract manufacturing industry, such global situation has hardly left several industries unaffected. This is why we expect SMT Assembly cost continue to rise. Here are some reasons indicates why SMT Assembly cost will increase:
1. The shortage of raw materials
Earlier we analyzed how the global shortage of “chips” affects printed circuit boards (PCBs), and the raw materials of various commodities also directly affect manufacturing costs, and the price of copper in particular is increasing significantly. Therefore, it is very important to take the time to research alternative materials when manufacturing bare PCB. There may be a selection of newer, more readily available materials that can be used in the production process. Since demand will not decrease anytime soon, it is important to plan months or years in advance, especially when supply is already limited. The supply situation will not improve in the short term.
2. The workforce remains a challenge
Labor cost and fees vary based on the geographic location of the business, regardless of industry. The PCBA manufacturing industry is facing labor shortages, which may be another factor affecting future cost. The shortage of front-line workers such as solder workers and DIP plug-in workers is particularly tense. In this industry, quality is paramount, so finding cheap labor substitutes isn’t always a viable option. Hiring inexperienced short-term labor will make PCBA boards more prone to defects and cause problems in the production process, such as delays, downtime or worse. As labor continues to be required to maintain quality at the necessary level, costs may increase as a result.
3. Market demand continues increasing
Demand will continue to rise as more and more products require PCBAs. Due to the shortage of raw materials and labor, the supply capacity of the product will be in a situation of short supply and may cause the end-user cost to rise. It’s just a matter of supply and demand.
However, with the development and promotion of new prevention and control measures, the global unblocking is worth looking forward to, and we expect a certain correction in mid-2022.
The 5 Most Frequently Missing Data In PCBA Inquiry
Most electronic engineering project teams will prepare inquiry files before looking for PCBA manufacturer. In the process of serving all kinds of customers, it is also found that some customers will miss some minor inquiry files details. These details are also important for calculating total cost and time estimates and should be submitted when inquiry. Common omissions are as follows:
1. PCB Solder Mask Details
In addition to clicking yes for the solder mask, there are some basic details to share to the pcba manufacturer. These details include:
1) Solder mask (top, bottom or top and bottom);
2) Solder mask type (LPI-Liquid Light Imaging);
3) Solder mask color (green, blue, black, red, white or transparent);
4) Solder mask surface finish (semi-gloss or matte);
5) Panels coated with solder mask;
2. Surface Finish
The SMT of the surface finish of the PCB affects the quality of solder paste printing. Commonly used surface treatments include Hot Air Solder Leveling (HASL), Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG), Electroless Nickel Palladium Immersion Gold (ENEPIG), etc. Therefore, if not specified correctly, the wrong type of surface finish will have a negative impact on the overall PCBA manufacturing efficiency. This is an important detail that is often missed when asking for a quote.
3. Silk Screen Printing
Another often overlooked detail is screen printing. Just like with solder mask, it’s not enough to click “yes” in the silkscreen options. Questions about whether double-sided is required and what color is required should also be answered.
4. Impedance Details
The controlled impedance requirements of the circuit board determine the selection of various parameters. Therefore, if it is not provided, the quotation will be delayed, because the quotation engineer need to judge by guessing or multiple corroboration.
5. Lamination Details
The number of layers, the stacking order, the thickness of each layer, the total thickness of the stack, etc., are all about the details of the stack, which should not be missed.
