Articles
Digicom and CASPER’S Technology Open Endless Possibilities for Astronomy & Aerospace Innovation and Collaboration
The Collaboration for Astronomy Signal Processing and Electronics Research (CASPER) has been working for a decade to reduce the time and cost of designing, building and deploying new digital radio-astronomy instruments. Today, CASPER technology powers over 45 scientific instruments worldwide. A significant contribution to these innovations comes from Digicom Electronics. Digicom, along with a team of researchers, engineers, and scientists, developed a Reconfigurable Open Architecture Computing Hardware (ROACH) system that forms the foundation upon which all these products are built.
Critical Factors in Selecting an EMS Company for Aeropsace Products
When requirements are stringent and device failure is not an option.
Electronic manufacturing services (EMS) companies are an integral part of the supply chain. Especially for high-reliability products, they are relied upon for their expertise, precision, and quality processes. For aerospace applications, where requirements are stringent and device failure is not an option, choosing an EMS partner can be critical. This paper explains how knowledge of an EMS company’s certifications and processes, along with facilities, service, and support, can lead to success when selecting an EMS company for your aerospace or high reliability products.
Can Nitrogen Reduce Failures in Medical Devices?
By Mo Ohady and David Estes, Digicom Electronics, Oakland, CA
Manufacturers of medical devices must seek every way possible to eliminate failures of those devices. Many major failures result from a weakness in the solder joint that connects the wire bond to the printed circuit board (PCB) or the solder connecting the device or package to the board. Using nitrogen is not an absolute requirement; however, among other things, nitrogen can help to strengthen the bond and improve solder adhesion in the soldering process.
Top 10 Factors to Consider When Selecting a Medical EMS Company
By Mo Ohady and David Estes, Digicom Electronics
Although most EMS companies perform the same basic services, every EMS is different. You can tell when you walk into a place, examine the equipment and processes, and speak to the people. Factor 1) Prepare a list of requirements; Factor 2) Certifications; Factor 3) Location; Factor 4) Service and support.
Cleanliness of PCB Assemblies Leads to Medical Device Reliability
By Mo Ohady and David Estes, Digicom Electronics, Oakland, CA
Component manufacturers are continually developing new and smaller packages for components that are mere fractions of a millimeter and have board to component clearances of less than a mil. Components are placed extremely close together. We found that it takes a special combination of chemicals, temperature, wash cycles, timing, and equipment to adequately clean under parts that small.
Personalized Care Drives Innovation in Medical Product Design and Manufacturing
The Design2Part editor interviews several industry analysts and companies for the article and comes to the conclusion that many medical products that are now entering the commercial marketplace start with electronics, and the requirements for quality, reliability, and shorter lead times still predominate. Discussed are issues that OEMs face in manufacturing today’s medical products and the role of the EMS as a manufacturing partner. Quality is at the top of every medical device manufacturer’s list of priorities when selecting an electronics manufacturing services provider.
What Medical Device Companies Need to Consider in Selecting an EMS Company
Although most EMS companies perform the same basic services, every EMS is different. You can tell when you walk into a place, examine the equipment and processes, and speak to the people. What makes for a successful contract electronics manufacturing relationship and what does a medical device company, or any company, need to keep in mind and consider during the selection process? Once the decision has been made to use an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) company, selecting one involves several steps.
Proprietory Process Provides Intensive Cleaning of Critical Circuit Boards
With the features Digicom uses on its in-line cleaning machine, the machine keeps every part of the process separate and modularized. Even though each board travels through the machine progressively, every step in the process is isolated from the next step. “We can impose controls on this whole process from beginning to end, and we can fine tune every single sub-process to optimize the cleaning,” Ohady told D2P.
EMS Companies Benefitting from Green
By Pamela Gordon, as seen on EMSNow.com
The growing number of customers who demand critically clean boards seek out Digicom, the products perform longer in the field, Digicom’s water bills are down, and employees and customers alike have the satisfaction of saving money while reducing environmental impact. The business implications? The growing number of customers who demand critically clean boards seek out Digicom, the products perform longer in the field, Digicom’s water bills are down, and employees and customers alike have the satisfaction of saving money while reducing environmental impact.
Mastering Electronic Processes that Require High Quality and Reliability
It is not enough to put the boards through a wash cycle. It takes a special combination of chemicals, temperature, wash cycles, and timing to get the boards really clean.
“Every EMS (electronic manufacturing services) company is different,” says Mo Ohady, general manager of Oakland, California-based Digicom Electronics. “You can tell when you walk into a place, examine the equipment and processes, and speak to the people.”
Process Validation 101
By Anne Bynon, MSBE and Fariba Hurry, MS
Process validation ensures that a process consistently produces a product that meets its specifications. It is an important component in the design, prototyping and manufacturing process and one, if done correctly, that can save a considerable amount of time, money and resources. This paper describes why a process requires validation, the three primary steps of process validation, and a common mistake to avoid in documentation.
Contract Electronic Manufacturers with Staying Power New – Technology Forecasters Identifies Keys to Survival
By Pamela J. Gordon, Technology Forecasters, Inc. (TFI)
The paper, written by TFI president and founder Pamela J. Gordon, features three electronics manufacturing services (EMS) companies and finds their common themes for success. One of the three companies is Digicom Electronics (Oakland, California). Gordon followed these companies for more than 15 years. She found that they have enviable profitability, world-class certifications, and loyal customers, suppliers, and employees.
New Manufacturing Relationships Form as Economy Rebounds
By Pamela J. Gordon , Technology Forecasters, Inc. (TFI)
Perhaps OEM executives can take a pointer from Digicom's Ohady, who told me he most admires supply-chain partners with these attributes: "Fast responsiveness, no mistakes, and personalized service." While looking to new manufacturing models, OEM executives will be wise to keep sight of customers' needs for responsive, accurate, and customized products and services. See that the new manufacturing relationships meet this core business principle at least as much as did previous paths.
Case Study: Transferring a Medical Device to Volume Manufacturing
By Mo Ohady, General Manager, Digicom Electronics
Excitement builds in new product development when the product can move from the lab or small volume manufacturing to a high volume manufacturing environment. High volume manufacturing can be done by the company that developed the product or it can be transitioned to a contract manufacturer. Because eqiupment and process often have to be adjusted or changed to accommodate the higher volume and/or speed, problems can arise that hadn't been anticipated.
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