Procurement and Sourcing Electronics Solutions
As a trusted contract electronics manufacturer UK, Intercole provides comprehensive procurement solutions through our expertise in sourcing electronics. Customers can rely on our full component and materials purchasing service to maintain complete bill of materials control. This ensures competitive pricing, high quality, and reliability for both prototype and production quantities.
We have established strategic partnerships with franchised distributors and strong relationships with global component sourcing specialists and manufacturers. Combined with the experience of our in-house production and procurement engineers, this enables us to source even the most difficult-to-find parts. Where component obsolescence is an issue, we can advise on suitable alternatives to maintain the smooth flow of your production. From surface mounted component solutions to advanced PCB assembly UK services, Intercole delivers a dependable and efficient manufacturing process tailored to your business needs.
Our SMT Assembly Capabilities
You have access to a comprehensive range of SMT capabilities, supporting everything from early prototype builds through to high-volume production runs.
Turnkey Electronics Manufacturing Starts With the Right Components
The quality of your finished product depends entirely on the quality of the components that go into it. Sourcing from authorised and reliable channels is not optional, it is essential. Intercole, have established strategic partnerships with franchised distributors and strong relationships with global component sourcing specialists and manufacturers. Combined with the experience of our in-house production and procurement engineers, this enables us to source even the most difficult-to-find parts. Where component obsolescence is an issue, we can advise on suitable alternatives to maintain the smooth flow of your production. As part of our turnkey contract electronics manufacturing service, procurement is fully integrated with our assembly and engineering operations. You deal with one supplier for the entire process, which simplifies your administration and means there is a single point of accountability for your finished assemblies.
Component Sourcing and Supply Chain Management
We manage the supply chain complexity so you do not have to. This includes identifying the right component suppliers, managing purchase orders, handling incoming inspection, and maintaining appropriate stock levels to support your production schedule. Where components are subject to long lead times, we work with you to plan ahead and avoid schedule disruptions. For customers with existing preferred suppliers or approved vendor lists, we can work within those requirements while still providing the management and administration that reduces your workload.
Hard-to-Find and Obsolete Components
Component obsolescence is a genuine challenge, particularly for products with long service lives or for legacy systems that need to be maintained. Our procurement team has experience sourcing hard-to-find and end-of-life components through reliable channels, helping you keep products in service longer, avoiding costly redesigns and applying the kind of due diligence that keeps counterfeit and substandard components out of your assemblies. This is particularly relevant for our customers in the nuclear and fossil fuel sectors, where long equipment lifespans mean that original components may no longer be available through standard distribution channels.
Consignment and Free-Issue Supply
Not all customers want a fully managed procurement service. If you prefer to supply your own components, we are equally comfortable working on a consignment or free-issue basis, where you provide the components and we handle the assembly and testing. This gives you direct control over your supply chain while still benefiting from our assembly expertise and quality processes.
Why Procurement Matters for Your Business
For many electronics businesses, procurement represents a significant proportion of product cost and a major source of supply chain risk. Consolidating your procurement through an experienced contract manufacturer reduces that risk, often lowers your overall component costs through better buying power, and frees your team to focus on the activities that add the most value for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you source components from authorised distributors?
Yes, we source from reputable, authorised distributors and manufacturers to ensure component authenticity and quality. We do not source from unverified grey market channels.
Can you help if a component in our design has become obsolete?
We have experience sourcing hard-to-find and obsolete components and can advise on sourcing options or suitable alternatives if required.
Do you offer a consignment service if we supply our own components?
Yes, we work on both a full turnkey basis where we procure all components, and a consignment basis where you supply components and we handle assembly.
How do you handle component traceability?
We maintain full traceability records for components used in assemblies, which is particularly important for customers in regulated industries.
Can you manage long lead time components to keep our production on schedule?
Yes, planning for long lead time items is an important part of our procurement service. We work with you to forecast requirements and place orders in good time.