Quality at every link in the chain
Suppliers
Materials and component sources, scored on quality and delivery.
Fabrication
Board fabrication tracked against spec and yield.
Assembly
Component placement and assembly quality monitored in line.
Test
Inspection and test results captured and traced to each lot.
Delivery
On-time delivery and quality, ready to show the customer.
The facts, when the account is on the line
Full traceability
Follow any order or lot from supplier to delivery, with the quality record attached.
Supplier scorecards
Rank suppliers on quality and on-time performance with data, not anecdote.
Nonconformance tracking
Log, investigate, and close issues - with a clear trail of what happened and why.
On-time & quality metrics
The kind of figures - like 97% on-time delivery - that keep customers confident.
Who needs QCS for buying PCBs?
QCS is for any OEM, EMS provider, distributor, or reseller that buys custom PCBs from fabricators. PCB fabricators are job shops, and every board is a unique design owned by the OEM. Errors, omissions, and delays are costly and damage the reputation of the fabricator, the EMS, and the OEM.
QCS keeps each link of the chain on the same facts, from the customer RFQ to the boards arriving at the receiving dock.
How does a PCB order move from quote to delivery?
Record the RFQ
Receive an RFQ from a customer or prospect and record the facts. Then issue an RFQ to fabricators.
Compare quotes
Fabricators respond with quotes and you choose one. Then you generate a quote to the customer, or to the end-user department if you are the OEM.
Order and job
The customer issues a PO accepting the quote, and you handle any changes from it. You create the job and issue a PO to the fabricator, then verify it is accepted.
Deliver and invoice
Accept the fabricator's testing and QA or conduct your own. Then carry out logistics - carrier, packing, shipping - and invoice the customer.
Pair QCS with EQQ-Triangle
QCS sits on a database, and EQQ-Triangle is a read-only, no-SQL query tool that can ask questions of the same kind of database. Together they let your own staff answer delivery questions without writing SQL. See how to track PCB delivery performance without a BI stack, or start a free EQQ-Triangle trial.
QCS for PCBs: common questions
Who is QCS for?
QCS is for OEMs, EMS providers, distributors, and resellers that buy PCBs through an 8-10 link supply chain and need everyone to work from the same factual data.
Is QCS only a way to find the lowest PCB price?
No. A PCB is a unique, custom part, so the buying process is more than negotiating the lowest price this week. QCS is about quality, cost, and schedule together.
Does QCS track delivery performance?
QCS gives quality and delivery visibility at every link. To answer questions such as the percentage of orders delivered on time, you can also query the same order database with EQQ-Triangle.
Is there a real example of PCB delivery data in use?
Yes. P. D. Circuits, a PCB VAR, used an order-level export to show a major customer its true on-time delivery rate. Read the PCB electronics case study.
How do I find out more about QCS?
Use the contact form. Your email gets a timely answer or, at your request, an online discussion.