Help!

I'm trying to start a small SMT contract shop and I need assistance in selecting equipment. Quad seems to be the leader but if there is something else out there that can better suit me please let me know. My shop starting out is going to be kinda small so I'm looking to do either small PCB's or palletized products. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks, ERIC MADDY

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| I'm trying to start a small SMT contract shop and I need | assistance in selecting equipment. Quad seems to be the | leader but if there is something else out there that can | better suit me please let me know. My shop starting out | is going to be kinda small so I'm looking to do either | small PCB's or palletized products. Any help will be | appreciated. | | Thanks, ERIC MADDY | Eric,

Your ambition is admirable. Your thought process needs improvement. Why would you want in a business that assures mediocrity at best? Why get into a business assuring only you grief if not a new Mercedes?

What I'm trying to say, though this is your life as mine and so many others, why do it on a shoestring - less than $500K. If that is what you wish, then get into something assured success. Get into rework first.

You can do this relatively cheap. You can begin taking advantage of others mistakes. You can buy equipment and labor at low costs and maximumize profits.

You already know, because of your tidy business plan based on IPC TMRC, etc. you can probably make only about 1.5% net profit doing this stuff. On the other hand, you probably can make 15% correcting others mistakes.

As for Quad, damn good luck. Hey, it's a Monday and Quad seems to be reorganizing its entire engineering staff. Maybe in two or ten years, they'll get it right. Until then, there's Zevatech, Amistar, MYDATA, and even Contact.

Enjoy your new venture and I'll be glad to help you set it all up though I know very little but am cheap.

MoonMan

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| I'm trying to start a small SMT contract shop and I need | assistance in selecting equipment. Quad seems to be the | leader but if there is something else out there that can | better suit me please let me know. My shop starting out | is going to be kinda small so I'm looking to do either | small PCB's or palletized products. Any help will be | appreciated. | | Thanks, ERIC MADDY Eric,

The moon man speaks the truth; he did fail to mention Philips and MyData, however. If you are completely set on CM, buy USED equipment from a good vendor, and get yourself a top notch maint. tech. staff.

To enter the market, I'd approach it a bit different than the Moonman. I'd start with minimal capital, and get the best damn solderers and staff I could afford. Then I'd look at proto hand builds for Engineering / Engineering labs--low qty's-- one to 10, build to print, customer consigned materials (that means no cash outlay by you, and not too many headaches if you have ONE good engineer on staff. These cards are typically rush (um, I need 'em tomorrow), but come out of a different money bucket--ENGINEERING; NRE; New product development. These folks are willing to PAY for the work, if you can commit to the turnaround. BUT......make sure you do quality work. You'll have more business than you can handle in no time.

Scott

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| | I'm trying to start a small SMT contract shop and I need | | assistance in selecting equipment. Quad seems to be the | | leader but if there is something else out there that can | | better suit me please let me know. My shop starting out | | is going to be kinda small so I'm looking to do either | | small PCB's or palletized products. Any help will be | | appreciated. | | | | Thanks, ERIC MADDY | Eric, | | The moon man speaks the truth; he did fail to mention Philips and MyData, however. If you are completely set on CM, buy USED equipment from a good vendor, and get yourself a top notch maint. tech. staff. | | To enter the market, I'd approach it a bit different than the Moonman. I'd start with minimal capital, and get the best damn solderers and staff I could afford. Then I'd look at proto hand builds for Engineering / Engineering labs--low qty's-- one to 10, build to print, customer consigned materials (that means no cash outlay by you, and not too many headaches if you have ONE good engineer on staff. These cards are typically rush (um, I need 'em tomorrow), but come out of a different money bucket--ENGINEERING; NRE; New product development. These folks are willing to PAY for the work, if you can commit to the turnaround. BUT......make sure you do quality work. You'll have more business than you can handle in no time. | | Scott | Scott,

Where have you been?

Now that I think about it, I'd do it Scott's way as well. Of course, again, I wouldn't do it but you seem young and adventurous so go for it. I'd recommend your services if, as Scott says, you consider quality first - at the design and engineering level.

Earl Moon

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| | | I'm trying to start a small SMT contract shop and I need | | | assistance in selecting equipment. Quad seems to be the | | | leader but if there is something else out there that can | | | better suit me please let me know. My shop starting out | | | is going to be kinda small so I'm looking to do either | | | small PCB's or palletized products. Any help will be | | | appreciated. | | | | | | Thanks, ERIC MADDY | | Eric, | | | | The moon man speaks the truth; he did fail to mention Philips and MyData, however. If you are completely set on CM, buy USED equipment from a good vendor, and get yourself a top notch maint. tech. staff. | | | | To enter the market, I'd approach it a bit different than the Moonman. I'd start with minimal capital, and get the best damn solderers and staff I could afford. Then I'd look at proto hand builds for Engineering / Engineering labs--low qty's-- one to 10, build to print, customer consigned materials (that means no cash outlay by you, and not too many headaches if you have ONE good engineer on staff. These cards are typically rush (um, I need 'em tomorrow), but come out of a different money bucket--ENGINEERING; NRE; New product development. These folks are willing to PAY for the work, if you can commit to the turnaround. BUT......make sure you do quality work. You'll have more business than you can handle in no time. | | | | Scott | | | Scott, | | Where have you been? | | Now that I think about it, I'd do it Scott's way as well. Of course, again, I wouldn't do it but you seem young and adventurous so go for it. I'd recommend your services if, as Scott says, you consider quality first - at the design and engineering level. | | Earl Moon | Very sensible what these guys are talking, starting small, doing quality, growing on demand and a solid financial base. The details make the success. If you know what you�re doing and how you do it the best way you will find the equipment that will suit your needs. I adviced people in the same situation to write down all their needs and capabilities of the equipment that are needed to do the job and than compare the equipment according to your checklist. Keep things simple although it�s sometimes a hard job.

Good luck Wolfgang

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| | | | I'm trying to start a small SMT contract shop and I need | | | | assistance in selecting equipment. Quad seems to be the | | | | leader but if there is something else out there that can | | | | better suit me please let me know. My shop starting out | | | | is going to be kinda small so I'm looking to do either | | | | small PCB's or palletized products. Any help will be | | | | appreciated. | | | | | | | | Thanks, ERIC MADDY | | | Eric, | | | | | | The moon man speaks the truth; he did fail to mention Philips and MyData, however. If you are completely set on CM, buy USED equipment from a good vendor, and get yourself a top notch maint. tech. staff. | | | | | | To enter the market, I'd approach it a bit different than the Moonman. I'd start with minimal capital, and get the best damn solderers and staff I could afford. Then I'd look at proto hand builds for Engineering / Engineering labs--low qty's-- one to 10, build to print, customer consigned materials (that means no cash outlay by you, and not too many headaches if you have ONE good engineer on staff. These cards are typically rush (um, I need 'em tomorrow), but come out of a different money bucket--ENGINEERING; NRE; New product development. These folks are willing to PAY for the work, if you can commit to the turnaround. BUT......make sure you do quality work. You'll have more business than you can handle in no time. | | | | | | Scott | | | | | Scott, | | | | Where have you been? | | | | Now that I think about it, I'd do it Scott's way as well. Of course, again, I wouldn't do it but you seem young and adventurous so go for it. I'd recommend your services if, as Scott says, you consider quality first - at the design and engineering level. | | | | Earl Moon | | | Very sensible what these guys are talking, starting small, doing quality, growing on demand and a solid financial base. | The details make the success. | If you know what you�re doing and how you do it the best way you will find the equipment that will suit your needs. | I adviced people in the same situation to write down all their needs and capabilities of the equipment that are needed to do the job and than compare the equipment according to your checklist. | Keep things simple although it�s sometimes a hard job. | | Good luck | Wolfgang | Damn nice additon Wolfgang. I had no idea this thing would go so far, but why not if a person really has the desire, knowledge, experience, patience, appreciation for customer needs, and what it takes to assure quality meeting it - MANAGE THE PROCESSES INSTEAD OF REACTING TO THEIR EFFECTS/results as poor quality.

Adding to that I say: Write, implement, and follow a business plan based on Wolfgang's checklist idea. More on this subject in my latest column installment coming soon to your neighborhood theater.

MoonMan

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| | | I'm trying to start a small SMT contract shop and I need | | | assistance in selecting equipment. Quad seems to be the | | | leader but if there is something else out there that can | | | better suit me please let me know. My shop starting out | | | is going to be kinda small so I'm looking to do either | | | small PCB's or palletized products. Any help will be | | | appreciated. | | | | | | Thanks, ERIC MADDY | | Eric, | | | | The moon man speaks the truth; he did fail to mention Philips and MyData, however. If you are completely set on CM, buy USED equipment from a good vendor, and get yourself a top notch maint. tech. staff. | | | | To enter the market, I'd approach it a bit different than the Moonman. I'd start with minimal capital, and get the best damn solderers and staff I could afford. Then I'd look at proto hand builds for Engineering / Engineering labs--low qty's-- one to 10, build to print, customer consigned materials (that means no cash outlay by you, and not too many headaches if you have ONE good engineer on staff. These cards are typically rush (um, I need 'em tomorrow), but come out of a different money bucket--ENGINEERING; NRE; New product development. These folks are willing to PAY for the work, if you can commit to the turnaround. BUT......make sure you do quality work. You'll have more business than you can handle in no time. | | | | Scott | | | Scott, | | Where have you been? | | Now that I think about it, I'd do it Scott's way as well. Of course, again, I wouldn't do it but you seem young and adventurous so go for it. I'd recommend your services if, as Scott says, you consider quality first - at the design and engineering level. | | Earl Moon |

Moonman,

Been on the road; life of a sales manager. But I digress. You humble me with your agreement of my approaches.....

When I grow up, I wanna be a consultant--with the Moonman

Scott

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| | | | I'm trying to start a small SMT contract shop and I need | | | | assistance in selecting equipment. Quad seems to be the | | | | leader but if there is something else out there that can | | | | better suit me please let me know. My shop starting out | | | | is going to be kinda small so I'm looking to do either | | | | small PCB's or palletized products. Any help will be | | | | appreciated. | | | | | | | | Thanks, ERIC MADDY | | | Eric, | | | | | | The moon man speaks the truth; he did fail to mention Philips and MyData, however. If you are completely set on CM, buy USED equipment from a good vendor, and get yourself a top notch maint. tech. staff. | | | | | | To enter the market, I'd approach it a bit different than the Moonman. I'd start with minimal capital, and get the best damn solderers and staff I could afford. Then I'd look at proto hand builds for Engineering / Engineering labs--low qty's-- one to 10, build to print, customer consigned materials (that means no cash outlay by you, and not too many headaches if you have ONE good engineer on staff. These cards are typically rush (um, I need 'em tomorrow), but come out of a different money bucket--ENGINEERING; NRE; New product development. These folks are willing to PAY for the work, if you can commit to the turnaround. BUT......make sure you do quality work. You'll have more business than you can handle in no time. | | | | | | Scott | | | | | Scott, | | | | Where have you been? | | | | Now that I think about it, I'd do it Scott's way as well. Of course, again, I wouldn't do it but you seem young and adventurous so go for it. I'd recommend your services if, as Scott says, you consider quality first - at the design and engineering level. | | | | Earl Moon | | | | Moonman, | | Been on the road; life of a sales manager. But I digress. You humble me with your agreement of my approaches..... | | When I grow up, I wanna be a consultant--with the Moonman | | Scott | | Poor can be a wonderful thing certainly worth looking forward to at puberty and beyond. I'm ready for you to join me Scotty and I'll personally beam you down to my level.

MoonMan

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| | | | | I'm trying to start a small SMT contract shop and I need | | | | | assistance in selecting equipment. Quad seems to be the | | | | | leader but if there is something else out there that can | | | | | better suit me please let me know. My shop starting out | | | | | is going to be kinda small so I'm looking to do either | | | | | small PCB's or palletized products. Any help will be | | | | | appreciated. | | | | | | | | | | Thanks, ERIC MADDY | | | | Eric, | | | | | | | | The moon man speaks the truth; he did fail to mention Philips and MyData, however. If you are completely set on CM, buy USED equipment from a good vendor, and get yourself a top notch maint. tech. staff. | | | | | | | | To enter the market, I'd approach it a bit different than the Moonman. I'd start with minimal capital, and get the best damn solderers and staff I could afford. Then I'd look at proto hand builds for Engineering / Engineering labs--low qty's-- one to 10, build to print, customer consigned materials (that means no cash outlay by you, and not too many headaches if you have ONE good engineer on staff. These cards are typically rush (um, I need 'em tomorrow), but come out of a different money bucket--ENGINEERING; NRE; New product development. These folks are willing to PAY for the work, if you can commit to the turnaround. BUT......make sure you do quality work. You'll have more business than you can handle in no time. | | | | | | | | Scott | | | | | | | Scott, | | | | | | Where have you been? | | | | | | Now that I think about it, I'd do it Scott's way as well. Of course, again, I wouldn't do it but you seem young and adventurous so go for it. I'd recommend your services if, as Scott says, you consider quality first - at the design and engineering level. | | | | | | Earl Moon | | | | | | | Moonman, | | | | Been on the road; life of a sales manager. But I digress. You humble me with your agreement of my approaches..... | | | | When I grow up, I wanna be a consultant--with the Moonman | | | | Scott | | | | | Poor can be a wonderful thing certainly worth looking forward to at puberty and beyond. I'm ready for you to join me Scotty and I'll personally beam you down to my level. | | MoonMan | Folks, don't even bite at this diatribe. I'm not buying, Moonman. Folks, the Moonman is at the top of his game. He could sink the eight ball on the break on my table with his eyes closed and one hand behind his back. I bow in reverence.

Scott

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