Scope the build precisely
A quote is only comparable when the scope is identical. State whether you need SMT only, through-hole, conformal coating, cable and harness work, mechanical integration, firmware loading, functional test and packaging.
- SMT and through-hole PCB assembly
- Cable, harness and wire processing
- Box build and system integration
- In-circuit, flying probe and functional test
Component sourcing and risk
Decide who buys the bill of materials. Turnkey sourcing moves lead-time and obsolescence risk to the supplier and is usually reflected in price; consigned parts keep control with you. Ask how alternates are approved and how shortages are escalated.
Test and traceability
Agree test coverage and pass criteria before the first build. For regulated or field-critical products, confirm serialization, record retention and how failures are analyzed and reported.