This case should be somehow not rare, and it is important to contribute for
a decision about the issue.

We have a partner company that produces several small quantity SMD boards
by hand (50 mils pitch). Mostly related to calibration and small production
portable physical variables generator.  Those products did show a great
potential for the market, so some money will be invested for a production
of 500 units, some sales ad will be produced, finally the company will bet
on some good profit with this product.  The main idea is to produce 500
units and if the sales would answer as expected, they will double
production and sales effort every some time.

The point is;

This actual small quantity boards, are being assembled by hand, SMD
positioned, soldered, etc.  They asked me to develop a tactical plan to
show them when and for what quantity justify to use outsourcing contractor
to assemble the board in automated machines.

This is really a time consuming research, since every contractor will
demand analysis of the job, several items to discuss and probably they will
not be interested in such quantity of only 500 units.

I may be wrong, but previous experiences shows that there is a large GAP
between the maximum quantity hand production, and the minimum automated
machinery production.  This GAP can kill a product, since or you have
enough money to invest in a big jump in quantity production, or you will
not be able to supply your growing demand.

I also understand that may have around people with small machines doing a
good automated job, but exactly because they are small, they do not
advertise, so one can not find them.

Some hints about what kind of quantities in SMD components can be
considered for a small machine production?  Suppose  15 SMD ICs, 25
resistors and capacitors, few leds, and around 15 some mixed thru-hole
components, in a board lets say 3 x 4 inch, who can produce it around in
500 quantities?  Location can be anywhere in US, of course it would be nice
to have or in Houston or in Orlando.

I would like also to discuss if someone have personal experience in
situations like that, problems, solutions, hints, tips, alerts, etc.

Before someone asks, the SMD being assembled by hand is exactly the path
from small to higher production, somehow they believe that the product
shouldn't change (thru-hole to SMD), just production quantity will change
in time.

Thank you.
Wagner.

--
http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList
mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu