Success with QCS (Quality, Cost, and Schedule) Supply Chain Management
The Challenge
PCB Fabricators are Job Shops. A PCB is one critical, custom part in an OEM’s electronics product. Each is a unique design, owned by the OEM. Some are extremely complex. The buying process is much more than negotiating the lowest price this week from candidate Fabricators.
Errors, omissions, and delays are costly and damage the reputation of all: The Fabricator, the EMS who assembles the end product, and the OEM.
- PCB (Printed Circuit Board): the custom electronic board at the center of every order in this case study.
- EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Service): the company that assembles PCBs into a finished electronics product.
- OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer): the company that owns the product design and brings it to market.
The Opportunity
Success Story
P. D. Circuits, Inc. (“PDC”), a U.S. company, was co-founded and owned by David M. Wolff. David decided that PDC would be a VAR (Value-Added Reseller) of PCBs, built specifically to serve EMS and OEM customers by matching their needs for PCBs with well-qualified PCB Fabricators.
David engaged two PCB and EMS veterans to help PDC become established and effective. Gene Weiner is a member of the IPC Hall of Fame, and a consultant through his company. Keith Robbins, helped PDC identify, qualify, and even pre-sell manufacturers’ reps and direct sales personnel.
10-Year Customer Satisfaction Results
Quality: 98%
Fully met requirements when delivered.
Production orders were over 99%.
Quick-turns were somewhat lower.
Schedule: 96%
Delivered to the customer’s dock on time.
Most delays were only 1-2 days late.
Cost: Fair to all three
Customers (EMS or OEM), Fabricators, and P.D. Circuits
“You really were paying attention for those 15 years, Doug!”
– David Wolff, Former President, P. D. Circuits, Inc.
