The IPC standards chart (or tree, in some circles) provides guidelines for the production and assembly requirements of electronics manufacturing companies. Each “code” on the tree is a standard or document outlining the guidelines or requirements for building an assembly.
Many industrial and manufacturing operations are looking closely at wireless industrial controls to see what benefits they offer. These wireless systems definitely have advantages -- enabling your systems to communicate more effectively with one another and with your team -- but they require an investment in time and capital to utilize.
Massive amounts of money are at play when it comes to power distribution electronics. The electronic product development life cycle frequently sparks frustration among OEMs in this industry because parts steadily wear out and require attention to keep critical infrastructure operating.
Full-blown replacement of a product is neither cost-effective nor efficient when downtime is harmful to both OEMs and the end consumer. It's absolutely crucial that you're always thinking about the electronic component life cycle and making plans for the future.
Just about any piece of electronics can be dangerous when they’re manufactured poorly. But when you’re manufacturing for the mining industry, you’re in especially big trouble if your product is a liability in the field.
When designing solar-powered embedded systems intended for outdoor applications, durability, performance, and energy efficiency are a perfect storm of considerations. The dream is to balance all three, but how can you make that a reality?
Global supply chain shortages mixed with bottlenecks in the shipping industry and labor shortages have triggered serious problems in nearly every industry. With an increase in both prices and supply shortages, electronics obsolescence is becoming an inevitability throughout many markets.
More opportunity, more money … and more problems.
PCB design is tricky. Depending on how complex your project is -- or how much is at stake if something fails -- you may need top-end testing before launching your product.
Turnkey assembly -- buzzwords or worth looking into?
Medical device companies looking for a PCB design and assembly partner have many important factors to consider, all with the end user’s well-being at risk. Finding an experienced, ISO 13485-certified manufacturer is one of the most important.
The benefits of new technologies in health care are awesome. Developers are showing off some amazing ideas for medical devices. It’s no surprise that medical electronics companies are rushing to be at the forefront of tech.
Medical device product life cycle management is a challenge at the best of times. When supply chains are disrupted (such as during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020), it becomes even harder.
These challenges are a way of life for any device that needs to go through an extensive certification process. Since medical equipment is as high-stakes as it gets, it undergoes a more extensive review than most.
Fortunately, there are ways that you can stay ahead of the curve.
As the year-end holidays inch closer and closer, relief from the global chip shortage seems to be inching further and further away. As demand continues to rise for consumer electronics, chip-heavy vehicles, and smart appliances, semiconductor manufacturers across the globe are continuing to feel the pressure.
(Editor’s note: This is part 3 of a six-part series on the history of Matric Group, from a $20 investment in 1971 to a $60+ million business today.)
There are many areas in life where accepting mistakes as inevitable is a good thing -- electronics manufacturing is not one of them. The end goal should always be to complete a production run with zero defects. While it may not be possible every time, it’s certainly the mindset you want your contract manufacturer to have.
So, how can you handle business on your end to make sure no defects exist in your electronics build?
Optimizing PCB layout design for manufacturability is one of the most crucial aspects of your product’s development process. Key decisions made during the design stage often have a tremendous impact on the cost and success of your product’s manufacturing and production.
A report in 2020 estimated that one in every 10 vehicles globally will be self-driving by 2030. Driverless cars come with several benefits, including improved business efficiencies and reduced road crashes, emissions, and congestion.
You probably take plenty of steps to protect intellectual property at your OEM. But what about the other guys handling your sensitive secrets?
You’re an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in need of an electronics contract manufacturer (ECM) to supply circuit boards for a product you haven’t built before. One of the first questions you need to ask is: “Should the boards meet Class 2 or Class 3 electronics standards?”
As we continue the countdown to Matric's 50th anniversary, let's recap so far the 1970s and how it all started. In part one of this series, we discussed how a shared passion for Ham Radios led two electrical engineers turned vo-tech teachers, Lee Richey and Andy Maitland, to open a new business that designed, manufactured, and repaired electronic devices.
(Editors Note: This blog was originally published in November 2020 and was updated in August 2021 to reflect new information)
Even in our vastly internet-dominated world, nothing has quite replicated the impact of a face-to-face discussion with vendors and fellow engineers. Electronics manufacturing trade shows are valued for their inherent ability to establish a relationship and answer questions in ways you simply cannot achieve via email or over the phone
Electronic contract manufacturers use these shows to break ground with engineers and purchasers in a variety of fields. Matric Group will be attending several "in person" trade shows this year. We have listed our booth numbers so be sure to stop by!
Let’s take a look at some of the best electronics manufacturing expos out there for you to start meeting great new partners and vendors in the next year:
The year is 1971. Carole King's' hit single "I Feel The Earth Move" is playing through a Plymouth Volare as two electrical engineers/teachers enter a vo-tech school in Oil City, Pa. It is there that Lee Richey and Andy Maitland will meet and form Matric Limited.
The two teachers were electrical engineers and graduates of DeVry Technical Institute but would not meet one another until their teaching stints in Oil City.
With their classrooms side-by-side, they found they shared a passion for ham radios, and before long, they opened a small design and repair shop in Andy's mothers' basement.
Most often, the foundation, or base, of a printed circuit board (PCB) consists of a substrate and laminate. Different PCB laminate and substrate types determine how the PCB will perform. So, selecting the right types of PCB material for the intended purposes is critical to achieving the best possible:
Many industrial and manufacturing operations are looking closely at wireless industrial controls to...
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