Category: Electronic News

 

SMA Annual Meeting ~ May 10, 2021 ~ President’s Remarks

 

“The Future Looks Bright”

A special thank you to Ron Turmel for continuing to serve as President during the Pandemic.  With so many things changing, it was nice to have some continuity.

Thanks also to Cyndi Zoldy for continuing to work with us through the transition to a new Executive Director.

Welcome Heather—you’ve hit the ground running and we know you’ll do a terrific job as the SMA’s new Executive Director.

While last year brought many of us unique challenges, from a decline in business to new safety measures and work procedures; as a group, we manufacturers demonstrated ingenuity, perseverance, and adaptability.  From auto makers manufacturing ventilators to distilleries making hand sanitizer, and medical manufacturers producing millions of doses of vaccine, bottles, and syringes, our industry solved crucial problems in record speed.  There are so many reasons to believe…to know…our future looks bright.

The pandemic and other current events exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains, underscoring the economic and national security benefits of a strong US-based manufacturing sector.

A strong domestic manufacturing base can help drive innovation and growth, creating higher paying jobs.

The digital-industrial revolution is changing the way we conduct business, eroding the financial advantages of outsourcing to low wage countries.  As companies adopt AI, harnessing data to increase efficiencies, customers will enjoy the advantages of working with local suppliers at competitive prices.

For these reasons, our future looks bright.

How can our member companies take advantage of these new opportunities?  What are the obstacles we must overcome and how can the SMA help?

1) Let’s talk about Workforce

a.  35% of CT’s workforce is 55 and older.  When the waves of the Silver Tsunami subside, decades of experience and tribal knowledge will have been washed out to sea (on cruise ships), leaving some companies struggling to stay afloat.

b.  As manufacturing still has the negative connotation of a dark and dirty place to work, public relations campaigns are needed to attract our youth into this sector.

c.  Adults who are struggling to make ends meet on part-time service-sector wages, and those who are looking to start a second career, need training and education to fill the jobs in our factories.

The SMA will build upon the excellent work Cyndi Zoldy and past Presidents and board members have done to facilitate collaboration with local trade schools, community colleges, and post-secondary educational institutions, such as the Manufacturing Alliance Training Center, or MASC, to provide a pipeline of skilled workers to our doors.

2) Another crucial topic is Legislative Issues

a.  During last week’s legislative session in Hartford, the Apprenticeship Tax Credit didn’t make it out of the finance committee.

b.  There is momentum building to increase the Capital Gains tax rate on a State and Federal basis.

c.  Legalization of recreational use of marijuana has a 50% chance of passing.

d.  4.6 million manufacturing jobs are at risk of going unfilled nationally in the next 10 years.

For these reasons and many others, it’s imperative for manufacturers to have a strong voice in Hartford and Washington.  The SMA will maintain its membership with CT’s Manufacturing Collaborative which provides our members with a lobbyist and a coalition of other manufacturing organizations who together represent our interests with one loud voice.

3) What the SMA does best, is bring value to members

a.  Networking with SMA members provides opportunities to make new business connections, gain knowledge, and solve business problems.

b.  SMA scholarships help students of member companies achieve their educational goals.

c.  Awards and recognitions support teachers and their students.

d.  Lobbying in Hartford promotes the interests of members companies.

e.  Collaborating with other manufacturing organizations provides broader access to knowledge, ideas, best practices, and political leverage.

f.  Increasing membership will enhance the value for all members.

For these reasons and many others, I’m excited and honored to serve in the capacity of President of the SMA and will work closely with Heather and the board of directors to continue the good things that the SMA has been doing for our community since 1949.  Working together, our future will be bright!

Altek is committed to meeting our customers’ needs.  One way we do this is by  requesting constructive feedback to improve our processes and procedures.  We check in twice a year with a blind survey, and here are some results of the most recent survey that we would like to share:

When asked, “Do I/We view Altek as a valuable supplier?” The responses from our customers were extremely positive.  The telling part of the question was… “Please tell us why.”

We are humbled by our customers’ responses.

Very consistent and are sensitive to our needs. Communications are timely and transparent. Also, willing to work with us to resolve issues even if it means more work for them.

Product & delivery is very good. Customer service is always helpful.

Excellent customer service and excellent products.

I have access to several people, including cell phones, which makes it easy to speak with people. Altek has provided technical support for our designs.

Altek is always willing to go the extra mile to satisfy my requirements.

Altek provides great customer service.

I feel we succeed together as we work as partners.

Dependable. On time delivery.

Top notch Manufacturer. Always on top of things. A pleasure to work with.

These responses provide very important information.  They tell us that the manufacturing services Altek is providing to our customers is in line with our vision:

“To be a thriving and profitable enterprise,
based in Connecticut, with a highly skilled and flexible workforce, that is
the #1 trusted partner in our market 
for Manufacturing and Engineering Services” & Solutions.

We will continue to work hard to meet the needs of our customers—our company culture ensures it.

When to add Flying Probe to your Electronic Assembly Bill of Material?  Important things to consider…

When is the right time to use Flying Probe Test?

While Flying Probe testing is not brand new it has evolved into providing more than Manufacturing Defect Analysis (MDA) testing.  Its usage and range of capabilities has significantly expanded in recent years.  OEMs competing for market share based on quality and price need to understand when it makes sense to add flying probe to your PCB assembly requirement.

Talk with your CM to make sure you understand all they offer before you choose the best quality assurance solution for your product.  Traditional test methods of fixtured ICT, Functional test, and quality checkpoints using AOI and X-ray are readily available at most leading PCB assembly CMs – not all offer Flying Probe.  OEMs always benefit from working with a Contract Manufacturer that offers flying probe as part of their quality assurance program.  Frequently, OEM’s overlook the important benefits Flying Probe test can offer, as it’s not a service their CM currently offers.  It is all about having multiple quality assurance options at your disposal.

Using Flying Probe Test on New Products Design

Product design does determine the best test or group of tests for your assembly.  The benefit of designing for Flying probe test is that it offers high quality in-circuit test with design flexibility, especially with the increase in smaller more densely populated boards.  Cost and time saving benefits of using flying probe for prototyping should not be underestimated.  New design prototypes may require tweaks that are easily performed in Flying Probe programming vs. costly and time-consuming test fixture changes.

When to migrate from fixtured ICT test to Flying Probe 

Redesigns are a perfect opportunity to consider switching from fixtured ICT test to Flying Probe.  If you are adding or changing components for performance or obsolescence, migrating to flying probe test can free up board space by eliminating the need for test pads and traditional fixture spacing requirements.

Once you migrate from fixtured ICT testing to flying probe, future design changes can be easily accommodated, eliminating the time and expense of new test fixtures.

What can be accomplished with Flying Probe Testing

Some of the many items tested:

• • • • • Resistance value
      • • Capacitance value
      • • Inductance
      • • Passive component measurements
      • • Opens
      • • Shorts
      • • Diode and Transistor orientation
      • • Component placement and orientation
      • • LED
      • • Simultaneous double-sided board testing
      • • Can handle larger boards than ICT
      • • Test boards that use both SMT and TH components

Production Quantities for Flying Probe Testing

Flying Probe typically lends itself to prototyping and small to mid-range runs.  This is primarily due to the speed of testing.  Fixtured ICT is faster for larger volume; however, many OEM’s needs have shifted to smaller, more frequent shipments of their assembled product.  These delivery schedules increase the value of Flying probe test as a viable option.

 Evaluating the Cost of using Flying Probe 

Up-front investment for fixtured ICT can range from $10,000 to $20,000. Fixtures used for flying probe run between $250 to $500 with the Test pricing calculated by evaluating the # of nets and components.

Finding the perfect test or combination of tests

A CM with a design engineering team adds value by advising you on the best test and quality assurance assembly design before you request quotes.  Many CMs will provide this support during quoting at no additional charge.

 What is the preferred testing method at Altek??? 

We don’t have just one!  Altek realizes the value of having different quality assurance options available.  Therefore, we offer a full array of options. We will assess your product design, volume, and end use before recommending the right test or set of tests. Contact our engineers to discuss how flying probe can benefit your program.

“Contact an Engineer”

We’re delighted to announce that Tim Suydam was appointed as Altek’s Director of Operations on August 25^th 2020.

Tim joined Altek as the Director of Continuous Improvement in June of 2018.  In that role Tim became involved in all facets of the business, from streamlining customer service functions to increasing productivity and reducing cost in manufacturing, to improving safety in our facility.  Recently, a key customer asked us to produce critical product that will be deployed world-wide.  Tim lead the creation of a continuous flow process that produces the highest quality product on a consistent basis. These contributions demonstrate that Tim’s leadership will benefit our customers and our organization.

Prior to joining Altek, Tim held a variety of senior management positions including the VP of Manufacturing with a multi-plant/country span of responsibility at Dyno Nobel.  Tim holds a lifetime certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM), he holds a lifetime Purchasing Management Certification (C.P.M.), and is a long tenured member of the Shingo Prize Board of Examiners.

Please join us in welcoming Tim to his new role at Altek.  Under Tim’s leadership, Altek is poised to raise the bar for excellence.

When talking about areas of concern in such a complex industry, it’s sometimes difficult to priorities them in order of importance – so let’s talk about it. Frequently we are talking about DFM, solder joint inspection, testing, parts obsolescence, solder voids, REACh compliance and the SCIP database just name a few. While these are all important topics, one new challenge has certainly risen to the top of the list.

What’s today’s conversation like?
Weak links in your supply chain may be more apparent today and overshadow the “normal” conversations with your contract manufacturers. Today, companies are facing new challenges that have changed the daily conversation. Manufacturers must focus on right sized work forces, CDC guidelines, component availability and critical lead times. We know that these unusual times have exposed weaknesses in some OEM’s supply chain that they didn’t know existed.

How strong is your supply chain?
OEM’s must focus on safety in production, maintaining schedules, and delivering essential military, industrial and medical equipment to market. How well are your contract manufacturers managing your risk exposure today?

Are they:

• • -Maintaining quality acceptance rates and On-Time delivery?
  • -Ensuring the safety of their staff with PPE and rigorous cleaning protocols?
  • -Working with a diverse group of part suppliers to ensure components availability?
  • -Working on advance ordering to support long lead items?
  • -Stocking parts on site to meet schedule needs?
  • -Offering testing options on quick turn prototypes without the investment of costly fixtures?
  • -Maintaining multiple work shifts to maintain production capacity?
  • -Leveraging buying power to maintain fair market pricing?

Many companies are experiencing issues with their supply chains and are re-evaluating their sources, seeking options that will provide quality product, on-time delivery at the lowest overall cost of ownership.
OEM’s need to monitor how well their contract manufacturing partners are performing to their key metrics to make sure they can provide quality product on time, every time.

If your Contract Manufacturer is checking all the boxes you are in good shape. If not, give us a call, we’d love to chat.

A picture (or video) is worth a 1,000 words.    Take a look at our facility.  Learn what makes our process unique allowing us to consistently deliver on our 98%  quality and on time delivery metric.  Hear directly from our team why Altek Electronics is the right choice.

On a special note:  Things do look somewhat different today.  Our filming was complete just before the COVID-19 outbreak.  While we are continuing to produce high quality product for our customers, rest assured that Altek is following all COVID-19 safety protocols to keep everyone’s health and safety our top priority.

View our story!

3/2/2020

Dear Valued Customer,

Ref:  COVID-19 coronavirus

The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the likely negative impact on lead times of electronic components due to the coronavirus, and to outline the steps Altek Electronics is taking to mitigate delivery delays to our customers.

Lead Times of Electronic Components

While there is uncertainty as to exactly how much of an impact the coronavirus will have on lead times of electronic components, a number of reliable industry sources warn there will be a delay on certain components of several weeks or months.  The information is in flux and we’re working with suppliers to stay current.  All known shortages have been communicated with customers, or mitigated by using alternate sources or approved alternate parts.    We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as new information becomes available.

Mitigation of Delivery Delays:

• • Safety Stock: Altek will be building up a safety-stock of finished goods inventory for orders that we ship on a regular basis.  In return, we ask that customers not push out any scheduled delivery within a 4-week window.   It will take several weeks to establish our buffer stock.  We’re hopeful this will mitigate any incidence of absenteeism due to illness.
  • Supply Chain: Altek will work closely with our suppliers and manufacturers to confirm that components orders are shipping on-time, and we will notify customers if we learn of any delays.  If supplies of certain components become constrained, we may need to request approval to use alternate parts.
  • Planning: We encourage customers to review forecasts and consider placing orders at least 3-6 months in advance of the next scheduled order date.

We value our business partnership with you and appreciate the trust you place in us to mitigate impacts to schedules during this coronavirus epidemic.

Regards,

Sabrina Beck, VP/Co-Owner

Altek conducts customer satisfaction surveys throughout the Year.    In addition to the continuous dialogue we have with our customers, we believe it’s important to “officially” check in on how we are doing.  2019 was a great year at Altek and it looks like our customers think so too!

Here are our 2019 customer comments!

Technical Support:

• • Altek is a valued supplier for “Aerospace Customer”. Altek has always provided technical expertise while meeting all of the schedule and quality requirements.
• • The staff at Altek is extremely accommodating. Altek has been helpful in all phases of our business–Design to production to service.
• • Altek adapts quickly to our changes and always provided great feedback.
• • It has been a pleasure working with Altek. Everyone we interact with is kind and professional. Sabrina communicated wonderfully with us during the quoting process. Brian’s (process engineer) meticulous review of our assembly gave us valuable feedback on our assembly process which translated into an improvement in product quality. Altek takes pride in not only about their process but ours. Thank you Altek…
• • Working with Altek has been great. Sabrina’s been great in helping with everything and in a timely manner. Rob, the engineer, gave us some great tips before quoting during the design phase. When quoting, the board manufacturer and Altek communicated wonderfully with us. They gave us valuable information to help improve some things that could really have messed the boards up, and helped us try to come to a good place with a complicated board design. It’s always great when a manufacturer who cares about the end user’s design actually working before they manufacture it.

Product Quality:

• • Everyone in Connecticut agrees… Altek quality and value is unmatched!!!!!
• • Our partnership with Altek has been a pleasant experience for a few decades.  We look forward to the next decade working together!
• • Exceeds all expectations on time delivery and quality.
• • Altek has been nothing but a pleasure to work with over the years. Their attention to detail is second to none!
• • Excellent service and quality! Pleasure and success doing business for Electronic PCB, Panels and Chassis assemblies.

Service and Delivery:

• • The whole Altek staff is a pleasure to work with. Kudos to Christine for keeping our account in such good shape. She and Altek look out for our best interests.
• • Not sure what to comment on, the customer service is the best.
• • Michele Cunha does an excellent job at getting back to me with timely information.
• • Altek is a best in class top notch supplier. Highly recommend. A pleasure to do business with. A+++ Christine Almeida is AMAZING!!!
• • I appreciate everyone who supports our account.  I wish more suppliers were more like you.
• • The Altek team is a pleasure to work with, fair, responsive, reliable, A+++
• • Excellent customer service and delivery, Valued partner for our PCB services.

“Sharing knowledge is not about giving people something, or getting something from them. That is only valid for information sharing. Sharing knowledge occurs when people are genuinely interested in helping one another develop new capacities for action; it is about creating learning processes.” Peter Senge

Altek University was founded by Altek Electronics to share knowledge and lend technical support to customers to enhance their capabilities. A medical device customer sent the first of two groups for Soldering training to work with “Trainer Dave” for an interactive session. Interested in learning more…

Contact Sabrina Altschuler-Beck @ sabrina.beck@altekelectronics.com