Process Review: Electronic Components (SIC

3679)

Firms engaged in the manufacturing of a variety of miscellaneous devices that are elements of larger electronic/electromechanical systems.◦ Common Examples

Wire/Cable Harness Assemblies Electromechanical Assemblies RF and Microwave Components

Industry Description

Discrete Components

(wires, resistors, semiconductors)

Electronic Components (cable assemblies,

electromechanical devices)

Machines

(vehicles, electronic/electromechanical equipment)

Primary Electronic Functions: Manipulation of Electricity for Functional Purposes◦ Rectification

Converting alternating electric current into direct or steady state electric current

◦ Amplification Increasing the power of an electrical signal without changing

its waveform or any of its other features◦ Oscillation

Production of a repetitive electronic signal ◦ Switching

Interrupting electrical current or diverting it from one conductor to another

◦ Timing Electrical signal that controls when a device is at work or at

rest◦ Filtering

Removal of unwanted electrical signals

What Electronic Components Do

Supporting Component SIC’s ◦ SIC 3643: Current-Carrying Wiring Devices◦SIC 3672: Printed Circuit Boards◦ SIC 3674: Semiconductors and related devices◦ SIC 3675-3676: Capacitors and Resistors◦ SIC 3677: Electronic Coils and Inductors◦ SIC 3678: Electronic Connectors

Some electronic components companies are involved in the manufacturing of these “sub-components” and will have multiple classifications

Associated Industries

Wire/Cable Assemblies◦ Groups of wires or cables tied together and

terminated with specialized connectors Electromechanical Assemblies and

RF/Microwave Components◦ Electrical circuits (system of conductors, resistors,

along with capacitors and other dielectric components) Generation of an electrostatic field discharge and/or a

magnetic field creates electrical/mechanical energy ◦ Casings/enclosures

House the electrical circuitry ◦ Connectors and/or control mechanisms

Affix and integrate the components into a piece of equipment

Product Description

Military/Defense Aerospace RF/Satellite Communication Equipment

Makers Medical Equipment Makers Laboratory Equipment Makers

Primary Customer Base

Contract Manufacturers: Make very specific components unique to their customers’ specification. Not available for purchase on the open market.

Some build off of schematics provided by the customer Others design a product specifically geared towards

solving a problem that the customer has presented

Component Manufacturers: Mass produce a branded product that can be purchased on the open market by anyone

Company Descriptions

Wire/Cable Assembly◦ Wires/Cables are tied together, labeled, and terminated

Contract Manufacturing◦ Assembling a variety of components (wires/cables, connector

s, circuit boards, etc.) Electromechanical Assemblies and RF/Microwave

Components◦ Housings and Enclosures (metal and/or plastic) are made in

machine shop settings Lathes, Mills, Drill Presses, Grinders CNC machines

Drilling, grinding, cutting Molding Fixturing Welding, laser labeling Plating Injection molding

◦ Soldering and assembly

Typical Processes

Maintenance/Facility items Fasteners Adhesives Drill bits Taps Miscellaneous Parts

Mostly one time buys for prototyping purposes Occasionally our part numbers are called out in government

specs and they will purchase items to go into the finished product

What They Buy

Wire/Cable Assembly◦ Operations Supervisor/Maintenance Superintendent

Usually the one person who is in charge of all technical aspects of the business, including facilities management Worker stations Equipment repairs tend to be handled by the equipment

manufacturers◦ Head of Engineering

Electromechanical Assemblies and RF/Microwave Components◦ Shop Superintendent◦ Maintenance Superintendent◦ Engineering Department Supervisor (larger firms

with over 100 employees)

Common Titles

Processes other than simple cable assembly ◦ Products that require an enclosure or housing

of some kind (electromechanical assemblies) Employment Contract manufacturers that also offer

design services Component makers that sell branded items

on the open market

When Marketing to Firms in SIC 3679 Look For…

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