Boards from one supplier, enclosures from another, cables from a third, packaging from a fourth — and final assembly in your own office. That works for ten units. At a few hundred, it becomes a coordination job where nobody owns the finished product. Box build assembly moves that ownership to the manufacturer: they deliver tested, labeled, packed products.
What a box build can include
- PCB assembly and functional test of each board
- Enclosure parts (molded, machined or sheet metal), fasteners, gaskets, labels
- Cable and wire harnesses
- Sub-assemblies: displays, batteries, sensors, motors
- Firmware loading, configuration and device provisioning
- Final assembly, end-of-line functional test, burn-in if required
- Cosmetic inspection, serial numbers, regulatory labels
- Retail packaging, manuals, accessories, carton packing
Turnkey or consigned?
| Model | Who buys the materials | Fits when |
|---|---|---|
| Turnkey | Manufacturer sources everything per your BOM | You want one price and one responsible party |
| Consigned | You supply some or all parts | You hold special components or already have inventory |
| Partial consignment | Mix of both | A few critical parts are supplied by you; the rest turnkey |
Documents that make it repeatable
- Multi-level BOM: finished product → sub-assemblies → parts, with revisions
- Assembly drawings or work instructions with torque values, adhesive and cable routing
- Test specification: what is tested at board level and at final assembly, with pass/fail limits
- Cosmetic standard and golden sample
- Labeling and serialization rules
- Packaging specification: contents, inserts, carton marks, drop-test requirement
Quality and traceability
Link serial numbers to board serials, firmware versions and test results so field issues can be traced to a batch. Agree ESD handling, how failed units are repaired and re-tested, and who keeps test records. Combine with pre-shipment inspection and an AQL plan.
Box build is the natural end of electronics manufacturing. Send your BOM and assembly drawings to discuss a turnkey build.