Discussing Their Similarities and Differences
Although electro-mechanical and box-build manufacturing share similarities and are often considered the same capability-set in the industry, there are distinct differences that we will explore here.
Both electro-mechanical and box-build manufacturing are needed for use in infinite, diverse products spanning a wide range of applications, industries, and markets, including, among others:
- Medical Devices
- Robotics
- Semiconductor
- IIoT
- Aerospace & Defense
- Transportation
- Renewable Energy
- Homeland Security
- Telecommunications
- Storage & Networking
- Instrumentation
- Industrial
- HVAC
These complex products often involve expertly integrating IP-rated enclosures; panels; PCBAs; controls; passive, active, and electro-mechanical components; pneumatics; and connectivity—wiring, cabling, fiber optics, and connectorization. Agility Tech’s distinguished manufacturing operations produce such fully configured, tested, and NEMA and IP-rated products, with emphasis on DFM, production automation, sub-assembly hierarchy, quality, efficiency, functionality, consistency, and conformance to all customer specifications and requirements.
Key activities required in both electro-mechanical and box-build manufacturing include:
- Supply Chain Support: Assisting with component identification; sourcing; obsolescence, end-of-life, and alternate component support; implementation of purchase, supply and stocking agreements with emphasis on minimizing exposure and liability—expediting as required; and supply chain and inventory management, including supplier performance reviews/KPIs.
- Design, Production Tooling, Documentation Development, and ERP Linking: Playing a key role in the design and DFM activities; determining sub-assembly hierarchy; development, manufacture, and implementation of required test adapters, production tooling, fixtures and jigs; development of internal manufacturing process documentation & BOMs; loading and linking corresponding documentation in ERP; and determining and implementing access protocols.
- Quality Control, Testing/Validation & Inspection Planning: PPAP/quality plan development and implementation; define incoming inspection requirements, identify dock-to-stock items, and configure ERP accordingly; define firmware installation criteria and required apparatus and integrate with internal manufacturing process documentation; define and implement in-process and final test/validation and inspection criteria for electrical and mechanical functionality at all required stages, and integrate with internal manufacturing process documentation—collectively ensuring that the final product operates as intended, meets all customer specifications and requirements, and ensuring reliability.
- Prototyping & NPI Support: Accelerated prototyping and NPI support is integral to a successful validation process and product launch. Agility Tech is well-versed in these areas and will support your projects with relentless attention to detail and unwavering commitment to your success.
Electro-mechanical manufacturing typically refers to the production processes that combine electrical and mechanical features to produce products that have both electrical/electronic and mechanical aspects that function together.
The overarching process typically involves the integration/assembly of electrical components, such as circuit boards, sensors, actuators, connectivity (wire harnesses, cables, point-to-point wiring, and fiber optics); possibly pneumatics—further combining mechanical elements, such as casings, levers, cams, mounting features, and other structural items, resulting in a fully functional, tested electro-mechanical assembly.
Box-build manufacturing, frequently referred to as system integration, involves the expert assembly, installation, and validation of complex products/systems within an enclosure or cabinet, often requiring NEMA & IP-rating. This can include combining various subassemblies, including electronic systems, electrical components, such as circuit boards, power supplies and power converters, sensors, actuators, controls, gauges, passive and active devices; connectivity (wire harnesses, cables, point-to-point wiring, and fiber optics); possibly pneumatics; often, firmware installation; mechanical components; and additional peripheral devices, into a final fully functional product that is ready for use.
Box-build manufacturing typically represents and emphasizes a higher-level of integration, assembly, functionality, and validation:
- System Integration: Bringing together multiple technologies and functions into a fully configured customer-defined operational product.
- Cabling and Wiring: Installation of required internal wiring/connectivity, cabling, fiber optics.
- Inspection, Testing, Validation, Burn-In, Traceability: Defining and conducting in-process, final inspection, testing and burn-in on the sub-assemblies and final product necessary to ensure operational compliance and conformance to all customer requirements, ensuring they meet quality standards and are ready for deployment. Serialization and archiving, providing required traceability.
Similarities Between Electro-Mechanical and Box-Build Manufacturing
- Integration of Components: Both processes involve combining electrical and mechanical elements to create functional products.
- Assembly Process: Both require meticulous attention to detail and the assembly processes, ensuring all components fit together properly and function as intended.
- Quality Assurance: In both types of manufacturing, quality control/robust quality planning and execution is critical. In-process and final inspections, required testing and burn-in are performed to ensure functionality, adherence to customer and design specifications, and reliability.
- Manufacturing Complexity: Both processes involve extensive ERP and supply chain management/coordination, complex workflows that require comprehensive planning, resource allocation and management.
Differences Between Electro-Mechanical and Box-Build Manufacturing
- Focus and Scope:
- Electro-Mechanical Manufacturing: Primarily emphasizes the integration of electrical and mechanical components, resulting in a functional sub-assembly.
- Box-Build Manufacturing: Concentrates more on the assembly of fully integrated, self-contained products/systems.
- End Products:
- Electro-Mechanical Manufacturing: Typically results in products that may function independently or might need further integration with other systems.
- Box-Build Manufacturing: Results in complete systems that are ready for end-user deployment, often providing a complete integrated solution for customers that can also include UL508A control panels.
- Assembly Complexity:
- Electro-Mechanical Manufacturing: These products typically represent individual sub-assemblies, and ensuring independent functionality thereof. Box-Build Manufacturing: Often has a higher level of complexity because it typically involves multiple layers of integration, function, validation, and coordination of various components, connectivity, and subassembly content, all within a functioning product or UL508A control panel.
While both electro-mechanical and box-build/UL508A control panel manufacturing are integral to creating sophisticated products with electrical/electronic and mechanical aspects, they represent distinct roles within the manufacturing process. Understanding these similarities and differences can help OEMs optimize their sourcing strategies and improve overall product efficiency and quality.
Why Agility Tech
Custom turnkey electro-mechanical assembly, electronic box, unit, and UL508A control panel manufacture—from product development, DFM and DFx, NPI, through to all phases of fully scalable global production—we’ve got you covered. Our adherence to the right strategic certifications, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, UL/CSA, UL508A, IPC-620, J-STD-001 Soldering, RoHS and Reach compliance, and S20.20 ESD compliance, firmware/software installation, and comprehensive validation and functional testing capabilities ensure compliance with all of your specifications.
Contact us today to discuss your EMS requirements. We have vast capabilities and can efficiently meet your needs.