From Gerber to Shipment: The 10 Steps in Our HDI PCB Sourcing Process

When a Korean electronics manufacturer submits Gerber files to a new PCB supplier, the first 48 hours are often where judgments about competence get made. Does the supplier flag DFM issues before quoting, or just paste a price back? Is the quotation structured with clear volume tiers, or is it a single number? Are the timelines realistic, or are they sales-driven fiction?

Below is the exact process we run for every HDI PCB inquiry — from RFQ to shipment. Ten coordinated steps, each with realistic timing.

Step 1 — RFQ Submission (Day 0)

We accept Gerber RS-274X, ODB++, and IPC-2581. BOM is optional but helpful. NDA is executed before review if your design is sensitive — we handle this routinely for Korean automotive and medical customers.

Step 2 — DFM Review (Within 24 Hours)

Our engineering team reviews trace widths, clearances, via structures, and impedance stackup. We flag issues that would cause yield problems before we quote — not after you have committed. This is where the real value of a specialist partner shows up.

Step 3 — Quotation Issued (Day 2–3)

Itemized quote covering setup, tooling, NRE, and unit pricing at your volume tiers. FOB and DDP options. Price valid for 30 days.

Step 4 — PO and Deposit

Standard 30% deposit on PO confirmation, 70% balance before shipment. L/C at sight accepted for orders above USD 50,000. All invoicing flows through our Hong Kong entity for clean jurisdiction.

Steps 5–7 — Fabrication, Outer Layers, Testing (Day 1–17)

Inner layer imaging, lamination, drilling, plating, etching, soldermask, silkscreen. We photograph the stackup before lamination on every multilayer board for traceability. 100% electrical test — flying probe on prototypes, fixture test on production volumes. TDR impedance spot-check on controlled-impedance designs.

Step 8 — Quality Inspection (Day 17–18)

AOI plus manual visual inspection per IPC-A-600 Class 2 or Class 3 as specified. Cross-section analysis on first article for new designs — and we archive that cross-section for 3 years.

Steps 9–10 — Documentation and Shipment

Certificate of Conformance, test reports, and first article inspection docs ship with the shipment. Vacuum-sealed anti-moisture packaging on ENIG and immersion silver finishes. Air freight via DHL/FedEx for prototypes, sea freight for production volumes. Tracking provided same-day.

What We Handle Without Being Asked

The unspoken value of a specialist sourcing partner lives in the things that do not show up in quotes:

• Coordinating with your freight forwarder when schedules shift

• Managing surface finish changes when the original specification proves unavailable

• Flagging when your controlled-impedance requirement conflicts with your chosen stackup — before production, not after

• Translating between your engineering team and the factory when terminology diverges

Most PCB failures happen in the field. The cost of a bad board is not the board — it is the product launch it delays or the warranty claim it triggers.

Ready to Submit Gerber?

Email scmgroup@scmgroup.online with your design files, target quantity, and any impedance or finish requirements. We respond within 48 hours with DFM feedback and volume-tiered pricing. No marketing language — real engineering answers.