How Investing in PCB Rework Training Helps Electronics Manufacturing Companies Cut Costs

In the past, PCB rework training was not a priority for electronics manufacturing companies. That’s because printed circuit boards were relatively non-complex and reworking them was not too difficult. In the current age, the complexity and density of PCBs have increased a lot in the past few years. Hence performing rework on PCBs costs manufacturing companies, a lot of time, effort, and money. Many assembly defects are unavoidable, so there will always be some rework requirements in PCB manufacturing processes.

But, manufacturing companies can easily reduce the frequency of these errors if they ensure that their workers receive PCB rework training. By learning the basics of PCB rework processes, operators, technicians, and soldering professionals can avoid excessive amounts of rework. They can avoid simple problems and plan better for erroneous situations. Some of the key reasons why assembly line technicians have to perform rework include –

Replacing Wrong Parts: If wrong parts are specified during the manufacturing processes, workers must conduct rework. With proper training and by learning how to follow DFM guidelines, workers can easily avoid these errors.

Lost Parts: In some instances, reworking components on PCBs becomes impossible as they’re located too close to other components. For example, one damaged component on a PCB may be hidden by other parts. PCB rework in such situations is very difficult. Similarly, many PCB manufacturing professionals leave no room for tools on their boards. When they’re unable to reach certain parts of their PCBs with soldering irons, performing rework is nearly impossible. A workforce that has received rework training is less likely to make such mistakes during the initial assembly processes.

Assembly Errors: Another key reason why PCB rework is required in manufacturing companies is incorrect soldering. Workers have to repair the parts of the PCBs that haven’t been soldered correctly during the assembly processes. Be it incorrect component placement or cold joints – these soldering problems are also easily avoidable.

Excessive rework requirements can cause a lot of pain to electronics manufacturing companies. When you’re trying to manufacture large batches of PCBs with budgetary and time restrictions, these requirements can take a toll on the company’s profitability. That’s why engaging in high-quality PCB design practices to help to reduce the number of rework requirements is so vital for these companies. To achieve this, companies must invest in rework training.

Why is Rework Training So Important?

When you have a workforce full of professionals who know all about PCB rework processes, many unnecessary errors can be easily avoided. Plus, many PCBs aren’t designed to facilitate future rework processes. A workforce that’s trained in PCB rework processes will be extra careful while dealing with such components.

Such workforces are also likelier to allow more room for rework on the PCBs they manufacture. A trained workforce can foresee issues like inaccessible parts or inadequate room for tools on PCBs and adjust the manufacturing processes accordingly. PCB rework specialists can also foresee and prevent other risks such as soldering errors or making sure all components are placed in the right locations on the boards.

A workforce full of rework specialists can greatly reduce the risks that lead to rework requirements in the first place. By avoiding these risks, they help their employers cut costs!