From prototype to high-volume series, with no industrialization redesign phase.
The classic trap: a working prototype that needs six months and a re-spin to hold up in series production. Our technical signature is the opposite — DFM, IPC standards and testability are integrated into the initial schematic. The prototype is already a manufacturable board.
- IPC-A-610 Class 2/3
- IPC-2221
- IPC-A-600
- ISO 9001
- IATF 16949
Native DFM, not patched-on DFM
The cost of late industrialization is well known: every DFM error caught in production costs 10× what it would have cost to fix at design. Component footprint too tight, untented vias on BGA pads, insufficient placement margin for pick-and-place: these problems show up when the CM opens the BOM, not when the prototype works on the bench.
Our schematics and routing are checked against industry-standard capabilities (minimum 0.13 mm spacing for Class 2, 0.20 mm for Class 3, anticipated thermal reliefs). The result: the first production run happens with no PCB mask change.
DFT — so series testing actually exists
Testing a complex PCB at the end of the line requires access points. Many designs neglect this and end up with a custom test bench at €8k per fixture, or worse — production with functional test only.
We systematically integrate: 1.0 mm test points on every power rail, easily contactable JTAG / SWD access, boundary scan for high-pin-count components (FPGA, MPSoC), test fixture cap planned in the mechanical design. The PCB cost adder is marginal (a few cm² of space); the production gain is massive (30 s test per board vs 5 min).
Supplier qualification — France and Asia
The choice of Contract Manufacturer depends on target volume, IP constraints and required quality level. We support our clients across all three scenarios:
- Low volume (< 1,000 units/year): French manufacturers certified ISO 9001, agile, IP-protected, high unit cost but maximum responsiveness.
- Mid volume (1,000–50,000): Europe / North Africa / Eastern Europe mix. Good quality-cost-responsiveness compromise, IATF 16949 available for automotive.
- High volume (> 50,000): Asia (China, Vietnam, Malaysia). Audited manufacturers, strict NDA, statistical-sampling quality monitoring.
See our article: Outsourcing to China vs France.
CM steering — the missing technical interface
Most industrial clients don't have the in-house expertise to dialogue technically with a Contract Manufacturer: writing an ODB++ fab file with the right notes, validating NPI deviations, negotiating component substitutions during shortages.
We hold that interface role. The client keeps IP ownership and commercial steering; we are the technical shoulder between the design house and the factory. On industrial projects, this service cuts NPI lead time by 30 to 50%.
FAQ
- IPC-A-610 Class 2 or Class 3?
Class 2 (dedicated products, proven quality) covers the vast majority of consumer and professional industrial products. Class 3 (high-reliability products, where failure is not tolerable) is required for critical medical, aerospace, and certain defence equipment. Class 3 typically adds 15-25% to assembly cost and requires a dedicated certified manufacturer.
- How do you handle component shortages?
Anticipation at design: systematic multi-sourcing on critical components (pre-qualified second manufacturer), BOM with validated alternatives, footprints accommodating equivalent components. On running projects, we continuously track end-of-life forecasts (EOL/PCN) for strategic components. See our article: Component shortages.
- Can you handle the transition of a product already in series?
Yes, in two cases: (1) series cost optimization on a mature product (re-architecture to reduce BOM, increased automation, mechanical simplification); (2) redesign for component end-of-life when a critical sourcing disappears. Initial diagnostic takes 2 to 4 weeks depending on product complexity.
Hardware
A PCB we deliver is a PCB you can manufacture in series, certify without rework, and assemble in the factory without surprises. EMC, IPC standards and DFM are baked into the schematic — not bolted on after the prototype goes up in smoke.
Firmware
Industrial firmware isn't a script that works on delivery day. It's a system that has to keep running after ten years of series production, support secure OTA updates, and withstand a regulatory environment that keeps moving (CRA, IEC 62443).
Mechanical
Electronics live inside an enclosure. When that enclosure is poorly designed, the board overheats, water gets in, or the operator spends three minutes fitting a stubborn connector. We design the integration mechanics in parallel with the electronics — not after.