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JUNE 2026 I I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE 111 cycle. Sound production processes, coupled with deep manufacturing expertise, a focus on quality, and a commitment to continuous improvement, produce higher yields. Partnering With a Total Solution Provider When a PCB manufacturing partner has a deep- rooted cultural value on quality and working to- gether with customers, the result is accurate, ef- ficient, and speedy fulfillment of orders, no matter the project, the factory, or the scale. Customers benefit from reduced decision-making complex- ity during pre-production, greater transparency throughout each phase of manufacturing, and high- er-quality boards. Matt Stevenson is vice presi- dent and general manager of ASC Sunstone Circuits. Matt is also the author of The Printed Circuit Designer's Guide to... De- signing for Reality To read past columns, click here. the behavior of the design during prototyping and debugging, because the PCB manufacturer built what the design team specified. The standard or widely accepted RMA rate for PCB manufacturers is roughly 2%. Fabricators who strive to provide TVM maintain a 1% RMA rate. Responsiveness PCB manufacturing is a collaborative process. A good partner helps the design team keep re- vision cycles to a minimum during prototyping and move the project along as fast as possible. Re- sponsiveness is key to achieving this goal. Design teams are often working on tight project deadlines. To get clarity, they need prompt, reliable access to their fabricator. A value-focused manufacturer will provide ready, constant access to experts who speak the language of design and product. They will do so with customer service phone call wait time measured in seconds, not minutes. Yield Production yield levels are a key leading indicator for ongoing service levels during the product's life- C O N N ECT T H E D OTS