How to Choose the Right PCB Assembly Company: 7 Key Factors to Consider
April 30, 2025
According to the North America Printed Circuit Boards PCB Market Report 2025 the global PCB assembly market is projected to experience a market size of $30.51B in 2024 with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.7% through 2031. In this competitive landscape, choosing the right assembly partner directly impacts your product quality, time-to-market, and profitability.
In this article, we will explore 7 key factors to consider when choosing a PCB assembly company. By carefully evaluating these factors, you can select a PCB assembly partner that aligns with your project’s needs and contributes to its success.
Looking back at a company’s history and who they work with can give you an idea of the level of expertise and experience of that supplier. A company that has been established for a long period and has worked with a large range of clients is a strong indication that their work can be trusted, and you will be in safe hands.
Working with a supplier who can bring a wealth of experience will greatly enhance the success of your project. PCB assembly is a complex process that involves precise component placement and quality control; only a certain level of experience can appreciate the deep understanding of the complexities.
Experienced PCB assembly companies will often have a wider selection of cutting-edge technology as well as a professional team that’s used to working with the latest PCB technologies, such as Surface Mount Technology (SMT), Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), and 3D printing.
With 28+ years of experience, KINGBROTHER works within some of the toughest industries where precision and quality are key, including:
In these industries, delays, faulty components, and mistakes simply aren’t an option. This is why our 18000+ customers choose us as their number one PCB assembly manufacturer.
Quality and adherence to regulatory standards are important in any electronic assembly. When choosing a PCB assembly company, ensuring they have adequate quality testing services and quality control measures is essential.
Quality PCB assemblies provide:
Here are some of the things you should look at when evaluating quality:
Here are some problems that can arise if your chosen PCB assembly partner is not up to snuff on its quality standards:
To ensure a PCB assembly company is closely following international quality standards:
By thoroughly evaluating these aspects, you can select a PCB assembly partner that upholds high-quality standards, ensuring the reliability and success of your electronic products.
KINGBROTHER is proud to hold onto the highest quality standards, including the UL, IPC Class3 manufacturing, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, IATF16949, ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO50001, and ISO 45001. So you can trust that we are committed to providing you with the top levels of assembly production.
Evaluating a PCB assembly company’s manufacturing capabilities is crucial to ensure that your product is assembled efficiently, reliably, and at scale. A company’s expertise and equipment directly influence the quality, complexity, and scalability of your PCB assemblies.
Manufacturing capabilities are fundamental to the success of PCB assembly, directly influencing product quality, production efficiency, and time-to-market. A company’s expertise and equipment determine its ability to meet complex design requirements and scale production effectively.
Below are some important aspects of determining a company’s manufacturing capabilities:
Complex PCB designs featuring dense component layouts and intricate circuitry require advanced manufacturing capabilities. As such, the best companies should be equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and skilled personnel who can accurately handle such designs, ensuring precise component placement and reliable electrical performance. This ensures they can minimize errors and, therefore, enhance the overall quality of their assembled boards.
A diverse range of assembly services allows manufacturers to cater to various design requirements:
Manufacturers offering these services can adapt to varying design needs, providing flexibility and ensuring that the assembly process aligns with the specific requirements of each project.
Partnering with a manufacturer that has limited capabilities can lead to several risks:
To ensure a successful partnership, consider the following steps:
By thoroughly evaluating these aspects, you can select a PCB assembly partner whose manufacturing capabilities align with your product’s requirements, ensuring quality, reliability, and scalability.
Comprehensive inspection and testing capabilities are essential for verifying the quality of PCBs throughout and following the assembly process. Leading PCB manufacturers integrate various testing methods into their processes, including In-Circuit Testing (ICT), flying probe testing, Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), and X-ray inspection, to ensure thorough quality assurance.
Each of these testing methods serves a unique purpose. ICT checks for electrical performance and solder joint integrity. Flying probe testing verifies component placement and connectivity. AOI locates visible defects, and X-ray inspection is good for evaluating internal structures and solder joints that are externally visible.
Assessing the application and effectiveness of the testing processes that a given manufacturer utilizes will allow you to confirm their commitment to delivering defect-free PCBs.
Being able to deliver a product on time is a vital factor when choosing a PCB assembly company. Delays to delivery can impact the overall project and, in some cases, result in extra costs, so it’s important to ensure turnaround times are adhered to and deadlines are met.
Timely delivery affects your:
If not managed correctly, timelines can be delayed. This can be due to several reasons, but the most common are production capacity and workflow efficiency.
When your PCB assembly partner is slow, it will result in:
To ensure on-time delivery:
Good lead time management improves efficiency, customer satisfaction, and competitive advantage.
Choosing to work with a supplier who has the experience to streamline workflows and ensure production capabilities are managed will eliminate any delays. At KINGBROTHER, we provide quick-turn PCB & EMS services with fast turnarounds, flexible manufacturing, and full design support, ensuring precision, quality, and scalability for all industries.
Achieving a balance between cost and quality is essential when selecting a PCB assembly partner. Understanding the factors that influence pricing and ensuring transparency can help you make informed decisions and avoid unexpected expenses.
The cost of PCB assembly depends on:
While it’s tempting to opt for the lowest bid, focusing solely on upfront costs can be misleading. Consider the long-term value:
Think you’ve found a cheap advanced assembly PCB company? Don’t celebrate just yet; here’s what might happen if your choice of partner is not upfront about their hidden prices:
Here are some ways you can ensure you’re getting the most out of your partner’s pricing:
By proactively addressing these aspects, you can navigate the complexities of PCB assembly pricing, ensuring that you receive quality products at fair prices without unexpected financial surprises.
Effective communication and robust customer support are fundamental to a successful partnership with your PCB assembly provider. They ensure that your project progresses smoothly, issues are promptly addressed, and your expectations are consistently met.
Strong communication skills are a necessity when working with a PCB assembly partner:
A lack of customer support from your PCB assembly company partner may result in the following problems:
Here are some steps to ensure clear and concise communication with and customer support from your PCB assembly partner:
By prioritizing strong customer support and maintaining clear communication, you lay the foundation for a successful and collaborative partnership with your PCB assembly provider, leading to efficient project execution and mutual satisfaction.
At KINGBROTHER, our engineering staff has the experience and knowledge to answer all of your design and manufacturing questions 24/7. We offer advanced design tools to expedite your design process and will keep you in the loop without your having to ask.
Selecting a PCB assembly company partner requires evaluating quality standards, company experience, manufacturing capabilities, lead times, testing capabilities, pricing transparency, and customer support. The right partner becomes a strategic asset—one that scales with your business and contributes to your product’s success in competitive markets.
Choose a partner not just for your immediate project requirements but for your long-term growth trajectory.
“I’m looking for a PCB assembly company near me,” Well, you’re in luck! KINGBROTHER is the leading electronics manufacturing company worldwide to assist with your PCB assembly needs.
Please get in touch at overseas@kingbrother.com or request a quote to see how we can help you with your next project.
