New product introduction (NPI) quoting and the OEM

By Mark Zetter

OEM companies engaged in quoting exercises for new product introduction (NPI) business services with contract manufacturers can expect the capable contract manufacturer to carefully lead the OEM through an established and itemized list of NPI product requirements and processes.

Prior to the contract manufacturer generating a quote for the OEM, it is usually the responsibility of a quote coordinator (internal the contract manufacturer) to obtain the required OEM NPI program information from the assigned contract manufacturing program manager. This information can include:

OEM product program family
Product assembly part number
Lot size
Service levels: turn time, test requirements and other services involved

Below is a general overview of related steps and procedures covering printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), test services, box build or system integration, and materials sales for NPI business services that most OEMs can expect from their contract manufacturing partner.

NPI turnaround

Most standard NPI business models contain four turn time variations. These include the standard five-day turn, a three-day turn, a 48-hour turn, and the increasingly-popular 24-hour turn.

OEM product lot size requirements, in addition to other product business or service requirements, can each impact which turn schedule fits best.

Standard NPI quote

There are typically three sections, or rates, for the standard contract manufacturing NPI quote. These sections include labor rates, materials rates, and non-recurring engineering (NRE) rates.

I. Determining NPI labor charges
There are typically two different labor rates involved in the NPI quote. One set of labor rates involves assembly labor while the other set of labor rates involves labor for test. OEMs can usually expect there to be a minimum lot rate based on different NPI service turn times where the actual, or minimum, labor rate is generally defined in the NPI quote model, or contract, presented to the OEM.

Assembly labor
Assembly labor rates are based on the turn time for the NPI service; assembly component count, and current labor rates wherever specified by the contract manufacturer. Box build, or system integration, and NPI product rework rates are based on required skill level of the labor; the amount of time required to perform the work, and the labor rate for the work specified.

Test labor
Test labor can usually be segmented into four different types. These four test types can include laminolography, flying probe, in-circuit test (ICT), and functional test. Regardless of the type of product test, most contract manufacturers take into consideration test yield and product debug time when determining product NPI quotes for test labor rates.

OEMs should consult with product test engineering to help determine reasonable fees in this area. Two test areas to expand on further include laminolography testing and functional testing.

Laminolography testing
There are two types of test services for laminolography. One type of testing involves full-scope programming for every joint. The other is selective screen testing, only. Programming charges for laminolography is typically an NRE item and is based on the time required for programming and the test rate.