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Glossary

AOI - Automated Optical Inspection
A process designed to detect manufacturing defects in printed circuit assemblies (PCA) through automated optical wavelength inspection techniques. The increasing complexity of printed circuit boards is making AOI a necessary part of the manufacturing process today. OCM Manufacturing has AOI capabilities in-house.
AXI - Automated X-ray Inspection
A process designed to detect manufacturing defects in printed circuit assemblies (PCA) through automated x-ray wavelength inspection techniques. Hidden solder joints in modern assemblies make x-ray inspection a necessary part of the manufacturing process today. OCM Manufacturing has AXI capabilities in-house.
BGA - Ball Grid Array
A type of surface mount technology (SMT) integrated circuit package incorporating an array of solder balls on the underside for mounting and interconnect. The use of BGA allows for higher density designs. As part of our refurbish and repair post-manufacturing services, OCM provides BGA rework and reballing. OCM also handles microBGAs, which are BGA devices with ball pitches below 1mm.
CEM - Contract Electronics Manufacturing
Also known as "electronics manufacturing services (EMS)". A CEM is a company that manufactures electronic products for other companies on a contract basis, including printed circuit boards, electronic assemblies, and complete systems. OCM provides contract manufacturing for small- to mid-size companies that produce low- to mid-volume electronics.
CM - Contract Manufacturing
See CEM.
DFM - Design For Manufacturing
The practice of reviewing the design of an electronics product to ensure that it can be cost-effectively manufactured at high levels of quality. DFM may also take into consideration how the product can be assembled, tested, serviced and repaired.
DFX - Design For Excellence
See DFM.
EMS - Electronics Manufacturing Services
See CEM.
ERP - Enterprise Resource Planning
A software-based information system that integrates the manufacturing and related applications for an entire enterprise, including product planning, parts purchasing, maintaining inventories, interacting with suppliers, providing customer service, and tracking orders.
HVLM (High-volume, low-mix)
Describes a type of electronics manufacturing business. HVLM manufacturing is focused on a limited range of high-volume products. In 2002, Arrow Electronics, the world's largest in EMS provider, defined HVLM as "a turnkey engagement with minimum annual production of at least 50,000 per stock keeping unit (SKU)" with a total engagement value of $20 million or higher. OCM's business does not involve HVLM production. OCM is focused on LVHM (low-volume, high mix) work.
ISO - International Organization for Standardization
An international federation of national standards organizations from over 100 countries. In manufacturing terms, ISO develops and maintains standards for manufacturing industry processes, delivery and quality assurance. OCM Manufacturing is ISO 9001 registered. The ISO 9001 standard is used to assure a supplier's conformance with specific requirements during several product stages including design and development, production, testing, inspection and servicing.
Lead free (Pb free) Manufacturing
A broad term in the manufacturing industry that refers to a number of initiatives and directives throughout the world related to eliminating lead (Pb) from the electronics supply chain. Currently, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directives out of the EU are important to manufacturers today. WEEE addresses the appropriate disposal of electronics components by which companies must abide.

RoHS addresses the production of new electronics components with reduced or no use of lead (and other hazardous substances). Solder is a key consideration for manufacturers seeking to become RoHS-compliant, affecting raw materials, wave, post-wave and reflow processes. Lead free processes also require higher temperature windows, in turn requiring the use of components with greater heat resistance.

OCM's Lead Free Program is designed to help companies transition to comply with these directives while minimizing their inventory risk.
LVHM (Low-volume, high-mix)
Describes a type of electronics manufacturing business. LVHM manufacturing is focused on a wide variety of lower volume products. This is in contrast to the manufacture of products that have very high volume production - such as many telecommunications products. OCM's business is centred on LVHM products.
MES - Manufacturing Engineering Services
Engineering services to develop, support and/or optimize manufacturing processes.
MES - Manufacturing Execution Systems
Systems that track and manage all aspects of a manufacturing project in real time. This may include resource management, capacity scheduling, maintenance management, statistical quality control, process management, data collection, plant wide document management and process optimization. MES may link to ERP/MRPII software for higher level planning and control tasks. OCM Manufacturing uses MES software.
MRP - Materials Requirements Planning
A process for determining material, labour and machine requirements in a manufacturing environment. OCM has an MRPII system in place. MRPII is the consolidation of material requirements planning (MRP), capacity requirements planning (CRP), and master production scheduling (MPS).
NPI - New Product Introduction
A term that encompasses numerous services that are critical elements of the NPI process. These may include component selection, DFX engineering, test strategy development, prototyping, process engineering, etc. OCM Manufacturing offers NPI services and has an in-house NPI team.
OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer
A designation for companies that manufacture equipment that is then marketed and sold off to other companies under their own names. OCM Manufacturing serves primarily small- to mid-size OEMs.
PCA - Printed Circuit Assembly
The physical assembly that consists of substrate (board) and mounted components.
PCB - Printed Circuit Board
A board that contains layers of circuitry that is used to connect components to a system. OCM provides PCB layout and assembly services as part of its services mix.
PTH - Pin Through Hole
A method of obtaining electrical connection between components and substrate by soldering component leads (or pins) inserted in plated through-holes. PTH is an older technology than surface mount technology (SMT). OCM offers PTH as well as SMT manufacturing services.
PWA - Printed Wire Board
See PCB.
RoHS - Reduction of Hazardous Substances
An EU-based directive restricting hazardous substances in electronic and electrical equipment. OCM's Lead Free Program is designed in part to address the RoHS directive.
SMT - Surface Mount Technology
A high-density electronic component mounting technology used for compactness and automated assembly economies. Installed surface mounted devices use direct solder connections to a printed circuit board. OCM offers SMT manufacturing services, as well as older pin through hole (PTH) manufacturing.
SCM - Supply Chain Management
The process of optimizing the delivery of goods, services and information from supplier to customer. SCM engages a trading-partner community in the common goal of satisfying the end customer. This encompasses enterprise resource planning; manufacturing, warehouse and transportation management systems; and business intelligence and analysis.
Stranded Inventory
In manufacturing terms, this refers to materials and components that are purchased but, for one reason or another, unusable. This may occur if, for example, large inventories are purchased in anticipation of volume but are not depleted before a product's end-of-life. As manufacturing shifts to lead free mandates, companies that do not have transition plans may run the risk of stranded inventories of products and raw materials that do not comply with lead free directives. OCM's Lead Free Program is designed, in part, to alleviate this risk to its customers.
WEEE - Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
An EU directive concerning proper disposal of Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment, largely through provisions relating to reuse and recycling. OCM's Lead Free Program addresses, in part, the WEEE directive.