{"id":1344,"date":"2021-03-08T12:45:03","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T12:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.technotronix.us\/pcbblog\/?p=1344"},"modified":"2026-03-18T11:12:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T11:12:07","slug":"pcb-prototype-manufacturer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.technotronix.us\/pcbblog\/pcb-prototype-manufacturer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to choose the PCB Prototype Manufacturer for critical electronic device design?"},"content":{"rendered":"

PCB designing comes with a host of challenges. After all the PCB is the most critical component of an electronic device and its success or failure determines the efficacy of the device. When you are designing for a critical electronic device, the stakes are even higher. Failure in such devices can even lead to fatalities. Think aerospace, military, medical devices and more. In such scenarios it is absolutely imperative that your prototype PCB board manufacturer builds boards to precise metrics. You need to be extra careful to select a Printed Circuit Board Prototype Manufacturer that is fully equipped and experienced to handle board fabrication as well as assembly for critical systems.<\/p>\n

How then do you choose the prototype PCB board manufacturer for critical system design? You want to make sure that the contract manufacturer adheres to the strict rules that regulate the quality and reliability of components. Here are some handy steps:<\/p>\n

#1 Check for the PCB contract manufacturer\u2019s experience<\/h2>\n

Now this is a non-negotiable aspect. You want to make sure that the PCB prototype manufacturer has the requisite experience when it comes to critical electronic device design. Such manufacturers are equipped with the right equipment as well as industry best practices that are required for critical devices. In addition, it is imperative to check if there is enough commitment to data security, as you cannot afford any lapses.<\/p>\n

#2 Adherence to standards and regulations<\/h2>\n

Another critical aspect is to ensure that the PCB prototypes adhere to the quality standards<\/a> and regulations that are mandated for certain industries. For example, if you are manufacturing general electronics products, the boards would fall under Class 1 of IPC 6011. In this class some imperfections in the board are acceptable. If, however, you fall into Class 2 of dedicated service electronic products, the boards need to be highly reliable, even though some amount of imperfections will not lead to any fatality. In Class 3, however, with high-reliability electronic products, no downtime is acceptable. With critical systems falling into this category, the boards cannot come with any imperfections. <\/p>\n

Additionally, there are other standards for different PCBs, namely:<\/p>\n