What to Prepare Before Ordering Turnkey PCBA: A Gerber + BOM Checklist

If you are planning to outsource a turnkey PCB assembly (PCBA) build, the fastest way to get an accurate quote — and avoid weeks of back-and-forth emails — is to prepare two things properly before you contact a manufacturer: your Gerber files and your Bill of Materials (BOM). This checklist explains exactly what a turnkey PCBA manufacturer needs from you, file by file, so your project can move from inquiry to production without delays. Contents

• What Turnkey PCBA Means (in 30 Seconds)
• Checklist 1: Gerber File Requirements
• Checklist 2: BOM Requirements
• Checklist 3: Files That Prevent Surprises
• 3 Pitfalls That Delay Most Turnkey PCBA Quotes
• Turnkey PCBA FAQ
• Ready for a Quote?

What Turnkey PCBA Means (in 30 Seconds)

Turnkey PCB assembly is a manufacturing model where a single supplier handles everything: PCB fabrication, component sourcing, SMT and through-hole assembly, inspection, testing, and delivery. You provide the design data; you receive finished, tested boards. There are two common variants:

• Full turnkey: the manufacturer sources the bare PCB and all components.
• Partial turnkey (consigned/kitted): you supply selected components (for example, proprietary or pre-programmed parts) and the manufacturer sources the rest.

One important boundary to understand: turnkey means manufacturing, not design. At FX PCB, we build to your files — we do not offer PCB design or layout services. If your design is finished and you have Gerber files and a BOM ready, you are exactly the customer turnkey PCBA is made for.

Checklist 1: Gerber File Requirements

Gerber files are the manufacturing blueprint of your bare PCB. An incomplete Gerber package is the single most common reason quotes get delayed. Before sending, confirm your package includes:

• All copper layers (top, bottom, and every inner layer for multilayer boards)
• Solder mask layers (top and bottom)
• Silkscreen layers (top and bottom)
• Solder paste layers (required for SMT assembly)
• Drill files (Excellon format, including plated and non-plated holes)
• Board outline / mechanical layer (exact board dimensions and cutouts)
• A fabrication drawing or readme noting: board thickness, copper weight, surface finish (e.g., ENIG, HASL, OSP), solder mask color, and impedance requirements if any

Tips that speed up your quote:

• Export in RS-274X (extended Gerber) format — it embeds aperture definitions and avoids mismatches.
• If your EDA tool supports it, ODB++ is even better: it packages fabrication and assembly data in one file.
• Include your stackup for any board with controlled impedance or more than 4 layers.
• Name files clearly (e.g., projectname_TopCopper.gtl) so nothing gets mixed up.

Checklist 2: BOM Requirements

The Bill of Materials tells the manufacturer exactly which components to buy. A clean BOM is what separates a 24-hour quote from a two-week email thread. Prepare yours as an Excel or CSV file with these columns:

Tips that speed up your quote:

• Every line needs a complete manufacturer part number. “10k resistor, 0603” is not enough — there are hundreds of matches, and guessing wrong means the wrong part on your board.
• Mark approved alternates for critical parts. If your first-choice component has a 20-week lead time, an approved alternate can save your schedule.
• Flag DNP (do not populate) items clearly so we don’t purchase or place them.
• Match the BOM revision to your Gerber revision. A BOM for Rev B paired with Rev C Gerbers is one of the most frequent — and most expensive — mistakes in PCBA.

Checklist 3: Files That Prevent Surprises

Gerber + BOM gets you a quote. These extras get you a smooth build:

• Centroid / pick-and-place file — X/Y coordinates, rotation, and top/bottom side for every SMT component. Your assembly house needs this to program its machines.
• Assembly drawing — shows component polarity, orientation, and any special instructions (especially for mixed SMT + through-hole or double-sided boards).
• Test requirements — tell us what “good” looks like: functional test procedures, programming files, or firmware. Without this, we can only do visual inspection.
• Mechanical constraints — maximum component height, keep-out zones, enclosure fit, if you have any such requirements.

3 Pitfalls That Delay Most Turnkey PCBA Quotes

1. Missing manufacturer part numbers. A BOM with descriptions but no MPNs forces the manufacturer to guess — and responsible manufacturers won’t guess. They’ll email you, and your quote waits. Always include the full MPN.

2. Gerber/BOM version mismatch. Designs evolve; files get emailed around. Before sending, confirm the BOM, Gerber files, and centroid data all describe the same revision. A five-minute check saves days of rework.

3. Unflagged long-lead or obsolete components. Some ICs, connectors, and specialty parts carry 12–26 week lead times or have gone end-of-life. Run your BOM through a distributor stock check (or ask us to) before you commit to a delivery date. Naming approved alternates up front is the simplest insurance.  

Turnkey PCBA FAQ

Ready for a Quote?

Send your Gerber files and BOM to [email protected]. Our sales team responds within 8 hours, and most turnkey PCBA inquiries receive a detailed quotation within 24 hours. FX PCB Co., Ltd. is an ISO9001-certified PCB and PCBA manufacturer in Shenzhen, China, building to IPC-A-600 and IPC-A-610 standards — from 1–32 layer rigid boards to flex and rigid-flex assemblies, with fast turnaround and worldwide shipping. You bring the design; we deliver finished boards.