The lead time for a project is not a single fixed number; it is a timeline built from several moving parts. At Cogent Technology, we use our proprietary MaPS system to track every stage of your build in real-time, providing you with an accurate delivery date based on your specific requirements.

Generally, timelines are influenced by which "path" your project takes:

1. The Service Level
Fast Track / Prototyping: For urgent R&D requirements, we can often facilitate rapid turnarounds in as little as 3–5 working days (once all components and bare boards are at our facility).

NPI (New Product Introduction): This process is more thorough, involving DFM feedback and process proving. This typically takes 1–3 weeks as we ensure the product is "production-ready."

Series Production: Once a product is established, we often move to scheduled deliveries or Kanban arrangements, where we hold stock to meet your demand instantly.

2. The Supply Chain Factor
The biggest variable in any PCB assembly timeline is component procurement.

In-stock parts: Can be sourced in 24–48 hours.

Long-lead items: Some specialised silicon or custom magnetics can have lead times of several months.

Note: Cogent’s procurement team works proactively to identify these "long-lead" items during the quoting stage so we can secure them before they delay your build.

3. Build Complexity
The physical assembly time is dictated by the complexity of the board:

Single-sided SMT: The fastest to assemble.

Double-sided / Mixed Tech: Requires multiple passes through the SMT line and additional time for manual or selective soldering of through-hole parts.

Advanced Testing: Complex functional tests or "soak testing" (where the board is powered up for an extended period) will add time to the final dispatch.

Why you should talk to your Account Manager
Because we prioritize "On-Time Delivery" (OTD), we don't guess. Your Cogent Account Manager will look at our live capacity through the MaPS system and coordinate with our procurement team to give you a definitive schedule.

By having an early conversation, we can often "dovetail" our planning with yours—securing materials while you are still finalizing the design to compress the overall time-to-market.

SMT stands for Surface Mount Technology. It is the most common method used in modern electronics manufacturing to mount components (known as Surface Mount Devices or SMDs) directly onto the surface of a Printed Circuit Board.

Unlike the traditional "Through-Hole" method—where component legs are pushed through drilled holes and soldered on the underside—SMT components sit on top of copper pads on the board's surface.

The 3-Step SMT Process
At Cogent Technology, our SMT lines are highly automated to ensure repeatability and speed:

Solder Paste Printing: We use a precision stencil to apply a specialized solder paste onto the PCB's pads.

Pick and Place: Automated machines use vacuum nozzles to "pick" components from reels and "place" them onto the wet solder paste with micron-level accuracy.

Reflow Soldering: The populated board passes through a multi-zone oven. The heat melts the solder paste, creating a permanent electrical and mechanical bond as it cools.

Why use SMT instead of Through-Hole?
Miniaturisation: SMT components can be up to 10x smaller than through-hole parts, allowing for much smaller and lighter products.

Higher Density: Because components are smaller and don’t require holes through the board, we can pack many more features into a smaller footprint.

Double-Sided Assembly: SMT allows components to be placed on both sides of the board, effectively doubling the available design space.

Cost-Effectiveness at Scale: Because the process is almost entirely automated, it significantly reduces manual labor costs and human error for medium-to-high volume production.

When is SMT not used?
While SMT is the industry standard, some components—like heavy transformers, large connectors, or power-heavy switches—still require Through-Hole Technology (THT). These parts need the extra mechanical strength provided by pins passing through the board to withstand physical stress or high heat. At Cogent, we often use a "Mixed Technology" approach to give you the best of both worlds.

Turnkey PCB assembly is essentially the "one-stop shop" model of electronics manufacturing. For a client, it means you provide the design files, and Cogent Technology takes care of everything else until a finished, tested board is delivered to your door.

Here is a draft for your FAQ:

What is turnkey PCB assembly?
The term "turnkey" comes from the idea that you only need to "turn the key" to start the engine. In the context of electronics, it means Cogent Technology manages the entire end-to-end production process on your behalf.

Instead of you having to coordinate between a bare-board manufacturer, multiple component distributors, and an assembly house, we consolidate the entire supply chain into a single, seamless workflow.

What is included in a Turnkey service?
When you choose a full turnkey solution with Cogent, we handle:

BOM Sourcing: Our procurement team buys every resistor, capacitor, and IC on your Bill of Materials from authorized, vetted suppliers.

PCB Fabrication: We coordinate the manufacturing of the bare circuit boards.

Assembly: We populate the boards using our high-speed SMT and Through-Hole lines.

Testing & Quality: We perform all necessary inspections (AOI, X-ray) and functional testing to ensure the boards work out of the box.

Box Build (Optional): We can even go beyond the board, installing the PCB into its final housing, adding cables, and providing retail-ready packaging.