The real cost to manufacture a PCB, often referred to as the "loaded cost," encompasses everything that goes into making that final circuit board product: the materials and other value-added supplies, machine and personnel costs, and most importantly, your quality.
Sometimes called "Engineering Economics," there are many things one should be aware of to truly understand real costs. But of course, yield is everything in this business and building more accuracy into our boards as well as finding defects before too much cost is built into the boards is critical to a PCB fabricator’s success.
In the November 2024 issue of PCB007 Magazine, we examine the real cost of manufacture through several different lenses. Featured are Richard Koensgren of ICAPE, Matt Stevenson and Doug Palladino of ASC Sunstone, Dr. Pat Valentine of Uyemura, Happy Holden, and Dan Beaulieu.