At Argo EMS, quality is a business philosophy. We focus on design and manufacturing excellence, paired with exceptional service, to achieve customer satisfaction with every project. We maintain a range of certifications, including ISO, Intertek, IPC and ITAR. We maintain strict processes and provide extensive testing services to ensure top quality.
Argo EMS has been ISO certified since 2002, when we became the first contract manufacturer of printed circuit board assemblies in the Northeast to gain registration. We have continuously maintained ISO registration and successfully transitioned to each new standard, including the current ISO 9001:2015 standard. Our ISO registration is a testament to the strict control of our processes, reporting, record keeping and documentation controls.
Argo understands that quality starts with employee training. We have IPC certified instructors on staff to ensure employees are highly skilled. Most employees are cross trained to fully understand our processes and have the ability to handle the majority of responsibilities in the manufacturing process. We maintain thorough detailed training procedures and records in accordance with ISO and IPC standards.
Argo uses Siemens Valor Process Prep and Unicam software for CAD translation of your PCB design. This software establishes many points of manufacturing precision and control:
- Programs Pick & Place equipment
- Programs Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) equipment
- Creates Work and Assembly Instructions
- Generates Inspection Documentation used in our ViewStation Inspection Stations
By using this software, we are able to produce boards exactly to your design specifications and bill of materials quickly and accurately. To further ensure accuracy and consistency, we include photos and color descriptions for each step of the manufacturing process. The color-coded part numbering block diagrams match the appropriate color-coded component location on the assembly diagrams along with all necessary part characteristics, such as polarity marks and component shape outlines.
We maintain a rigorous first piece inspection system where each step of the assembly process is verified for completion and accuracy by a certified inspector prior to continuing production. This ensures your product is flawless throughout the manufacturing process. We use acceptable quality limits (AQL) to determine the frequency of in-process inspections. These continual inspections provide immediate feedback if any issues arise during manufacturing.
Should an issue arise, our technical service team reviews documentation and component information, and addresses any manufacturing difficulties. We believe in open communication with our customers, to minimize any lost time and ensure all decisions are correct and verified.
Our standard for final inspection is 100%. We utilize both manual visual inspection using 40x magnification and Automatic Optical Inspection using a Viscom SO3088 AOI. AOI provides 100% component and solder joint inspection through 8 high-resolution cameras. With advanced lighting, optics, and image processing capabilities, AOI greatly enhances inspection repeatability, accuracy and throughput.
In accordance with ANSI/NCSL Z540-1-1994 standards, we perform an annual calibration on all test equipment ensuring accurate measurements are performed on your products and assemblies. All calibration records are maintained and archived in accordance with our AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 Quality System.
On August 22, 2012 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published the regulations implementing the conflict minerals reporting obligations of Section 1502 of the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act. Argo EMS is in the process of meeting the requirements of these regulations and will be in compliance well before the initial reporting date of May 31st, 2014.
Argo EMS is committed to a responsible supply chain that, among other requirements, is Conflict Free. To this end, we continue working with our supply chain to strengthen compliance and ensure only “DRC Conflict Free” materials are used.
Argo EMS and its suppliers do not purchase tin, tantalum, tungsten or gold directly from smelters or mines. Further, there are many supply chain layers that separate us from the smelters and mines from which these metals are sourced. Consequently, we require our suppliers to determine the sources and conflict status of the materials supplied to Argo EMS and its customers. More specifically, we require all Argo EMS suppliers to certify the smelters or mines from which the metals were obtained. Based on the written assurances Argo EMS has received from its suppliers, we have no indication that printed circuit board assemblies supplied by Argo EMS contain minerals from conflict mines or smelters in and around the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Argo EMS is pleased to announce that we are a conflict free supplier. Detailed compliance declarations are available upon request.
Argo EMS is committed to working within the EICC framework to provide verification of compliance throughout our supply chain. Information on the EICC and compliance tools available may be found at www.eciaonline.org and www.conflictfreesmelter.org. We fully understand the importance of this issue and we will continue gathering compliance information from our supply chain as sources are added and or changed.