Growing numbers of low- to medium-volume manufacturers of specialized electronic products are reaping the rewards of bringing their SMT assembly in-house. How have some of these companies justified the cost of their endeavors? Three OEM companies shared their experience with us.

Other than working with EMS subcontractors, none of these three companies had any previous hands-on experience in SMT manufacturing. And, although the circumstances that led each of them to acquire and implement their own SMT assembly lines may be different, they were all seeking better control over some phase of their manufacturing process.

So how does a company determine the true cost of obtaining this level of control? How much does it cost to set up and maintain an SMT assembly line? What is the payback period for such an investment?

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