If you’ve been following our recent supply chain updates, you know we’ve been encouraging customers to plan ahead as lead times increase for certain electronic components and printed circuit board materials.
Over the past several months, those concerns have continued to grow.
In this article, we will look at why we are seeing material increases, and what RBB is doing to help our clients get what they need, when they need it.
This November, RBB will be heading to PCB Carolina 2026, taking place on November 11 at the McKimmon Center at NC State in Raleigh, North Carolina. You'll find our team at Booth 61, where we'll be exhibiting as both a Grand Prize Sponsor and Silver Sponsor of the event.
Trade shows like PCB Carolina give us an opportunity to step away from emails and conference calls and have real conversations with the engineers, buyers and manufacturing professionals responsible for bringing products to market.
Connecting with manufacturers. Strengthening partnerships. Exploring what’s next.
At RBB, we believe the best conversations happen face-to-face. That's why we're excited to share that we'll be exhibiting at the 2026 Greater Ohio Design-2-Part Show, taking place October 28-29 at the First Financial Center (Duke Energy Convention Center) in Cincinnati, Ohio.
You'll find the RBB team at Booth 431, where we'll be discussing the electronics manufacturing solutions we provide and learning more about the challenges manufacturers are working to solve.
A successful wave solder process starts long before the PCB reaches the solder pot.
Wave soldering remains one of the most effective ways to produce reliable through-hole solder connections, particularly on assemblies with a significant number of through-hole components. But when the board, tooling, component layout, or process isn't well matched to wave soldering, the result can look a lot like the photo above: excessive solder flowing onto areas where it doesn't belong.
More production hours. More flexibility. More capacity to support our clients.
At RBB, we’re always looking for ways to improve how we serve our clients and prepare for what’s next. That’s why we’re excited to share an important expansion to our manufacturing operations: RBB officially added a second production shift on September 21, 2026.
At RBB, we talk a lot about what it means to be a true manufacturing partner. Quality matters. Delivery matters. Communication matters. But ultimately, the best measure of how we’re doing comes directly from our clients.
That’s why we’re especially proud to share that RBB has been recognized with a 2026 CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Service Excellence Award (SEA) in the EMS Under $20 Million category.
When Will O'Neil joined RBB earlier this year as a Test Technician, he stepped into a world that was both familiar and completely new. With a background in electronics repair, robotics, computers, cash registers, and fire alarm systems, he had spent years working around technology. But electronics manufacturing was an entirely different experience.
Every contract manufacturer looks good when everything is going according to plan. The real test comes when it isn't.
Production schedules shift.
Demand increases unexpectedly.
Lead times become compressed.
Quality concerns emerge.
Engineering changes need immediate attention.
These moments reveal the difference between a supplier and a true PCBA manufacturing partner.
Why Trying a New Manufacturing Supplier Doesn't Have to Be Risky
For many manufacturers, finding a better supplier isn't the difficult part. Making the change is.
Even when a current supplier struggles with communication, quality issues, inconsistent delivery, or limited capacity, purchasing and operations teams often hesitate to move a project.
The concern isn't finding another supplier. The concern is introducing new risk.
Quality Isn't Enough: Why Manufacturers Need Stability, Repeatability, and Engineering Support
When evaluating a manufacturing partner, quality is often the first requirement. And it should be.
But for companies managing production schedules, client commitments, and supply chain risk, quality alone isn't enough.
The real question is simple.
