What is PCBA? Learn about Printed Circuit Board Assembly: process steps, technologies, quality requirements and the difference between PCB and PCBA.
What is PCBA?
PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) refers to a fully assembled circuit board with all electronic components mounted and soldered in place.
PCBA stands for Printed Circuit Board Assembly and describes the complete process of populating a bare circuit board with electronic components. Components such as resistors, capacitors, ICs and connectors are placed onto an unpopulated PCB and permanently connected through soldering.
Process and Application
The PCBA process involves several steps: solder paste application via stencil printing, SMD component placement by pick-and-place machines, reflow soldering to form connections, and wave or selective soldering for through-hole components.
After assembly, the PCBA undergoes inspection and testing including AOI, ICT or functional testing. An experienced EMS provider like SMTEC handles the entire PCBA process – from component sourcing through assembly to final inspection – ensuring compliance with standards such as IPC-A-610, ISO 9001 or ISO 13485 for medical devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready for your PCBA project?
SMTEC AG manufactures prototypes and series – fast, flexible and of the highest quality.
Request a quote →