Good points also Mark,

I'll respond to your points in order.

Question 1
Of course any end user that would want to audit a PCB shop
with more than one  facility would need to take that into account.
But as a PCB  manufacturer don't you audit the facilities where your
cores and  pre-preg are made?
Answer:
Yes I have audited my suppliers, and that's my main point.  My
supplier MUST be chosen by me because only I know exactly what
I expect from them and their products.  I would never take a third
party's opinion even if they were highly qualified.

Comment and Question 2
And the last thing I'd like to comment on is
toward your last item, what third party would be qualified to audit
your shop.  Well, certainly end users  who have never manufactured
PCB's are not fully qualified.  But a group of PCB process engineers,
quality engineers and manufacturing professionals would probably
be.  People who have spent a minimum of 15 years (each) in the
business of manufacturing PCB's.  Maybe even people who have, at one
time or another, worked at your shop.

Answer:
One thing this industry doesn't need is more consultants.  We need
manufactureres to stay on the manufacturing side and make their
companies experts along with themselves (OK off the soapbox).
Let me finish this response with a question to you; what other
industry requires consultants to choose their suppliers?  If a
specific company doesn't have the skill to pick the suppliers, all
they have to do is pool the suppliers who service their competition.
Users groups are active tools for information and promote the
superior suppliers.

Just one persons opinion,
Joe Dickson

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