How to Deliver Custom Micro-coaxial Cables within 5 Working Days

Micro-coaxial cable assembly is a complicated process, and has to be done by skilled engineers with strictly controlled process. While making a custom micro-coaxial cable usually takes 2 to 8 weeks, we commit to deliver samples in 5 business days for typical orders. This is not hot air but practical new business model. In this blog we explain how we can achieve such a short lead time.

The Legacy Flow

To understand the opportunities for shorter lead time, firstly we would like to introduce typical workflow for small custom micro-coaxial cable orders. A typical cable assembly order usually involves the following steps.

1. Drawing Confirmation

To initiate a new cable assembly order, customer has to describe their requirements clearly with written documents. The documents can be either engineer oriented 2D/3D drawings, or sales-oriented email with lengthy texts or tables. Then the cable maker translates customer requirements into maker's templated drawing and asks customer for confirmation. This confirmation process can go back and forth for 2~3 rounds, and eventually get fixed in 3~5 days.

2. Price Negotiation

After drawing fixed, the price needs to be quoted. Even if customer may have got rough quotation before drawing fix, the sales always have some reason to ask for higher price. If customer is not happy with the price, the negotiation may go for several rounds and take another 2~3 days. The largest risk is, if both sides can not make an agreement on price, customer has to find alternative maker and start over from the very beginning.

3. Data Preparation

After price confirmed, the maker will start the manufacturing process. First the drawing needs to be translated to various data to feed into Manufacturing Process Management system, including the BOM list to be dispatched to inventory management system, and operating instructions to production line. This process can take 1~2 days depending on the tightness of engineering resources.

4. Material Preparation

After get BOM list, inventory managers will start to prepare materials. This process can be quick if they happen to have all materials in hand. However, if there is no inventory, they have to dispatch new orders to buy from suppliers. The lead time of new orders could vary in a large range depending on the popularity of corresponding material. In most cases, connectors take longest time. Orders for new connectors can be fulfilled in 1~2 weeks if supplied by local distributor, but can take months if has to be shipped from original manufacture.

5. Queue for Assembly

After all materials get into place, the cable will be ready for assembly. While the assembly itself does not take much time, there is always a long queue at the gate. It is not a surprise that the queue is not managed in first-in-first-out fashion. Valued customers dispatching large orders are more likely to get higher priority. So the queue time for small orders is quite unpredictable when production line is really busy. It can vary between 1 day and several weeks depending on the degree of congestion.

6. Queue for Quality Inspection

A serious maker should always have its products fully inspected before shipping. Again, while the inspection itself does not take much time, there is usually a long queue. Similar stories happen in the quality inspection queue. Valued customers are more likely to be first served. The queue time can vary in a large range. A good news is the changeover time for inspection facilities is usually much shorter than assembly, so small orders have more chances to cut in.

7. Queue for Customs Clearance

Custom clearance is the last big step in the workflow. This step can be tricky because different local governments may ask for different documents depending on local regulations. The requests and acknowledgements may go back and forth for several rounds, killing multiple days as a result.

Our Flow

Now we know the full breakdown of custom micro-coaxial cable assembly lead time. Next we would introduce how we managed to expedite the whole process.

We provide an online design tool that can help to make simple cable drawing with a few clicks. Using this tool, an experienced electronic engineer can get the design done in ~10 minutes, not necessarily to bother mechanical engineers. The tool can automatically make all essential checks, to ensure there is no ambiguity. So there is no need for further confirmation.

Our design tool is also capable of giving instant quotation and estimation on lead time. If user is happy with the price and time, they could submit the order and pay online. As soon as payment is done, the design will be dispatched to factories. There is no need for price negotiation.

Upon receiving data from online design tool, our back end server can automatically dispatch data to downstream facilities. The BOM list will go to the inventory management system, and operating instructions can be directly fed into the machines used for assembly. This automatic process does not only save time for data preparation, but also eliminates any potential human errors.

When it comes to the stage of material preparation, as we have hundreds of products running on assembly lines, we always keep a large material inventory that is flexible enough to meet diverse customer requirements. Moreover, since we are located in east China, which hosts the most extensive supply chain for consumer electronics, even if we do not have inventory for some unpopular parts, we can always find the right source in the shortest time. With our online design tool, users can get instant estimation of lead time upon submission of design. The tool is linked with databases of factories and major distributors, so the estimation for lead time is always accurate and trustable.

Coming to the stage of assembly and quality inspection, we have multiple factories running as affiliates, so we can always find an empty slot from dozens of production lines. Our back end server monitors the schedule of all production lines, then smartly dispatches the job to the one that can make it as 1st runner.Meanwhile, our production line is optimized for small lots, making it much easier to switch from one product to another.

Finally, for custom clearance, we have professional team with rich experience in export and import affairs. In most cases they can get the job done in one round, saving the time for corrections or updates.

As a summary, we make a comparison table to show how we managed to shorten time for each step. Putting all together, we commit to ship products within 5 business days for typical orders. If an order does need longer time, users can get notified with our self-help online design tool, then make more solid control on project schedule. If you have any questions on the details, please feel free to drop a message at contact form.