PCB manufacturing has undergone significant shifts since the global pandemic of 2020. Countries, including the US, are increasingly turning to onshore PCB fabrication to address global supply chain vulnerabilities amid concerns over shipping, procurement, and security. These changes have wide-ranging implications for electronics companies in the West.

At the same time that the world is experiencing increased instability, a technological revolution has emerged in the form of artificial intelligence. AI has profound implications for every sector, and printed circuit board fabrication is no exception. In this blog, we’ll outline the main ramifications of AI and the reaction to global challenges.

What does this mean for OEMs in the U.S?

Increasingly, manufacturers are seeking to relocate production to safeguard their supply chains in the medium to long term. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the risks of overreliance on manufacturing and shipping over vast distances. During that time, entire industries faced inaction as shipments were halted and consumer spending changed much quicker than supply chains could adapt.

Major considerations for domestic printed circuit board fabrication:

• Supply Chain Resilience: Reshoring enables a finer degree of control over supply chains, helping to reduce dependency on any single region or supplier.
• Quality and Compliance: Domestic manufacturing is typically capable of quicker response times. That allows companies to adapt to regulatory changes and consumer behaviour.
• Intellectual Property: Manufacturing in the U.S reduces the risk of your IP being copied.
• Costs: Onshore manufacturing typically incurs higher upfront costs, but when all considerations are factored in, including increased time to market, potential loss in transit, and limited adaptability, onshore manufacturing can be the cost-effective choice for many OEMs.

AI-driven printed circuit board prototype testing

As artificial intelligence and machine learning become increasingly integrated into various processes across all industries, printed circuit board production and printed circuit board prototype are no exceptions. Leading PCB manufacturers now implement advanced AI-driven inspection systems that are so intelligent, they continue to evolve, building upon the data they are recording.

Far from being an inferior method of testing, AI-powered inspection methods such as ‘Automated Optical Inspection’ are capable of picking up subtle differences and defects using sophisticated algorithms to identify such problems as component misalignment, soldering defects, and missing parts that humans are not able to pick up on alone. That is because they can reference countless PCB layouts using high-resolution cameras and cross-reference them in a way that is simply not possible without machine learning.

As the systems continue to evolve, they also help identify where efficiencies can be made and quality and performance can be improved.

Onshore quick turn PCB fabrication with Bay Area Circuits

With its state-of-the-art 30,000-square-foot plant in the Fremont Innovation District, Bay Area Circuits is strategically located to offer a comprehensive range of PCB design, prototyping, and production capabilities. Streamline your production cycles with fully customized services in the U.S., backed up with industry-leading procurement support and customer care.

Bay Area Circuits:

By Phone: 510-933-9000

By Email: [email protected]

Website: bayareacircuits.com