Today, our purchasing team noticed that one component on a customer’s production order had a significant tariff attached to it.
We had three options: absorb the cost, ask the customer to approve the additional charge, or find an equivalent substitute. Since this was a recurring build, we chose to solve the problem instead of passing the cost along.
After reviewing the schematic, we found that the part was an op amp used in the filtering stages following a sensitive transimpedance amplifier. We believed it was a reasonable candidate for substitution, so one of our engineers reviewed the circuit and found an equivalent alternative without the tariff. We explained the situation to the customer, and they approved the change and appreciated the recommendation.
There are five of these parts on each board, and the customer orders 100 units at a time. Across recurring builds throughout the year, that one substitution saves roughly $4,000 annually.
This is how we believe PCB manufacturing should work. Invite us into the project. Let us review the schematic and BOM, understand what you’re building, and help improve the product over time. If we see something that could save money, reduce risk, or make the next order easier, we’ll say something.
Small things. Big savings.
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