Financial Metric
Manufacturing metrics evaluate the total expense incurred to produce and deliver a complete array of printed circuit boards to the assembly facility. Landed panel cost incorporates the raw board fabrication price, panelization efficiency losses, and the shipping and customs fees required to deliver the panel to the assembly line. This metric helps buyers compare the true cost of domestic versus offshore fabrication.
The scope of this cost calculation ends when the delivered panel is accepted at the assembly plant gate.
Production Planning
Process selection in printed circuit board fabrication uses this cost calculation to optimize the panel layout and minimize material waste. When a board is panelized, the landed panel cost is divided by the number of usable boards per panel to determine the unit cost. If the panelization density is low, the cost per board rises because the buyer pays for unused substrate material.
Engineers adjust the board spacing and panel dimensions to maximize yield and minimize freight costs per panel. The optimal panel configuration is selected by balancing raw material utilization against the handling limits of the assembly equipment.
Procurement Decision
Sourcing decisions use this total cost metric to choose suppliers. If a local supplier offers a higher base price but lower shipping costs, the total landed panel cost may be lower than that of an offshore supplier. This evaluation ensures that procurement teams make decisions based on the total expense of delivery.
