Fast and accurate PCB quoting and component sourcing

The quoting and pricing process poses multiple challenges for Electronic Manufacturing Services companies. Since EMS companies quote many more products than they actually build, the lack of data standardization, difficulty comparing data sources to identify discrepancies, inefficient process pricing, and lack of integration with ERP systems sap significant resources. Pricing is further complicated when commodity parts need to be priced in bulk, as well as by the lack of tools to accurately price process costs and address electronic component sourcing challenges. Intelligent, manufacturing-aware applications are critical to overcoming these issues and allowing manufacturers to quote rapidly and accurately.

ERP Integration is key to electronic component sourcing

ERP integration is critical to effective electronic component sourcing, especially given recent global supply shortages. Rather than simply acquiring and storing all the parts for a BOM, whether from one or multiple electronic parts distributors, reviewing the ERP system for already-available parts can save time and improve cash flow. But, with manufacturer part numbers (MPN) and customer part numbers (CPN) often different, finding parts in the ERP system can be challenging.

Component manufacturers have recently been making portals available that provide web access to pricing, lead time and alternative parts. These portals allow many parts to be searched in batches and enable specific user access so that corresponding customer pricing is available. With multiple methods to create connections between an OEM CPN and the EMS IPN, matches can be created between the customer BOM and the ERP system and existing parts on hand can be utilized efficiently.

A manufacturing-aware component sourcing and PCB quoting application

Valor BOM Connector offers multiple methods to create those needed connections between the customer BOM and the ERP system. It also solves many other challenges inherent in PCB quoting – acting as a PCB cost calculator, and more. For example, demand forecasts can be imported into Valor BOM Connector, which will then use the component portals to obtain the optimum price.

Read our new whitepaper – PCB Sourcing and Quoting – to learn how manufacturing-aware applications such as Valor BOM Connector can speed up and improve the accuracy of the quoting process.