Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1067105
58 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2019 a completed fashion and then expect quality boards on time when they want them. Matties: Now, part of the supply chain chal- lenge that we see and have been talking about is the quality of the data that a designer provides a fabricator. Often, we're hearing that 99% of the required data that a fabricator needs is not provided, and that to even get a quote, there's a lot of communication that has to go back and forth to get this data. Do you experience that as well? Stevenson: Not at that type of level. For the majority of our incoming quotes and orders, we have the majority of the data available for us to manufacture the boards from Gerber and drill files, netlists, etc. Matties: So, are you saying that they supply you all the drill files, netlists, and everything that you need when they first submit for quotes? Stevenson: The majority of them. There are some that will do just a fabrication drawing and request budgetary quoting. There will also be others where the majority of the files are there, but they may be missing a solder mask or silkscreen file, etc. But generally, when our customers approach us for a quote or an order, their file sets are in pretty decent order. Matties: Are you saying that they're mostly 100% complete? Stevenson: More often than not. Matties: That's interesting. Why is that? Stevenson: Now, that doesn't say that they're 100% accurate and that we can just go and move forward directly with those set of files. Sometimes there's conflicting information with what they've asked for and what they've provided. Matties: Of the data that you get, how many of that 100% are incomplete or not accurate? Stevenson: We probably put somewhere in the neighborhood of 25% of all of the orders on hold for one reason or another due to the files. That could be something as simple as, "You didn't order a cut-out, but I see three in your design file. Do you want those?" It could also be that their print says ENIG, and they ordered tin-lead. The files themselves could be completely accurate, such as they just didn't represent it properly in their order or request for a quote. Matties: When you do get a file that's inaccurate in terms of meet- ing a cycle time, how much impact will that have on cycle time? Stevenson: Typically, Sunstone has tried not to have those holds impact the lead time on an order, but that really depends on how responsive the engineer is to the hold request. If they're able to update their file and send it to us within the day, generally, that's not going to impact the lead time unless we're talking one-day lead time as it is. Overall, we try not to pass that on unless it is something that's a multiple-day delay or really changes the scope of the order. Johnson: Does that attention change once you have a customer that's moved from more of a "run-as-sent" order to a more production order with you?