FAQs

Esprit Electronics has earned a reputation for developing bespoke and robust solutions for a broad range of industry sectors. This is underpinned by Esprit’s extensive supply chain capability, first-class customer service, collaborative approach, and commitment to investment in new technologies. Read our FAQs to find out more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is your preferred format for product files?

Esprit would prefer you supply your files in ODB++ format. This gives us all the information we need to create a SPEA Test program. If this is not possible we accept Extended RS-247X Gerber for PCB, and Excel for parts lists.

What is the largest PCB size you can process?

We recommend keeping the PCB populating area to within 320 x 250, however we will always work with our customers to design appropriate solutions so please do get in touch if your requirement is outside this dimension.

We only want routed PCBs, can you supply these?

The industry preferred option is route and Esprit has automatic de-panelling machines, Cencorp and Asys, which will route the manufacturing array into individual circuits.

Is Esprit able to monitor obsolescence, life cycle or end of life on componentry?

We use Silicon Expert which allows us to review your submitted parts list. This allows us to thoroughly assess and report on the components listed, offering a report on the component’s life cycle, status on compliance or obsolescence. We are happy to offer ongoing surveillance and notifications.

Can you perform PPAP for our products?

Esprit operates an AIAG format PPAP for customers requesting one. Please let us know when requesting quotation.

Can I tour your factory?

Absolutely. We enjoy having the opportunity to meet our customers and prospective customers face to face. We’re very proud of our people and facilities and enjoy showing them off. We also welcome audits and will happily support any additional requirements such as UL or SIRA audits.

Should you be unable to visit in person we will be happy to arrange a virtual tour via your platform of choice.

What ISO and quality accreditations do you hold?

Esprit’s adopted workmanship acceptability standard is IPC-A-610, which works hand in hand with our training policy. All our production staff undergo continual self-assessment and formal IPC J-STD-001 training both externally and in house.

Esprit’s methods for manufacture, storage, handling and preservation of materials meet the requirements of both BS EN 61340-5-1:2007 Electrostatic Sensitive Devices and J-STD-033, J-STD-020 for Moisture Sensitive Materials.

We are ISO9001 accredited and hold memberships with the IPC and CQI.

What is a CEM?

Contract Electronics Manufacturer (CEM) is a term used for companies that design, manufacture, test, and distribute, electronic components and assemblies for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The concept is also referred to as Electronic Manufacturing Services.

What is EMS?

Electronic Manufacturing Services are offered by Contract Electronics Manufacturers (CEMs) to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). CEMs design, manufacture, test and distribute electronic components and assemblies.

Why choose to work with a CEM?

There are many advantages to working with a CEM. It allows you to focus on your core capabilities, shorten your supply chain, improve cost controls, and provides access to the latest electronic manufacturing and test technologies without significant capital investment, safe in the knowledge that all quality standards are being adhered to.

What is a PCB?

A printed circuit board (PCB) mechanically supports and electrically connects electronic components using conductive tracks, pads and other features etched from one or more sheet layers of copper laminated onto and/or between sheet layers of a non-conductive substrate.

The process of connecting electronic components with the wirings of printed circuit boards is what’s known as PCB Assembly (PCBA).

Esprit has an extensive PCBA capability including Surface Mount, Thru-Hole and Mixed Technology able to meet the most complex designs and manufacturing requirements across a wide range of demanding applications and market sectors.

What is DFT?

DFT is a way of designing the integration of testability features to an end product. These features enable the application of manufacturing tests to the designed hardware. These tests are used to confirm that the finished product has no defects which could affect functionality.

Esprit’s extensive engineering and design for Manufacturing (DFM) & Test (DFT) capability includes PCB layout, product design, software development and where appropriate full FMEA and MTBF analysis.

What is DFM?

Design for Manufacturing or Design for Manufacturability (DFM) is the optimisation of a part, product, or component’s design, to enable the finished product to be created more efficiently, i.e., faster and for lower cost.

Esprit’s extensive engineering and design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for test (DFT) capability includes PCB layout, product design, software development and where appropriate full failure mode and affects analysis (FMEA) and mean time between failures (MTBF) analysis.

What are your NPI (New Product Introduction) services?

Esprit offers a full range of New Product Introduction (NPI) services including: Engineering Samples, First Article Inspection Reports, Value Engineering, approval and EMC qualification assistance, Design for Manufacture (DFM) & Design for Test (DFT) and full Supply Chain qualification.

Our service goes beyond the PCBA to include a comprehensive report on the product design and the Bill of Materials (BOM) to identify critical path, risk and obsolete devices, ensuring a streamlined product launch.

Customers can enjoy bespoke product solutions managed by their own engineering Project Manager. Furthermore, state of the art technology allows for the seamless transfer from NPI to volume production, reducing risk and minimising time to market and time to volume.

What test and inspection solutions do you offer?

We work closely with our customers to develop the most appropriate Inspection and Test Solution, ensuring our defect coverage is always optimised.

We can provide professional Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI) and/or Test solutions, as well as full In-Circuit & Functional Testing, and are able to incorporate both J-Tag and Boundary Scan technology.

Esprit prides itself on delivering quality, defect free assemblies through effective use of AOI, ICT and Functional Testing.

What Conformal Coating solutions do you offer?

Brush coating works by flow coating the material onto the board and is suitable for low volume application, finishing and repair.

Spray application coating can be completed with a spray aerosol or dedicated spray gun in our dedicated spray booth and is suitable for low and medium volume processing.

Selective processes utilises a needle & atomised spray applicator that can move above the circuit board and dispense / spray the coating material in selective areas. Flow rates and material viscosity are programmed to maintain the desired coating thickness. This method is highly effective at large volumes.

All methods meet the requirements of material specifications IPC-CC-830B and Mil-I-46058C, using guidance from IPC-HDBK-830. Our primary materials are Acrylics, specifically Humiseal 1B31 and IB73.

How do you manage logistics?

We have a range of transport options available to us, including our own fleet, meaning we can take a robust approach to ensuring that items arrive on time and in full.

Working with our customers we develop bespoke packaging solutions that consider demand, batch size, weight, mass, storage and recyclability.

How can you guarantee your supply chain?

We maintain a healthy portfolio of supply partners locally, nationally and across the globe offering the full range of capabilities required to fulfil our clients’ requirements and providing resilience to disruptions in supply.

Risk management is integral to our processes, we therefore analyse, assess, agree and apply contingencies against the risk of every eventuality.

Our clients enjoy the benefits of working with a materials account manager from concept stage through to product realisation. Our policy is to provide as much material information as possible to the client not only during the bid and NPI processes but also throughout their products’ lifecycle.

What sets Esprit apart?

We always put the customer at the heart of everything we do, and 83% of our customers would rate the responsiveness of our service and 8/10 or above.

We pride ourselves on our flexibility to be able to react quickly to greet any challenges or opportunities you face alongside you. 94% of our customers agree that we have demonstrated flexibility to consistently meet their needs.

What are your customer service values?

Bespoke – We aim to work with you in partnership. That means we will leverage our 35+ years of experience to thoroughly understand your requirements and provide a solution that’s precisely engineered to meet your needs.

Flexible – The world of electronics manufacturing is evolving faster than ever before. We understand that as a result your requirements can change. We pride ourselves on our flexibility to be able to react quickly to face these challenges and opportunities alongside you.

Responsive – We understand how important it is to provide you with answers in a timely fashion. This is why we provide you with a dedicated point of contact, and whilst we can’t promise to always respond the same day, you can rest assured that is our aim.

Informative – Not only will we keep you fully up to speed with your orders, we also keep an eye on the wider electronics manufacturing environment and seek to inform you of any relevant risks or opportunities so that we can work together in partnership to respond.