5 Challenges for OEMs with Legacy Products

Unlike companies who move all at once from one product generation to the next, many OEMs base their value and reputation on customizing their product offerings to various clients and applications. It’s in their DNA to tweak and expand designs to deliver exactly what their customers need.

This strategy can be very effective, but can come with a natural consequence: a wide portfolio of legacy products that require active support for many years.

Fortunately, the right contract manufacturing partner can help meet the challenges that come with legacy products. Here are some examples of some of those challenges.

4 Steps to Ensure Proper Handling of New Electronic Assemblies

Most electronic assemblies are inherently designed to not be susceptible to electrostatic discharge (ESD) once in a completed unit.

A new television or cell phone should be designed to withstand potential static discharge in the environment where it is used.

However, until an item is fully assembled there are opportunities for electrical over stress (EOS) that can result in the early failure of your product.

Ross Lilley Retires: A Team Member’s Look Back at 46 Years

After 46 years, Ross Lilley has announced his retirement from RBB, effective August 30, 2019. Ross shares these thoughts as he looks back:

"I leave RBB knowing that it is in a very strong position to expand as “The Small Batch Experts”. I have no doubt the company will continue to grow for the next 46 years.

RBB Honors Ross Lilley for 46 Years of Service

After 46 years, Ross Lilley has announces his retirement from RBB, effective August 30, 2019.

Ross started at RBB after graduating from the Wayne County Career Center with a focus in electronics in 1973. He was the 5^th employee of the newly-founded Romich, Beery & Bayer, founded that same year.

Through the past 46 years, Ross has witnessed every season of challenge, growth, change, and success at RBB. His steady and knowledgeable style has always been a favorite of clients, teammates, and community members alike. Ross has worked as a panel technician, supervisor, project specialist, HR director, compliance officer, and sales engineer.

Learn More About RBB at PCB Carolina 2019!

Want to learn a little more about RBB? Visit us at PCB Carolina 2019!

On NOVEMBER 13th, the RBB team will be at PCB Carolina 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

RBB To Host Lunch & Learn Series

"How to Save Money in a High-Mix, Low-Volume World"

After a great first session, preparations are underway for the second RBB will host a four-part lunch & learn series quarterly in 2019-2020. The goal of this series will be to educate RBB's partners on how to save money in our high-mix, low-volume PCBA industry. Each session includes a hands-on presentation from RBB team members or suppliers, FREE lunch, networking, and a facility tour.

All are welcome to attend- please pass this invitation to your team members & colleagues!

Is Visual Inspection Enough When Manufacturing High-Quality PCB Electronics?

Visual Inspection and Small Batch Electronics

How can a contract manufacturer ensure that it is providing its small batch electronics manufacturing client with the highest quality product when functional testing is not an option? In an effort to reduce costs, many customers will specify that a visual inspection of their completed assembly is to be the final quality control measure prior to shipping. Some of these assemblies can be pretty complex, consisting of hundreds of surface-mount and through-hole components. Each component and its associated solder joints (or another connection method) must be examined. It requires a team of well-trained, dedicated professionals with impeccable attention to detail to successfully complete this requirement.

What Can I Do To Help Reduce Production Cost and Lead Time in my PCB Assembly?

Design for Manufacturability

Design for Manufacturability (DFM) is the process of designing your product so that it can be produced easily and quickly. A few adjustments can help you get your new product to market before your competition, and help you meet your delivery schedules! The fewer steps in the electronics manufacturing process means less time between ordering and receiving your product.

RBB Remembers Founder Dave Bayer

It is with sadness that we share with you the passing of one of RBB’s founding fathers: Dave Bayer. Dave passed away July 2, 2019, after an illness.

“Romich, Beery, and Bayer” was the name of our company at our very beginning in 1973. Dave provided great value, brainpower, and energy in getting this business off the ground. We are all part of his legacy. Later, Dave formed a separate company called Du-It Controls that specialized in wheelchair systems. Dave developed a wheelchair control system to assist high-level quadriplegics.

“High-Mix, Low-Volume” and “Small Batch” are NOT the Same Thing

In the EMS industry, the term high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) refers to CMs or OEMs who change over production between assemblies and processes much more often than their low-mix, high-volume (LMHV) counterparts. HMLV shops convert their lines to different assemblies rapidly (hours or minutes) and frequently (several shifts or days). Note that the opportunity for error rises as batch size decreases.

By contrast, LMHV production runs can last weeks or even months between change overs. It’s a different animal altogether.

RBB builds many hundreds of unique assemblies annually and most weeks introduces multiple new assemblies. It's rare that RBB runs a batch large enough to consume an entire shift of time, much less a few shifts!