IPC Study of Quality Benchmarks for the Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Industry for 2011 is now available from IPC  Association Connecting Electronics Industries. The annual study provides data to EMS companies interested in comparing their key 2011 operating variables to those of other EMS providers by type of product.

The survey-based study covers financial and production data, assembly attributes, yields, defect rates, customer returns, supplier performance, customer satisfaction and certification data. IPC member companies providing EMS or contract assembly services were invited to participate in the survey which was conducted in February and March 2012. The survey sample includes 25 EMS companies from North America and Asia.

Participants provided point-of-reference data for sales growth, expenses on research and development (RD) and capital equipment as a percentage of net sales, average collection and payable periods and the number of printed circuit boards (PCBs) completed in 2011. Respondents also reported internal yields for key processes, including surface mounting, wave soldering and selective soldering. Customer satisfaction metrics regarding returns and on-time deliveries were also provided.

The report is free to companies that participated in the survey. It is available for sale to IPC members for $475 and the standard industry price is $950. For more information or to purchase the report, visit www.ipc.org/EMS-Benchmark-2011 or contact Sree Bhagwat, IPC market research manager, at SreeBhagwat@ipc.org or +1 330-677-5563.For information on IPC market research programs, visit www.ipc.org/industrydata or contact Sharon Starr, IPC director of market research, at SharonStarr@ipc.org or +1 847-597-2817.

About IPC

IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global trade association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 3,100 member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $2.02 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Arlington, Va.; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore, India; and Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing, China.