Electronic component sourcing that keeps your product buildable
Parts bought only through franchised distribution, with every alternate approved by you and every BOM line watched for end of life.
In short: Comtec Labs buys the components for the boards we assemble, through franchised distribution, so counterfeit parts are kept out. Every quote proposes alternates for your approval, nothing is substituted without your written approval, and end-of-life and product change notices are tracked per BOM line. Reels can be bought once against your forecast and held for call-off.
Who this service is for
Component sourcing is part of every assembly order, and it matters most when a product has to stay in production for years. Typical customers are:
- industrial, energy and marine companies whose products are built for many years and cannot be redesigned every time a part is discontinued
- low-volume products of tens to hundreds of units a year, where reel pricing and stock held on call-off make a real difference to unit cost
- teams that have been hit by allocation or a sudden end-of-life notice and want a supplier that watches the BOM for them
- product development projects where component choices, including the microcontroller, should be checked for supply and price at the real production volume
How component sourcing works
- BOM review with the quote. We check manufacturer part numbers, availability and lifecycle status for every line and propose alternates where they reduce risk, marked for your approval.
- Your approval in writing. Only the parts on your BOM and the alternates you approve in writing are bought. Nothing is substituted silently.
- Purchasing. Parts are bought through franchised distribution only, in the packaging and quantity that gives the best total cost for your batch and forecast.
- Incoming inspection. Every reel is registered with manufacturer, part number and lot, and moisture-sensitive parts get a floor-life record from the moment the bag is opened.
- Build or store. Parts go straight to your assembly batch, or are held as buffer or consignment stock and built when you call them off.
- Lifecycle monitoring. End-of-life and product change notices are tracked per BOM line for as long as the product runs, and an alternate or a last-time buy is proposed before a part disappears.
What the sourcing service covers
| Area | What we do |
|---|---|
| Supply channel | Franchised distribution; open market only with your written approval and incoming inspection |
| Alternates | Proposed in every quote, used only after your written approval |
| Lifecycle tracking | Status of every active component; EOL and PCN notices per BOM line |
| Obsolescence | Last-time-buy calculations against your forecast, or a replacement run as an ECO with your approval at each step |
| Stock models | Buffer and consignment stock on a call-off agreement |
| Traceability | Manufacturer, part number and lot recorded per reel; MSL floor-life records |
| Design-stage support | Supply and pricing checked at your volume during MCU and component selection |
You can also supply all or part of the components yourself. Consigned parts get the same incoming inspection and moisture-sensitive device handling as parts we buy.
Lead times
For most boards the delivery date is set by the component with the longest lead time, not by assembly. That is why availability is checked for every BOM line when we quote: with a complete file set you get the quote usually the same working day, at most within 1 working day, with any long-lead or at-risk parts flagged so you can approve an alternate before ordering. For recurring products, reels held on call-off remove component lead time from the next batch altogether.
Stock parts typically arrive within 1–2 weeks of the order, and the time is confirmed per BOM in the quote.
Stores, handling and systems
Components are received, registered and stored in the same ESD-protected production environment in Vaasa where they are assembled. Feeders are verified against the BOM before each run, so the lot recorded at incoming inspection follows the part onto the board and into its traceability record.
Moisture-sensitive devices are kept in dry storage and baked when their floor life has run out.
See the full equipment list, capabilities and lead times
Quality and standards
- Franchised sourcing only, so the origin of every part can be traced back to the manufacturer.
- Every reel registered at incoming inspection, and feeders verified against the BOM before a run.
- Obsolescence and part changes handled as an engineering change order, with your approval at each step and a tested first article.
- A certificate of conformance with every shipment, and production records kept for the agreed product life.
RoHS and REACH declarations are provided on request.
How to keep a BOM buildable
Shortages are prevented at design time rather than at order time. These rules are common industry practice, and we check them in every DFM review:
- approve at least two manufacturers for every commodity part such as resistors, capacitors and connectors
- check the lifecycle status of every active part before layout, and avoid parts marked not recommended for new designs
- design footprints and pinouts that accept alternates, such as pin-compatible MCU families
- for single-source parts, a buffer of three to six months of consumption is a typical industry recommendation
Quantity also matters. Industry pricing typically puts parts bought in the smallest quantities on cut tape at the highest price tier, while reel pricing usually starts at around 100 pieces per part. A 12-month forecast lets reels be bought once and built in batches.
Frequently asked questions
Do you buy components from brokers or the open market?
Not as a rule. Comtec Labs sources through franchised distribution, which keeps counterfeit components out of your product. If a part is only available on the open market, we buy it only with your written approval and inspect it on arrival.
Will you replace a part on my BOM without asking?
No. Alternates are proposed in writing, usually already in the quote, and a part is only built in after you have approved it in writing.
What happens when a component goes end of life?
We track end-of-life notices per BOM line and propose either a last-time buy calculated against your forecast or a replacement part. A replacement is run as an engineering change order with your approval at each step.
Can you hold components for us and build on call-off?
Yes. Reels are bought once against your forecast, held at Comtec Labs as buffer or consignment stock and assembled in batches when you call them off.
Related reading
- How to Protect Your Product From Component Shortages and Obsolescence
- Component Choices: Electrical Fit vs Production Reality
- What Files Does a PCB Assembly Quote Need? The Complete Checklist
- Is There a Minimum Order Quantity for PCB Assembly? Low-Volume Economics Explained
- How to Choose a Microcontroller or SoC for an Industrial Device: A Selection Framework
Related services
- PCB assembly
- PCB series and low-volume production
- PCB prototype assembly
- PCB design services
- PCB functional testing
Send your BOM for a sourcing check
Send your BOM with manufacturer part numbers, quantities and a forecast. You get prices, availability, at-risk lines and proposed alternates with the assembly quote, usually the same working day and at most within 1 working day.
