GWT has done it again! We successfully navigated through a rigorous 4-day audit event with our quality partner NSF-ISR. It was particularly gratifying because it was our 20 year Anniversary of having a successful quality system in place. This year’s audit by our registrar NSF-ISR was very challenging because it was a 4-day start of the contract audit that tests all facets of the organization. At the beginning of our 20 year span, GWT saw an organic process of originating the system in home grown fashion with the help of CMTC and then adapting frequently over the two decade period. Just in the last few years, we have come full circle with a total & fresh renovation of the system to achieve a Quality Manual that is realigned closely with the newest ISO-9001 and AS9100 standards issued in 2015 & 2016.

Last year, GWT purchased our first non-Fuji related pick and place machine when we purchased a brand new Yamaha M20 machine from Yamaha/Amistar. The advantages of this new Yamaha equipment are multifold… bringing added flexibility, speed, efficiency, and space/footprint utilization. It allowed us to go from 2 fully automated assembly lines to 3, with 1 Yamaha and 2 Fuji lines. With successful confirmation of this new machine and its numerous advantages, GWT has taken a next step of purchasing another new Yamaha pick and place machine, this time the S20, to replace the oldest Fuji line. The S20 machine version is essentially the same as the M20 we already have but the S20 has 12 heads rather than 6 for our M20 and therefore 30% more speed than our other machine. Furthermore with the smaller footprint of both Yamaha machines, we will eventually be able to expand to 4 lines within the same automation space where we could only house 2 lines previously with the Fuji equipment. GWT is very excited about this major expansion and this significant development in our manufacturing capability.

The principal at Valencia Circuitworks, Mark DeSantis, is a well-respected and successful design engineer serving the Aerospace & Defense markets. Golden West Technology has worked together with Mark and Valencia Circuitworks for 10 years now and we are very excited to be pursuing a much closer relationship in the near term future. We serve similar markets and customers so by working closer together we can help to provide our customers with better quality and more focused manufacturability oriented solutions going forward. If you require a professional to help with your PCBA design needs GWT can confidently recommend Mark DeSantis of Valencia Circuitworks as someone to definitely talk to.