The first article approval of the PCB is the initial most important step toward effective Design for Assembly. An OEM approved first article PCB proves valuable in answering all questions relating to manufacturing, assembly and test. It is the “ proof of concept ” before a PCB order goes into production, even if the quantities are small, like less than 10 to 50. The first article ensures that the transition into production volumes is smooth with few to no questions left unanswered. Plus, for the OEM, smooth transition to production means key market demands such as time-to-market, quality, reliability, product delivery, and the very critical time-to-revenue are met.