SiFO Technology Begins Test Services Program for OEMs Using Manufacturers in China
LAS VEGAS, April 11, 2011
SiFO Technology, headquartered in Suzhou, China, has introduced its Comprehensive Test Services (CTS) Program. Targeted at smaller, fast growing U.S. and European original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) seeking to build products in China, SiFO’s CTS Program provides one-stop production test engineering that moves the OEM’s product through new product introduction (NPI) into full-volume manufacturing test at a China-based electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider.
“The CTS Program will be especially attractive to OEMs planning to have their products built in China but prefer to focus on R&D and marketing while foregoing investment in an internal manufacturing and test engineering infrastructure,” stated Robin Tian, CEO of SiFO Technology.
“The CTS Program also addresses a primary concern of growing OEMs, who may lack knowledge of how to deal effectively with China’s enormous contract manufacturing industry,” he continued. “ The OEM recognizes the need to obtain the highest quality test processes possible to guarantee the highest possible product quality.
“However, OEMs often can be hampered by communications issues, not to mention the long distances between their product development labs and the Chinese manufacturing floor,” the SiFO CEO continued. “These problems are amplified when the OEM is not experienced in dealing with China-based contract manufacturers.”
Building on SiFO’s in-circuit and functional test hardware and software business, the CTS Program provides the local Chinese engineering talent and test services infrastructure to develop and implement a test process tailored to the OEM’s requirements that is then delivered and installed at its contract manufacturer.
“SiFO focuses on converting test protocols developed in the OEM’s development labs in the United States and Europe into volume production test in China,” Tian concluded. “No company in China has greater experience–or a larger talent pool–implementing advanced in-circuit and functional test hardware and software.”
First CTS Customer
Aidon Suomi, a Finnish technology company specializing in advanced metering management, is SiFO’s first CTS Program customer. SiFO will design and develop a testing suite for Aidon that will be installed and managed by SiFO at a China-based contract manufacturer.
By choosing SiFO’s CTS Program, Aidon avoids one of the most pressing concerns for today’s OEMs: a lack of resources to travel to China to install, monitor, or upgrade test applications at their contract manufacturer’s site. SiFO provides on-site management and information feedback on behalf of the customer, eliminating the need for personnel from the OEM to visit China to oversee test implementation, monitoring, and modification.
About SiFO Technology
SiFO Technology delivers in-circuit and functional test fixtures, programs, testers, and services to worldwide OEMs and their China-based EMS providers.
Over the past three years, SiFO has delivered more than 6,000 fixtures and programs purchased by OEMs to contract manufacturers in China.
SiFO maintains engineering and manufacturing centers in the two major electronics manufacturing regions in China: Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, and Suzhou, near Shanghai. The company maintains sales and support offices, including ATE systems for test program development, in Shanghai, Beijing, Penang (Malaysia), and northern California. These facilities provide responsiveness and fast turnaround for CMs and OEMs as well as 24/7 maintenance and support.
Founded in 2007 by 15 test engineers and managers from Agilent Technologies, GenRad, and Teradyne, SiFO operates with an experienced staff, documented engineering processes, and familiar, U.S.-level business practices and standards. All SiFO customer-interfacing personnel speak English and are degreed engineers with an average of 7 to 10 years of test application experience on modern ATE from Agilent, GenRad, and Teradyne. www.sifo-us.com