People-Driven Quality

Building it right the first time is a way of life for the people of Burton.

That’s why our return rate is unparalleled—it’s in the half-percentage range. Our Quality Management System supports our ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certifications.

But the real driver of Burton quality is the culture of perfection that comes from our people. Burton associates participate in weekly continuous improvement meetings and we embrace a Lean manufacturing philosophy that includes 5S and Six Sigma methodologies.

Quality Policy

  • To reliably and consistently deliver products that meet or exceed our customer’s and regulatory requirements on time.
  • To see and achieve continual improvements in quality of the products we provide and to maintain the effectiveness of the quality management system.

Quality Objectives

  • First pass yield at Final Inspection above 99%.
  • Warranty product returns less than .5% of product shipped.
  • On time delivery greater than 97%.

certifications

  • Lead-free processes and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Control program have been certified by outside agencies in a continued commitment to providing our customers with the highest quality electronic assemblies.
  • ISO 9001:2015
  • ISO 13485:2016

Process

Burton holds ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certifications. We also utilize 5S and Six Sigma methodologies. But if there’s one thing we believe at Burton, it’s that a process is only as good as the people managing it. So while we’ve developed proven processes for everything we do, a flow-chart is no substitute for having an experienced, cohesive team of people putting it into practice.

quality management

Program Management

Burton assigns a program manager to serve as your central point of contact. Each of our program managers is backed by a Customer-Focused Team (CFT) staffed to your requirements. Our goal is to establish a long-term relationship with you. As we get to know each other better, your Burton team can identify ways to improve operational efficiencies, reduce product cost, and proactively anticipate and plan for the needs of your program moving forward.

program-management

Design for Manufacturability (DFM)

When you’re in the initial concept stage, you’re not necessarily thinking about your product’s DFM. That’s why you should be thinking about Burton. With our 40+ years of experience as an EMS, we can help you understand how your project can be made easier and less costly to manufacturer—without compromising performance.

IPC research shows 80% of defects can be eliminated at the design stage. Which is why at Burton, our DFM process includes Intelligent DFM Review with VAYO Software . With 1500 design check rules, it quickly takes your PCBA design and identifies problems before production begins. The result is reduced prototype cycles and expedited time to production. 

Examples of defects VAYO can identify:

VAYO Defect Detection - SMT parts too close to PTH paths

SMT parts too close to PTH paths

VAYO Defect Detection - Annular ring irregularities

Annular ring irregularities

VAYO Defect Detection - Heating imbalance

Heating imbalance

VAYO Defect Detection - Nets short

Nets short

Quality Management System (QMS)

Beyond our high-level certifications, Burton has numerous QMS strategies in place that have proven to work, project after project. One measure of how our QMS creates higher quality: the warranty return rate of Burton products is less than .5% of product shipped.

Our Process

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Incoming Parts
We start with an incoming inspection for print parts and a verification of manufacturing part numbers.
Identification
A unique ID is assigned to each assembly step ensuring traceability throughout the entire process.
Inspection
On the SMT Line, every assembly goes through 3D SPI inspection and AOI inspection which share feedback and adjust automatically to ensure precision on the fly.
Defect Tracking
Our team ensures defect tracking takes place at every point of inspection.
Verification
Each serial number and test record for every order are verified prior to shipment to our customers - no exceptions.

Case Study: Burton to the Rescue

The customer challenge: While working with another supplier, an industrial controls company was struggling to maintain its quality requirements. That’s when they called Burton.

The Burton approach: In a very short time, our engineering team was able to target the specific design issues impacting quality. We then immediately implemented corrective measures, including new landing patterns, spacing, hole sizes, slot dimensions, and component relocations and additions.

The result: While a drastic increase in quality was the original objective, this Burton customer now has a much more manufacturable, cost-effective and efficient assembly.