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    Outsourcing: Documentation

    What kinds of documents will you need to engage with your outsourcing partner?

    The same critical documents that you previously implemented will be used. Clear, concise, up-to-date documentation is probably the most important aspect to being successful with a contract manufacturer. When a change is made to any document that affects what a CM is doing to your product, you should notify them immediately via email or phone (whatever communication method agreed to) and follow up with an approved ECO from CCB. Any design change made could affect a vast amount of activity and product at the CM. Here’s a listing of what types of documents you will need to work effectively with a CM:

BOMs (Bill of material) Fabrication drawings Assembly drawings
Gerber Files AVL (Approved vendor list) Test instructions
Packaging instructions Schematics ECOs
Shipping instructions Part specifications Quality manual
Workmanship standards Burn-in specifications Repair instructions
ForecastNet list Samples

    Some of these items on this list may not be necessary if you are just building prototypes with a CM. However, at some point in time, you will need these documents as your company grows and with volume production approaching. Just to quote an assembly, a CM will need a BOM, AVL, Assembly print, Fabrication print and gerber file with centroid data (if building circuit boards).

    The use of a ‘Gold Standard’ or a ‘Gold Unit’ can also be very useful when setting up a process at your outsource provider. It can serve as the reference unit for any ambiguity or quality issues as well as for calibration of test equipment or troubleshooting in lieu of documentation that may not available.

    When developing documentation for internal and external use, it is important for you to consider how a CM will interpret what you put on (or don’t put on) a print or specification. I take a print and try to personally build the unit myself, putting the CM’s shoes on so to speak. If I can’t build the unit or the print is unclear, then it is a good bet that the CM or supplier will probably have issues as well. I like to err on the ‘over documenting’ side as opposed to ‘under documenting’. Add that extra note or cut-away view and you will be much better off in the long run.