Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1111672
22 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2019 It can almost feel like it's illegal, can't it? Designers, we're talking to you. That moment when the documentation for the job is, well, perfect. Because let's face it; you weren't try- ing for perfect. You just wanted it off your desk and "over the wall into manufacturing." After all the days and weeks invested into developing the schematic, the PCB design, por- ing over the data sheets and online libraries for component parts, and running the calculations for mechanical clearances inside the enclosure, you're ready to be done. You've spent so much time sweating every little detail. Why can't someone else just wrap up the documen- tation? You cooked, right? It's someone else's job to clean up. You're ready for the next design challenge— not for a week or so per- fecting the bill of materi- als and the design notes. Kicking a mostly correct documentation set over to manufacturing is a tempt- ing thing—a bit of subterfuge. You got away with something. Except you didn't. This issue showcases common themes and thoughtful insights contract manufacturers have uncovered on packaging the data for delivery to the assembler or CM. So, listen up. Your downstream manufacturing partner wants you to know what to do differently to be more successful (faster, cheaper, more reli- able) in the transfer. Let's start with what the perfect job looks like. Some of the CMs in this issue laughed and said that they had never seen one. Lori Giglio, general manager at the NPI Engineering Cen- ter for Data Electronic Services (DataED), put it this way: "It's hard for me to answer because here we're dealing with new designs and every job is exciting." As Giglio pursued that thought in our conversation, it became clear that "excit- ing" was code for "incomplete upon arrival and needs clarification." Sure, there's good-natured joking about this fact of life for CMs, but there is an underlying seriousness as well. "Everything that we do is custom and/or customer-specific," stated Joe Garcia, VP of sales and marketing for Green Circuits. He continued, "We really take pride in engaging with customers on jobs that are critical for them and require a quick turnaround." Lori Giglio also said, "I don't often see per- fection. What I usually see is somebody's idea of something. We collab- orate and get to a point where the job is repeat- able and producible in the manufacturing environment. By the time it gets into the manufacturing facility, it might be perfect." "I've been at this almost 40 years, and I've yet to see the perfect package where we could release it to our supply chain and the Gerbers and BOM was straightforward and perfect. It just doesn't happen that way," explained John Vaughan, VP of sales and marketing at Zentech Manufacturing. "If you're looking for success, the customer has to participate." "We're equally efficient in dealing with start- ups to very large companies," said Muham- mad Irfan, president at Whizz Systems Inc. "For example, we consider the level of docu- mentation required for each type of customer. We can run with them as fast as they want, but The Perfect Job Feature by Nolan Johnson I-CONNECT007