Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1111672
28 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2019 nally to simply toss a data package over the fence, thinking that it's complete enough and sufficient to both quote and build. If it's a highly complex product, there's a lot of dia- logue that's required. And the earlier the cus- tomer can engage us and communicate with us, outline their intentions, and be available for dialogue, the better results the program will have. They also need to understand that the lead time is primarily a byproduct of the compo- nent supply chain. After we have a complete kit of all of the components, our actual build schedule is only anywhere from 2–4 weeks, which is fast when you think about the com- plexity of the product. The challenge is that the component supply chain lead times have crept up dramatically across all device types, and it's not unusual for us to run across com- ponents that have a year lead-time in today's environment. So, if the customer is proactively commu- nicating from the beginning, and the design cycle might take them six months, we can get in front of a lot of issues by working together. If we're in lockstep with them from the begin- ning, then we can negate some of those sup- ply issues by pre-buying components, etc. If communication and data packages are incom- plete, untimely and sporadic, then we cannot turn back the clock or accelerate the compo- nent supply chain appreciably. We can't con- trol the lead time on the components; that's a primary challenge that everyone needs to con- sider. Zentech is one of the few EMS compa- nies that will work with customers to mitigate risks, which is a significant, long-term benefit for everyone involved. Johnson: With a lot of military, aerospace, and medical work, what are some of the services or assistance Zentech can provide that your cus- tomers tend to overlook? Vaughan: Going back to the schedule compres- sion, a lot of times, shockingly, when custom- ers are developing high-tech products, they don't give the proper amount of mindshare and planning to the test side of the product design and verification equation. Given the environ- ments we operate in, typically mission or life critical, we prefer to test everything we build. The further along a customer has considered their testing approach and what that method- ology looks like, the better. Also, it's shocking how many designers of printed circuit boards and assemblies have never been in an assembly operation or a PCB manufacturing environment. A design might look great on the computer, but design for manufacturing (DFM) matters a lot more. Much of our work for our core customers is spent on design for assembly (DFA) analysis or DFM analysis. As a customer, you have this great product, and we're behind you 100%. We want to help you bring it to market, but the problem arises when it can't be built the way it's currently constructed. Johnson: How often are you involved with the prototype process, or does Zentech become involved as the product moves into produc- tion? Vaughan: It's a hybrid. We're a little bit differ- ent than a lot of EMS providers and not trans- actional in nature. We have a customer set that has been developed primarily with military cli- ents. A typical scenario for us is to engage early with the program office as the active require- ments have been developed, and then map out an approach and strategy to support the pro- totype. We also review all of the various mate- After we have a complete kit of all of the components, our actual build schedule is only anywhere from 2–4 weeks, which is fast when you think about the complexity of the product.