Matric Group Honored With Governor’s Safety Award
A dedicated safety program has netted the contract manufacturer its second state-recognized safety award in four years.
Is China Spy Chip a Supply Chain Snag for OEM Electronics Companies?
On Oct. 4, a story by Bloomberg that detailed allegations of China’s military infiltration into servers used by about 30 U.S. companies and top government agencies sent shockwaves across the tech industry. According to Bloomberg, Chinese spies sneaked tiny microchips capable of editing code from a remote location into motherboards of servers made by the world’s leading server maker – Super Micro Computer, commonly referred to as Supermicro.
Matric Wins Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence -- Again!
Matric Limited’s successful safety program has once again been honored with the Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence.
What Is a Ball Grid Array for PCB Packaging?
Ball grid arrays are a form of high-density, low-cost packaging in the PCB industry.
Can US Electronics Contract Manufacturers Handle the China Tariffs?
It’s too early to tell with certainty how U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods implemented in 2018 will truly affect U.S. electronics contract manufacturers. The signals from major players like Cisco Systems, Apple, and IBM so far are not happy ones.
Are Carbon Nanomaterials the Solution to Conflict Minerals?
Conflict minerals are both a vital component (no pun intended) of the electronics industry and at the same time one of its biggest headaches. Since 2010, U.S.-based electronics companies have been required to determine whether certain components in their products came from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the world’s largest sources of conflict minerals.
ISO 13485 Certification: Everything You Need to Know
Electronic contract manufacturers (ECMs) regularly tout the certifications they possess -- just take a look at their websites. Hey, even we do it. And it’s for good reason: Certifications communicate what your company is capable of to potential customers. It also communicates trustworthiness and dependability. If you’re a medical company seeking electronics manufacturing, the ISO 13485 certification is the most important one to you.
Beware These 6 Printed Circuit Board Layout Pitfalls
Printed circuit boards are vital components of many modern-day electrical gadgets. Printed circuit board layout is made up of numerous layers of copper traces and circuits that help make connections between various parts, as well as plastic and other types of materials that are used to cover and shield the connections from the surroundings.
How you design and manufacture printed circuit boards (PCBs) largely determines how well these boards will work in the final product. Unfortunately, layout is becoming increasingly difficult and complicated, as new board circuit designs are being shrunk to fit in electrical devices that become becoming smaller and smaller each year.
Your ECM Should Be Using a Third-Party Electronic Component Database
Perhaps the most groan-inducing aspect of electronics manufacturing is component sourcing. Limited availability, dubious component quality, and conflict mineral laws are common causes of you and your manufacturer’s headaches when it comes to sourcing parts.
Fortunately, programs exist that reduce the hassle of this experience, in turn lowering risk in your supply chain. The program of choice at Matric Group is SiliconExpert, and in this article I’ll tell you why your ECM (electronics contract manufacturer) should be using this program -- and how it makes an OEM’s life easier.
Why Electronic Component Lead Times Are Rising -- & 3 Ways to Prepare
If your manufacturing projects involve electronics, you’re likely facing the challenge of extended electronic component lead times. Certain parts that used to take 12 weeks to come in are now taking upward of 30 weeks. Some parts even take a full year to arrive.
It’s nice news for distributors, who can take advantage of this “shortage” and charge higher prices, but it’s not a good deal for OEMs -- especially considering the importance of fast time to market in today’s need-it-now world.
Here’s a closer look at why there’s a shortage of certain components today and what your company can do about it:
EMS Company Embarks on a New, Exciting Chapter
(The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's PA Proud blog recently spoke with Matric Group President and CEO Rick Turner to learn how our growing, innovative EMS company utilized the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority [PIDA] program to invest in its future with upgraded machinery and job training. PIDA provides low-interest loans and lines of credit to businesses that commit to creating and retaining full-time jobs, and for the development of industrial parks and multi-tenant facilities.)
How Burn-In Testing Can Save You A Lot of Money – And Trouble
Testing and inspection are vital parts of electronics contract manufacturing, for obvious reasons. Before that shipment of PCBs arrives on your doorstep, you want to be sure you’re getting what you paid for -- a properly assembled, fully functional circuit board. One of the most important tests your manufacturer can put your boards through to make sure that happens is called burn-in testing, and it could save you a lot of time, money, and trouble.
Embedded Systems & IOT in Electronics Manufacturing – An Explainer
Perhaps without realizing it, you use embedded systems and IoT every single day of your life.
“I use what?” you might’ve just asked.
Basics of Obsolescence Management for Electronics
The most painful part of developing with electronics is knowing your success is fleeting. Eventually, all parts must die, or at least fade away into irrelevance. But there’s something you can do about it. Obsolescence management can guide you through this difficult process.
What OEMs Can Do About Obsolete Electronic Parts
Losing a key component at the wrong time can be downright terrifying to OEM teams trying to get a product out. So what can an OEM do about obsolete electronic parts?
Your Go-To Guide to Reducing PCB Assembly Cost
As with most things you can purchase, there’s a strenuous relationship between cost and quality when it comes to PCB assemblies. However, there is a happy medium to be found between the two, and these tips can help reduce PCB assembly cost without sacrificing quality.
Auto Inspection Makes Your Electronic Contract Manufacturer Productive
Without a doubt, the development of enhanced inspection equipment has been critical to the PCB assembly industry. The speed and precision of Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) and Automated X-Ray Inspection (AXI) techniques have allowed PCB manufacturers to keep in demand with the increasing complexity of today’s electronics.
Buyer’s Guide to PCB Layout Design
There comes a day in nearly every engineer’s and buyer’s lives when they need a printed circuit board (PCB) for their company’s next electronic product. Whether you have a working knowledge of PCB layout design or are a newbie, it helps to grasp the start-to-finish journey a design makes.
