IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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62 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2026 path forward for your PCB prototyping and manu- facture, be it domestic or offshore. For customers facing increased decision-making complexity and evolving financial risk and reward models, it helps to focus on traditional value propo- sitions: • More effective, easier communication with the fabricator • Reliable, dependable delivery • Higher yield, better quality • Smooth, faster production • Reduced risk Value at Each Stage of Production Manufacturing value starts before the first blank board begins its journey through the production facility and continues well after the final products are shipped out. The first opportunity for manu- facturers to deliver value is at the initial point of contact, when many customers are addressing the global question: Where to manufacture? Providers of both domestic and overseas manufacturing solutions are well-positioned to objectively consult with customers to solve the domestic vs. offshore equation, which is more complicated than simply calculating per-unit pricing. When you factor in yield, reliability, and durability, domestic PCB manufacturing is often the most cost- effective choice, even for higher-volume projects. You must identify variables and run all the numbers to find out. With larger production volumes, even modest per-unit savings often associated with offshore production can appear attractive on the surface. However, those savings paint only half the picture. Our experience tells us that less easily quantifiable cost drivers pose greater obstacles to offshoring than just volatile import taxes and port delays. It is the value equation that tells the story. Is the risk associated with a globally sprawling supply chain offset by the value of slightly cheaper boards? Can you cost-effectively warehouse a suffi- cient supply to be resilient? Can delays and cost variances from shipping, tariffs, and transport fees be absorbed? How much will lesser yield or issues with quality impact the cost savings? These are the real, indirect costs associated with offshoring that may minimize or even eliminate potential savings. It might still be the right decision to go overseas, but a value-based partner can work with you to clarify which path offers the most value. Best Practices for Total Value Manufacturing Total value delivered to the customer through support, on-time delivery, quality boards, and high yield is how manufacturers can meet customer needs for PCB production in all circumstances. Its foundation is quality. Schedule Adherence It does not matter how good the boards are if they are not available for production of the electronic device they were built for. If a manufacturer ships an average of 1,000 orders per day, the difference between 95% on time delivery and 97% annualizes to over 5,000 additional late shipments per year. Every late delivery has a cost. Because it affects each customer's bottom line, manufacturers that are focused on total value work every day to im- prove their on-time delivery rate. C O N N ECT T H E D OTS The key question facing every designer: Can the manufacturer build the board I designed?" "