It’s just like Groundhog Day – Avoid prototyping with known obstacles

Prototype construction: An approach with an optimal focus on series production

The Electronics activity of LACROIX Willich, has shown how to approach the task differently and make prototyping more efficient.

It simply takes discipline to tackle an accomplished briefing from the start in order to ensure that all requirements known at the time, including those relating to the procurement of components, series production and testing requirements, are incorporated. “By doing this we are able to save valuable time and it also gives us a potential competitive advantage – particularly when it comes to highly innovative product developments,” Peter Sommer adds.

However, according to the graduate engineer for electrical engineering and electronics, it was more difficult for the OEMs to find a company among the wide range of EMS manufacturers that knew how to produce suitable layouts for an efficient, reliable and error-free series production.

When choosing an EMS, he gives product developers and buyer the opportunity to take the prototype builder’s different manufacturing approaches into account:

• EMS series manufacturers are usually good at producing large quantities with their machinery because of their core business, as they usually have complex structures for a reliable manufacturing process. However, series manufactures often a lack the necessary organisation for highly meticulous prototype construction.
• On the other hand, EMS service providers that focus purely on prototype construction usually have a well-adapted machine park that is geared towards made-to-order production and designed for suitable line-in processes. However, they do not normally have series manufacturing plants and as such, lack experience in this type of manufacturing. With the clear shift towards made-to-order production, there has also been a shift towards a different, usually more extensive, time and cost structure.

CONTACT-us