On July 30, 2026, a visitor from Singapore toured Shenzhen STHL Technology Co., Ltd. (STHL) to review the company's PCBA manufacturing workflow and quality-control practices.
The visit covered the electronic component kitting area, SMT production lines, THT/DIP assembly, and several inspection points across the production floor. The visitor paid particular attention to how quality issues are identified, recorded, and followed up before they move into later manufacturing stages.
The discussion focused on incoming quality control (IQC), solder paste inspection (SPI), pre-reflow inspection, first article inspection, and MES-based production traceability.
Together, these checkpoints gave the visitor a clearer view of how STHL reviews quality at different stages of PCBA production.
From Component Kitting to SMT and THT/DIP
The tour began in the electronic component kitting area, where materials are prepared according to the BOM and applicable production requirements.
The visitor then reviewed the SMT workshop and THT/DIP assembly area to see how different component types move through the manufacturing process.
Seeing these areas in person provided a clearer view of how material preparation connects with subsequent PCB Assembly operations and how production teams maintain continuity across production stages.
Quality Checks Before Reflow
Quality control was a central topic throughout the visit.
At the IQC stage, the STHL team explained how incoming materials are reviewed against applicable project and inspection requirements before being released to production.
In the SMT workshop, the visitor reviewed SPI after solder paste printing and before component placement. This checkpoint helps the production team identify solder paste printing issues before the board moves to the next stage.
The visit also included the pre-reflow inspection area, where component placement and other applicable process conditions are reviewed before the populated board enters the reflow oven.
Together, these checkpoints provide opportunities to identify and address issues before they move into later manufacturing stages.
First Article Review and Production Record Visibility
The visitor also reviewed the first article inspection area.
First article inspection allows the first assembled board to be checked against the approved production documentation and applicable inspection requirements before the rest of the batch proceeds.
This gives the production and project teams an early opportunity to confirm that the initial assembly, production setup, and project documentation are aligned.
Production record visibility through MES was another area of interest. For applicable projects, production identifiers and board-level traceability codes can help link relevant manufacturing and inspection records to a specific board as it moves through production.
MES supports record visibility, but it does not replace IQC, SPI, first article inspection, or other quality-control activities. Its value lies in providing a clearer record trail when a manufacturing or quality question requires further review.
A Visit Focused on Process Visibility
The visit gave the visitor a practical view of how material preparation, SMT assembly, THT/DIP assembly, inspection, and production records are connected within STHL's factory.
For overseas OEM and ODM teams, this kind of direct production visibility helps answer an important supplier-evaluation question: not only what equipment is available, but also where quality checks are positioned and how production information is managed throughout the project.
Defined checkpoints and usable records help teams identify issues at the appropriate stage and support more focused follow-up when questions arise.
STHL appreciates the visitor's time and the detailed discussion around quality control and traceability. Each factory visit is also an opportunity for our team to better understand what overseas project teams need to verify before moving forward.
STHL will continue supporting customers with transparent communication, direct production visibility, and clearly defined Testing and Inspection processes across applicable PCBA projects.
Overseas teams preparing a PCBA or EMS project can submit their BOM, Gerber files, assembly drawings, quantities, and testing requirements through Request a Quote or contact STHL at info@pcba-china.com.
