Original Date: 01/27/1997
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL’s) Electronic Manufacturing Group (EMG) provides manufacturing expertise and support that feature high-quality products and quick response to programmatic needs. In addition to addressing electronic safety and health issues, the EMG provides the core technology required for classified and programmatic requests.

The EMG’s business groups include Coordination; Central Drafting; Engineering Instrumentation Services; Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing; Special Process; Manufacturing, Quality, Reliability, Packaging, and Components Engineering; Phototooling; Quality Control; and Rapid Prototype Service Center. To maintain the highest level of services, each business group has a working lead who controls out-going quality; charges; cost; inside and outside decisions; delivery; and cost estimates. In cases where the customer’s request cannot be performed cost-effectively by an individual group, the EMG will submit the request to a qualified outside vendor.

The Coordination group provides information, guidance, support, and organizational expertise to customers who access the services of the EMG’s business groups. The Central Drafting group designs and drafts complex state-of- the-art printed wiring boards which include rigid, flex, or a combination of rigid and flex for through-hole, surface mount, and fine pitch technology components. In addition, Central Drafting offers various electro-mechanical drafting services such as chassis design, schematic generation, wiring diagrams, silk-screen signs, and parts lists.

The Engineering Instrumentation Services group manages a pool of more than 2,200 items ranging from audio and visual equipment to various test and measurement equipment. Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing tests and evaluates new materials and processes; assists with the solution development for eliminating hazardous waste and promoting energy efficiency and cost competitiveness. These services are available to internal and external customers. One notable project uses lasers to plate copper on printed circuit boards for circuit traces and drilling holes, thereby eliminating chemicals from the manufacturing process.

The Special Process group performs chemical etching and machining of specialized parts in various configurations and materials. In addition, this group fabricates single and double-sided, unique, prototype printed circuit boards. The Manufacturing, Quality, Reliability, Packaging, and Components Engineering group provides broad-background expertise in design, packaging, manufacturing, materials, and quality assurance.

The Phototooling group converts customer-generated design data into precision phototools for proofing or production. The Quality Control group performs the required inspections of electrical and electronic parts per specific standards and specifications. Rapid Prototype Service Center provides teams who work closely with the customer. Together, they design and fabricate assemblies and subassemblies (e.g., chassis, cable, printed circuit board, mechanical) to produce prototype and pre-production units.

Through its business groups, LLNL’s EMG provides a wide range of services. The EMG’s manufacturing expertise and support offer direct response, quick turnaround, minimal paperwork requirements, and low overhead to its customers.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.