Below is a typical order process for PCB assembly. If you have any questions not covered below, please refer to our FAQ page or contact us directly.

Step 1: Quotation Stage

Once you reach out to SAPA’s Sales Team with your specification requirements, we initiate the quotation stage. We carefully review the files you provide and inquire about material specifications. This includes determining if you require raw PCBs from a local or overseas vendor and suggesting substitute parts if the original ones have long lead times or higher costs. We also offer design suggestions for better manufacturability, such as fiducial placement and identifying errors in the BOM or Pick and Place files. All questions are included in the quote for your approval.

Step 2: Purchase Order Receipt / Material Procurement

Upon receiving your purchase order, we load it into our ERP system according to your deliverables. Material ordering is initiated and the job is scheduled in our ERP system by our Production Planning Team. We provide engineering questions (EQ) to ensure the material aligns with your requirements. Approvals are sought until the material meets all specifications.

Step 3: Ordering Tooling and Preparing The Kit Ready for Production

Our Production Engineering Team comprehends the necessary tooling to support production processes. Simultaneously, our Logistics Team assembles a material kit aligned with the production start date.

Step 4: SMT / Through Hole Assembly, Inspection and Test

Upon receiving the material kit, the SMT (Surface Mount Technology)Engineering Team programs and sets up the machinery. They generate a first-off board, which is then checked against your build pack and approved by our Internal Quality Team. Once the first-off board is approved, production begins, and all PCBs undergo a comprehensive AOI or Visual Inspection / Test Stage, ensuring adherence to IPC-A-610 quality standards.

Step 5: Cleaning, Conformal Coating, and Final PCB Inspection

After assembly and inspection, additional processes may be applied to the PCBs. SAPA offers services such as PCB board cleaning, conformal coating, program loading, and testing. Once these processes are completed, the PCBs undergo further testing based on your specifications (with tooling and instructions provided by you).

Step 6: Box Build Assembly and Final Test

If you require the integration of the PCB into a mechanical enclosure, SAPA’s Production Engineering Team performs the complete Box Build and Functional Test as per your requirements (with tooling and instructions provided by you).

Step 7: Packing and Transportation

Once the product is built and tested, it is transported to our dispatch area. We package the product according to your specifications and arrange for its shipment anywhere in the world.

Step 8: Feedback, After-Service, and Recurring Orders

If any issues arise during your testing within the warranty period, SAPA collaborates with you to identify the root cause and provide rework service in the fastest manner possible. All root causes and preventive solutions are recorded in our ERP system, along with any modifications or changes made during production. These records inform future recurring orders, ensuring continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.